Everybody Loves Somebody
Encyclopedia
"Everybody Loves Somebody" is a song written in 1947
by Sam Coslow, Irving Taylor
and Ken Lane
. By 1964, the song had already been recorded by several artists (including Frank Sinatra
), but without much success. In that year that Lane was playing piano for Dean Martin
on his Dream With Dean LP sessions, and with an hour or so of studio time left and one song short, Lane suggested that Martin take a run at his tune. Dean was agreeable, and the small combo of piano, guitar, drums and bass performed a relatively quiet, laid back jazz
version of the song. Martin had sung the tune on Bob Hope's radio show in 1948. It can be found on YouTube.
Almost immediately thereafter, Martin re-recorded the tune for his next album, this time with an orchestra and chorus. His label, Reprise Records
, was so enthusiastic about the hit potential of this version, they even titled the LP Everybody Loves Somebody to capitalize on it.
Although still a major recording artist, Martin had not had a Top 40 hit since 1958. And with the British Invasion
ruling the U.S. charts, few had hopes that a middle aged Italian
crooner
would sway many teenagers. And yet, defying the odds, Everybody Loves Somebody shot straight up to the top of the Billboard Hot 100
. The song also topped the Billboard "easy listening
" chart for eight weeks. It ultimately replaced "That's Amore
" as Martin's signature song
, and he sang it as the theme of his weekly television variety show from 1965 until 1974. The song has become so identified with Dean Martin, that later cover versions are invariably compared to his hit take on the tune.
Martin resented rock n' roll, and his attitude created conflict at home with his fourteen-year-old son Dean Paul Martin
, who like many teenagers in the Western world, worshipped The Beatles
. He told his son, "I'm gonna' knock your pallies off the charts," and in August 15, 1964 he did just that: Everybody Loves Somebody knocked the Beatles off the number one slot on Billboard.
In the 1990s, the song was licensed to Western Union
for use in a series of television commercials.
The words "Everybody Loves Somebody" appear on Dean Martin's grave marker in Los Angeles
.
Guy Mitchell
released a cover of this song. Lil Wally Jagiello also performed this as a polka on the Lawrence Welk show.
1947 in music
-Events:*August 7 – Carlo Bergonzi makes his professional debut as Schaunard in La Bohème at the Arena Argentina in Catania.*October – Enrico De Angelis leaves Quartetto Cetra to join the army...
by Sam Coslow, Irving Taylor
Irving Taylor (songwriter)
Irving Taylor , was a Jewish-American composer, lyricist, and screenwriter. He enlisted in the US Navy the day after Pearl Harbor...
and Ken Lane
Ken Lane
Kermit "Ken" Lane was an American musician from Brooklyn, New York. He was best known to audiences as Dean Martin's pianist on The Dean Martin Show in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but was already well known in the film community before that.With Irving Taylor, Lane co-wrote "Everybody Loves...
. By 1964, the song had already been recorded by several artists (including Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
), but without much success. In that year that Lane was playing piano for Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
on his Dream With Dean LP sessions, and with an hour or so of studio time left and one song short, Lane suggested that Martin take a run at his tune. Dean was agreeable, and the small combo of piano, guitar, drums and bass performed a relatively quiet, laid back jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
version of the song. Martin had sung the tune on Bob Hope's radio show in 1948. It can be found on YouTube.
Almost immediately thereafter, Martin re-recorded the tune for his next album, this time with an orchestra and chorus. His label, Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
, was so enthusiastic about the hit potential of this version, they even titled the LP Everybody Loves Somebody to capitalize on it.
Although still a major recording artist, Martin had not had a Top 40 hit since 1958. And with the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
ruling the U.S. charts, few had hopes that a middle aged Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
would sway many teenagers. And yet, defying the odds, Everybody Loves Somebody shot straight up to the top of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song also topped the Billboard "easy listening
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
" chart for eight weeks. It ultimately replaced "That's Amore
That's Amore
"That's Amore" is a 1952 song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Jack Brooks. It became a major hit, signature song for Dean Martin in 1953. Amore means "love" in Italian....
" as Martin's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
, and he sang it as the theme of his weekly television variety show from 1965 until 1974. The song has become so identified with Dean Martin, that later cover versions are invariably compared to his hit take on the tune.
Martin resented rock n' roll, and his attitude created conflict at home with his fourteen-year-old son Dean Paul Martin
Dean Paul Martin
Dean Paul Martin was an American entertainer, noted as a tennis player, a singer and actor, and a military pilot.-Early life and career:...
, who like many teenagers in the Western world, worshipped The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. He told his son, "I'm gonna' knock your pallies off the charts," and in August 15, 1964 he did just that: Everybody Loves Somebody knocked the Beatles off the number one slot on Billboard.
In the 1990s, the song was licensed to Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
for use in a series of television commercials.
The words "Everybody Loves Somebody" appear on Dean Martin's grave marker in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
released a cover of this song. Lil Wally Jagiello also performed this as a polka on the Lawrence Welk show.