Suddenly There's a Valley
Encyclopedia
"Suddenly There's a Valley" is a popular
song
written by Chuck Meyer and Biff Jones
and published in 1955
.
The song was a major hit for Gogi Grant
(one of only 2 major ones she had, and one of only 3 that charted at all for her) in 1955
. Her recording was issued by Era Records
as catalog number
1003 and reached Billboard magazine's Top 10. The song was also recorded by Jo Stafford
(Columbia Records
catalog number 40559) and Julius La Rosa
(Cadence Records
catalog number 1270). Edith Piaf
recorded a French-language version, Soudain une valléé in February 1956 which outsold all previous versions of the song in Europe, but never actually performed it on the stage. There was also a fine version by Jane Froman
. On the Cash Box
Best-Selling Record chart, where all versions were combined, the song reached #8. The Mills Brothers also hit the Billboard Top 100 with their version, not listed as a best-seller by Cashbox. In early 1960 the song was recorded by Dorsey Burnette
and subsequently released again on the Era label as a single (Era 3205). In 1960 it was also sung by The Drifters
.
In the United Kingdom
, a version by Petula Clark
became a Top Ten Hit.
A German version was recorded on December 1, 1955 by Vera Lynn
under the title "Folge dem Rat deines Herzens (Follow your heart's advice)" and was released in early 1956 on Decca
Single D 18 172.
In 1964 the famous band The Kingsmen
used the song on a gospel
album under the same name.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Chuck Meyer and Biff Jones
Biff Jones
-External links:...
and published in 1955
1955 in music
-Events:*January 1 – RCA Victor announces a marketing plan called "Operation TNT." The label drops the list price on LPs from $5.95 to $3.98, EPs from $4.95 to $2.98, 45 EPs from $1.58 to $1.49 and 45's from $1.16 to $.89...
.
The song was a major hit for Gogi Grant
Gogi Grant
Gogi Grant is an American popular singer.-Life and career:Grant was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of 12, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she attended Venice High School. In California, she won a teenage singing contest and appeared on television...
(one of only 2 major ones she had, and one of only 3 that charted at all for her) in 1955
1955 in music
-Events:*January 1 – RCA Victor announces a marketing plan called "Operation TNT." The label drops the list price on LPs from $5.95 to $3.98, EPs from $4.95 to $2.98, 45 EPs from $1.58 to $1.49 and 45's from $1.16 to $.89...
. Her recording was issued by Era Records
Era Records
Era Records was an independent American record label located in Hollywood, California. It was founded by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell in 1955 as a pop, country and western and jazz label. Era had a #1 hit in 1956 with Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind", written by Newman. In 1959 Bedell sold his...
as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
1003 and reached Billboard magazine's Top 10. The song was also recorded by Jo Stafford
Jo Stafford
Jo Elizabeth Stafford was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards and occasional actress whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s...
(Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
catalog number 40559) and Julius La Rosa
Julius La Rosa
Julius La Rosa is an American traditional popular music singer who has worked in both radio and television since the 1950s.-Early years and big break:...
(Cadence Records
Cadence Records
Cadence Records was an American record company based in New York City. It was founded by Archie Bleyer, who had been the musical director and orchestra leader for Arthur Godfrey in 1952...
catalog number 1270). Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
recorded a French-language version, Soudain une valléé in February 1956 which outsold all previous versions of the song in Europe, but never actually performed it on the stage. There was also a fine version by Jane Froman
Jane Froman
Jane Froman was an American singer and actress. During her thirty-year career, Froman performed on stage, radio and television despite chronic injuries that she sustained from a 1943 plane crash...
. On the Cash Box
Cash Box magazine
Cashbox magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industries in the USA which was published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996...
Best-Selling Record chart, where all versions were combined, the song reached #8. The Mills Brothers also hit the Billboard Top 100 with their version, not listed as a best-seller by Cashbox. In early 1960 the song was recorded by Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette was an early Rockabilly singer. With his younger brother, Johnny Burnette, and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founder member of The Rock and Roll Trio.-Background and early career:Dorsey Burnett was born on December 28, 1932 to Willie May and Dorsey Burnett Sr...
and subsequently released again on the Era label as a single (Era 3205). In 1960 it was also sung by The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a version by Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
became a Top Ten Hit.
A German version was recorded on December 1, 1955 by Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
under the title "Folge dem Rat deines Herzens (Follow your heart's advice)" and was released in early 1956 on Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
Single D 18 172.
In 1964 the famous band The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
used the song on a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
album under the same name.