Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1938), known professionally as
Connie Francis, is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop singer"Pop Singer" is the début single from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in February, 1996 through WEA. The single was released as a 2 track CD Single and limited edition pink 7" vinyl of 1000 copies...
best known for several international hit songs including "
Who's Sorry Now?"Who's Sorry Now?" is a popular song with music written by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It was published in 1923.Who's Sorry Now? was featured in the Marx Brothers film A Night in Casablanca , directed by Archie Mayo and released by United Artists.The song has been recorded...
," "
Lipstick on Your CollarLipstick on Your Collar is a 1993 British television serial written by Dennis Potter, originally broadcast on Channel 4. It is also notable for being Ewan McGregor's first major role.-Plot:...
," "
Where the Boys AreWhere the Boys Are is a American coming-of-age comedy film, written by George Wells based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred...
", and "Stupid Cupid." She topped the
Billboard Hot 100The 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...
singles chart on three occasions with "
Everybody's Somebody's Fool"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is a song written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was first recorded by The Heartbeats in 1956 and popularized by Connie Francis. Of whom recorded her take on April 7, 1960, at New York's Olmstead Studios...
," "
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller.The original version was recorded by Connie Francis during three different sessions on July 9, 25, and 31, 1960. Several takes of this recording still exist...
" and "
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
." She was the top-charting female artist of the 1950s.
Early life
Francis was born in the Italian Down Neck, or
IronboundThe Ironbound is a large working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. This close-knit, multi-ethnic community covers approximately four square miles . Historically, the area was called "Dutch Neck," "Down Neck," or simply "the Neck," because of the way the Passaic River curved to form what...
, neighborhood of
NewarkBrick City redirects here. For the township in Ocean County, see Brick Township, New Jersey.Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, and the county seat of Essex County. Newark has a population of 281,402, making it the largest municipality in New Jersey and the 65th largest city in the U.S...
,
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
. She attended
Newark Arts High SchoolNewark Arts High School is a four-year magnet public high school, serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Newark, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Newark Public Schools...
in 1951 and 1952 there. She and her family moved to Belleville, NJ where she graduated "Salutatorian" from the Belleville High School Class of 1955 After an appearance on
Ford Startime, Francis was advised to change her name from Franconero to something more easily pronounceable — and to quit the
accordionThe accordion is a portable box-shaped musical instrument of the hand-held bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox...
that was part of her act.
Francis' first single, "Freddy," (1955) met with little success. Her next nine singles were also failures. During this time she was introduced to
Bobby DarinBobby Darin was an American singer and musician.Darin performed widely in a range of music genres, including pop, jazz, folk and country...
, who was then an up-and-coming singer/songwriter. Darin's manager arranged for him to help write several songs for Connie. Initially the two could not agree on the selection of material, but after several weeks Bobby and Connie developed a romantic interest. Unfortunately, Connie had a very strict Italian father who would separate the couple whenever possible. When Connie's father learned that Bobby had suggested the two lovers elope after one of Connie's shows, he ran Darin out of the building while waving a gun, telling Bobby to never see his daughter again. Bobby saw Connie only two more times after this, once when the two were scheduled to sing together for a television show and again later when Connie was spotlighted on the TV series
This Is Your LifeThis Is Your Life is a television documentary series hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards. It originally aired in the United States from 1952 to 1961, and again in 1972 on NBC. It originated as a radio show airing from 1948 to 1952 on NBC Radio. A version of it continues a very long run in the...
. By the time of the taping Bobby Darin had just married actress
Sandra DeeSandra Dee was an American actress. Dee began her career as a model and progressed to film. Best known for her portrayal of ingenues, Dee won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 as one of the year's most promising newcomers, and over several years her films were popular...
, for which the show's host congratulated Darin. Francis would later write that not marrying Darin was the biggest mistake of her life. She also appeared on the
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
interview program
Here's HollywoodHere's Hollywood is a former NBC television celebrity interview program which aired on weekday afternoons at 4:30 Eastern time from September 26, 1960, to December 28, 1962. In the first season, the interviews were conducted by Dean Miller , of the former CBS series December Bride, and Joanne Jordan...
.
Stardom
After the failure of her first few demos, she considered a career in medicine. MGM was about to drop her due to poor sales. At what was to have been her final recording session for MGM she recorded a
cover versionIn popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition of a previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the 1923 song "
Who's Sorry Now?"Who's Sorry Now?" is a popular song with music written by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It was published in 1923.Who's Sorry Now? was featured in the Marx Brothers film A Night in Casablanca , directed by Archie Mayo and released by United Artists.The song has been recorded...
" which had been written by
Bert KalmarBert Kalmar was a Jewish American lyricist.He was born in New York, New York. He ran away from home at the age of 10 to become a magician at a tent show, and retained an interest in magic all his life. He never got much of an education, but decided to make a career in show business...
and
Harry RubyHarry Ruby was a Jewish American songwriter and screenwriter.After failing in his early ambition to become a professional baseball player,...
. Francis has said that she recorded the song at the suggestion of her father who convinced her it stood a chance of becoming a hit because it was a song adults already knew and that teenagers would dance to with a contemporary arrangement.
The gamble paid off. On January 1, 1958, the song debuted on Dick Clark's
American BandstandAmerican Bandstand was a television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
television show, and by mid-year over a million copies were sold. She was suddenly launched into worldwide stardom. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now" reached number one on the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
and number four in the USA. This was followed by many other hits over the next decade, as Connie Francis became one of the most popular vocalists in the world.
As Francis explains at each of her concerts, she began searching for a new hit immediately after the success of "Who's Sorry Now?". She was introduced to
Neil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter often associated with the Brill Building...
and
Howard GreenfieldHoward Greenfield was an American lyricist and songwriter.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Greenfield worked out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka, a friend he had met as a teenager when they both lived in the same apartment building, in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn...
, who sang for her every ballad they had written. After a few hours, Francis began writing in her
diaryA diary is a record with discreet entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. Diaries undertaken for institutional purposes play a role in many aspects of human civilization, including government records , business ledgers and military records...
while the songwriters played the last of their ballads. Afterwards, Francis told them that she considered their ballads too intellectual for the young generation of the time. Greenfield suggested that Sedaka sing a song they had written that morning for another girl group. Sedaka protested, believing that Francis would be insulted, but Greenfield said that since she hated all the other songs they had performed,they had nothing to lose. Thus, Sedaka reluctantly agreed to play "Stupid Cupid." When he finished, a startled Francis announced that he had just played her new hit record. The song reached #14 on he
Billboard charts. Incidentally, while Francis was writing in her diary, Sedaka asked her if he could read what she had written. She refused, but Sedaka was inspired to write
The Diary, his first hit single. Through the rest of her early career Sedaka and Greenfield wrote many of Connie Francis', hits including "Fallin" (#30) and "
Where the Boys AreWhere the Boys Are is a American coming-of-age comedy film, written by George Wells based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred...
" (#4).
In 1960, Connie Francis became the youngest headliner to sing in
Las VegasLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
, (where she would play 28 days a year for nine years). That same year she also became the first female singer to have two consecutive number 1 singles: "Everybody is Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own". In 1961, she starred in her own television special on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
television sponsored by
BrylcreemBrylcreem is a men's hair grooming product created in 1928 by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street, Birmingham, England. County Chemicals is also noted for Chemico abrasive kitchen cleaner....
titled
Kicking Sound Around, singing and acting alongside
Tab HunterTab Hunter is an American actor, singer, former teen idol and author who has starred in over forty major motion pictures.-Background:...
, Eddie Foy Jr. and
Art CarneyArthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. Carney portrayed the upstairs neighbor and sewer worker Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners.-Personal life:Carney, youngest of six sons , was...
. She appeared on the
Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show was a popular American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan.-History:...
on July 1, 1962 with the French singing star
Johnny HallydayJohnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he is considered by some to be the French version of Elvis Presley....
in a show taped at the famous
Moulin RougeMoulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris red-light district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof.The Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual...
nightclub in Paris, France. Her autobiography,
For Every Young Heart, was released the same year. On July 3, 1963 she played a
Command performanceFor a general description of performances for the monarch, see Royal Command Performance.The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen...
before
Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
at the
Alhambra TheatreThe Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was established in 1854 and demolished in 1936. Its name was adopted by many other British music hall theatres located elsewhere in the metropolis, in Bradford, in Hull and...
in Glasgow, Scotland. By 1967, Francis had 35 U.S. Top 40 hits, three of which were number ones. During the height of the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
in 1967, Connie Francis performed for U.S. troops.
Later career
Francis recorded several albums of
country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
standardsIn music, a standard is any of the most popular and enduring songs from a particular genre or style. See also Jazz standard, Pop standard, and Blues standard....
during her pop career. In 1969, she had a modest country hit with, "The Wedding Cake." She appeared on the country charts again in 1982 with "There's Still a Few Good Love Songs Left in Me." Several country singers found chart success remaking Francis' pop hits for the country market, including
Marie OsmondOlive Marie Osmond is an American actress, singer, doll designer, and a member of the show business family, The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
("Who's Sorry Now?" in 1975),
Susan RayeSusan Raye is an American country music singer, best known for a series of Top 40 Country hits in the early half of the 1970s, most notably the song "L.A. International Airport" in 1971....
("My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" in 1972),
Margo SmithMargo Smith is an American Country Music Singer. In the 1970s, she was a popular female Country vocalist, acquiring two No. 1 hits on the Country charts during that time, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While", both Country music remakes of previous Pop music...
("Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" in 1978), and
Debby BooneDebby Boone is an American singer and theater actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a record ten weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won her a Grammy Award the following year for Best New Artist...
.
Connie Francis returned to the spotlight in 1973 with "The Answer", a song written just for her, and soon began performing again. However, on November 8, 1974 Francis was
rapeRape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or without sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent....
d in the Jericho Turnpike
Howard Johnson'sHoward Johnson's is a chain of restaurants and hotels, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. The name is derived from the founder of the original company, Howard Deering Johnson, who started the initial chain of restaurants and motels...
Lodge following a performance at the
Westbury Music FairThe Capital One Bank Theater at Westbury is an entertainment venue located in Westbury, New York constructed in theater in the round style with seating for 3,000 that was originally developed as a means to present top performers and productions of popular theatrical musicals at a series of venues...
in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After returning to the room some time after the attack she discovered the broken lock and torn screen had not been repaired by facility management. She subsequently
suedA lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have received damages from a defendant's actions, seeks a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
the motel chain for failing to provide adequate security. She reportedly won a $3 million judgment, at the time one of the largest such judgments in history. She did not perform again for seven years afterwards. Her rapist was never found.
In 1978, she attempted a comeback by appearing with her friend Dick Clark on his
ABC-TVThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
variety show
Dick Clark's Live WednesdayDick Clark's LIVE Wednesday was a 1978 NBC variety television series, sometimes called simply Live Wednesday. Hosted by Dick Clark, it was a musical show much like Clark's American Bandstand. Guests included musical artists and actors such as Frankie Avalon, Bo Diddley, Connie Francis, Annette...
. Unknown to the audience, the still-fragile Francis lip-synched to a pre-recorded disco medley of her hit
Where the Boys Are.
She released her
autobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
,
Who's Sorry Now? in 1984.
She resumed her performing career in 1989. Her most recent CD
The American Tour (2004) contains performances from recent shows. In late December 2004, Francis headlined in Las Vegas for the first time since 1989.
In March and October 2007, Francis performed to sold-out crowds at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. She appeared in concert in Manila, the Philippines, on Valentine's Day 2008.
Vocal style
Connie Francis specialized in downbeat ballads (often remakes of old standards) delivered in her trademark "sobbing", emotive style, often embellished using variations in delivery from touching, soft, sweet, tones to soaring, powerful voice textures, with successful hits such as "Who's Sorry Now?" (#4), "My Happiness" (#2), "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry", "Second Hand Love" (#7), "Among My Souvenirs" (#7), "Together" (#6), "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart" (#7), "Many Tears Ago" (#7), "Frankie" (#9), "When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)" (#10), and the
ItalianItalian is a Romance language spoken by about 60 million people in Italy, and by a total of around 70 million in the world. In Switzerland, Italian is one of four official languages. It is also the official language of San Marino, as well as the primary language of Vatican City...
song "Mama" (#8).
However, she also had success with a handful of more upbeat, rock-and-roll-oriented compositions, such as "Stupid Cupid", "Lipstick on Your Collar" (#5), "Robot Man" and "Vacation" (#9). Among her other notable performances were "In the Summer of His Years" (a tribute to slain U.S. President
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
) and
Bert KaempfertBert Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes".-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany - where he received his...
's "
Strangers in the Night"Strangers in the Night" is a popular song, made famous in 1966 by Frank Sinatra.Reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Easy Listening chart, it was the title song for Sinatra's 1966 album Strangers in the Night, which would become his most commercially successful album...
" (although the latter song is more often identified with
Frank SinatraFrancis 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 a successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the "bobby soxers." His professional career had stalled by the...
). Both "
Everybody's Somebody's Fool"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is a song written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was first recorded by The Heartbeats in 1956 and popularized by Connie Francis. Of whom recorded her take on April 7, 1960, at New York's Olmstead Studios...
" and "
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller.The original version was recorded by Connie Francis during three different sessions on July 9, 25, and 31, 1960. Several takes of this recording still exist...
" went to number one on the
Billboard music charts in 1960. In 1962, Francis had another number one hit with "
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
".
Francis recorded many of her hit songs in foreign languages, including "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and her
signature songA signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
, "
Where the Boys AreWhere the Boys Are is a American coming-of-age comedy film, written by George Wells based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred...
". She recorded in thirteen languages throughout her career: English, Greek, German, Swedish, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian (and its dialect Neapolitan), Hebrew, Yiddish, Japanese, Latin and Hawaiian. During a concert at the
Golden Stag FestivalThe Golden Stag Festival is an annual international music festival held in Braşov, Romania. The main organiser is Televiziunea Română, Romania's state-run television network. The festival has two main components: an international contest and guest performances by both Romanian and foreign stars...
in Braşov, Romania, in March 1970, Francis performed live in Romanian. Francis' biggest hit album in the U.S. was 1959's
Italian Favorites; she followed it with several more albums of Italian songs over the years, as well as collections of Spanish-language and Jewish songs, among others.
Personal life
Francis has been married four times. She married Dick Kanellis against her father's wishes on August 15, 1964. She
divorceDivorce or dissolution of marriage is the final termination of a marriage, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between two persons...
d him three months later after he
abusedDomestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence , can be broadly defined a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation...
her. She married hairdresser Izadore "Izzy" Marion on January 16, 1971. They divorced the following year. In September 1973 she married Joseph Garzilli; together they adopted a son, Joseph Garzilli Jr. (Joey), born in 1974. She has stated that it was because of her rape in 1974 that she divorced him. After the marriage ended, she married television producer Bob Parkinson, on June 27, 1985. Like the others, this marriage ended in divorce.
Nasal surgery to correct previous surgery caused a sensitivity to
air conditioningAn air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area, or provide heat to an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
and deprived her of her ability to sing professionally for four years.
Her brother was murdered in 1981.
Francis was later diagnosed with
bipolar disorderBipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, is a serious mental disorder that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if...
. She has long suffered from continuing mental impairments that developed as a result of her rape, including drug dependencies and
suicideSuicide is the intentional killing of one's self. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest"...
attempts. She uses
lithiumLithium pharmacology refers to use of the lithium ion, Li
+, as a drug. A number of chemical salts of lithium are used medically as a mood stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder, where they have a role in the treatment of depression and particularly of mania,...
to treat the illness.
Francis supported Richard Nixon's 1968 bid for the Presidency when she recorded a TV ad for him. http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=richard-nixon-and-tex-ritter source
Lawsuits
Francis brought suit alleging that Universal Music Group took advantage of her condition and stopped paying royalties. It was dismissed. On November 27, 2002, she filed a second suit against UMG alleging the label had "synchronized" several of her songs into movies without her permission: the 1994 film
Post Cards from America, the 1996 film
The CraftThe Craft is a 1996 supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain, and how this changes their friendship...
, and the 1999 film
JawbreakerJawbreaker is a American black comedy satire film, directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in a clique that is at the top of the feeding order in their local high school.-Plot:There's a wicked...
. This suit was also dismissed.
She also sued the producers of the 1999 film
JawbreakerJawbreaker is a American black comedy satire film, directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in a clique that is at the top of the feeding order in their local high school.-Plot:There's a wicked...
, in which her song "Lollipop Lips" is heard during a sex scene.
Film and other media
Connie Francis appeared in the
1960The year 1960 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I...
motion picture
Where the Boys AreWhere the Boys Are is a American coming-of-age comedy film, written by George Wells based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred...
,
Follow the Boys (1963) (the title song of which became a No. 17 Billboard single for Francis),
Looking for LoveLooking for Love is a 1964 romantic musical-comedy movie starring popular singer Connie Francis.-Plot:Francis plays Libby Caruso, who has spent a whole month trying to get into show business with her singing, and hasn't succeed. Libby then decides to retire and get a job where she can meet the...
(1964), and
When the Boys Meet the GirlsWhen the Boys Meet the Girls is a 1965 American musical film, directed by Alvin Ganzer and starring Connie Francis and Harve Presnell. Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan were both uncredited in their roles as the writers for the play the film is based on.-Cast:...
(1965). She overdubbed the vocals for Freda Holloway in the 1957 Warner Brothers rock and roll movie
Jamboree (1957 film)Jamboree is the name of a black and white 1957 rock 'n' roll motion picture directed by Roy Lockwood that runs for 71 minutes in mono RCA sound...
, singing the songs "Siempre", "For Children of All Ages", "Who Are We to Say", and "Twenty-Four Hours a Day", which appeared on the promo soundtrack album for the film.
Later recognition
Billboard chart historian
Joel WhitburnJoel Carver Whitburn is an American author and music historian.Whitburn founded Record Research Inc. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in 1970, and put together a team of researchers to examine in detail all of Billboards music and video charts...
has ranked Connie Francis as the top female vocalist on the Adult Contemporary chart during the 1960s. In 1961, Francis was the first female artist to score a No. 1 Billboard Adult Contemporary single, with "Together," and she topped the AC chart again the following year with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You."
In 2000, "Who's Sorry Now?" was named one of the "
Songs of the CenturyThe "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America , the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools...
". Connie Francis was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in December 2007.
Connie Francis and singer
Gloria EstefanGloria Estefan is a Grammy Award-winning Cuban-American singer and songwriter. She is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 90 million albums sold worldwide, 26.5 million of those in the United States alone...
completed a screenplay for a movie based on Francis' life titled
Who's Sorry Now?. Estefan has announced that she would produce and play the lead. She said, "[Connie Francis] isn't in the
Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music...
, and yet she was the first pop star worldwide, and has recorded in nine languages. She has done a lot of things for victims' rights since her rape in the '70s .... There's a major story there."
Charted singles
| Year |
Title |
Chart positions |
| US Billboard 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...
|
US Cashbox |
US AC The Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 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...
|
US R&B Rhythm and blues is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s...
|
US Country Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
|
UK The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
|
| 1957 |
"The Majesty of Love" (w/ Marvin Rainwater Marvin Karleton Percy , better known as Marvin Rainwater, is an American country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Woman." Known for wearing Native American-themed outfits on stage, he is 25%...
) |
93 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1958 |
"Who's Sorry Now? "Who's Sorry Now?" is a popular song with music written by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It was published in 1923.Who's Sorry Now? was featured in the Marx Brothers film A Night in Casablanca , directed by Archie Mayo and released by United Artists.The song has been recorded...
" |
4 |
3 |
– |
4 |
– |
1 |
| "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" |
36 |
31 |
– |
– |
– |
11 |
| "Stupid Cupid" / "Carolina Moon Carolina Moon is a popular song written by Joe Burke and Benny Davis. The song was a 1928 hit for crooner Gene Austin, when it charted for 14 weeks, staying at number one for 7 weeks....
" |
15 |
16 |
– |
– |
– |
1 |
| "Fallin' Fallin is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield that was recorded by Connie Francis on 2 September 1958 at Metropolitan Studio in a session produced by Morton "Morty" Kraft who also conducted...
" |
30 |
39 |
– |
– |
– |
20 |
| "Happy Days and Lonely Nights Happy Days and Lonely Nights is a torch song written by Billy Rose and Fred Fisher which Ruth Etting introduced in 1928. The song was successfully revived in the 1950s in the US by the Fontane Sisters and in the UK most successfully by Ruby Murray....
" |
– |
88; |
– |
– |
– |
| "I'll Get By" |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
19 |
| "Never Before" |
– |
99 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1959 |
"My Happiness" |
2 |
2 |
– |
11 |
– |
4 |
| "You Always Hurt the One You Love "You Always Hurt the One You Love" is a pop standard, written by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. It has been performed by many artists over the years, such as The Mills Brothers, Connie Francis , Fats Domino, The Impressions,...
" |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
13 |
| "If I Didn't Care "If I Didn't Care" is a song written by Jack Lawrence that was originally sung and recorded by The Ink Spots in 1939. According to Lawrence he mailed the song before showing it to some of his friends. His friends' reaction to the song was almost universally negative, but he remained positive on it...
" |
22 |
15 |
– |
29 |
– |
– |
| "Lipstick on Your Collar" |
5 |
3 |
– |
10 |
– |
3 |
| "Frankie" |
9 |
9 |
– |
17 |
– |
– |
| "You're Gonna Miss Me" |
22 |
33 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Plenty Good Lovin'" |
69 |
63 |
– |
– |
– |
18 |
| "Among My Souvenirs" |
7 |
5 |
– |
10 |
– |
11 |
| "God Bless America "God Bless America" is an American patriotic song originally written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938, as sung by Kate Smith ....
" |
36 |
36 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1960 |
"Mama" / "Robot Man" |
8 |
7 |
– |
– |
– |
2 |
| "Teddy" |
17 |
31 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Everybody's Somebody's Fool "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is a song written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was first recorded by The Heartbeats in 1956 and popularized by Connie Francis. Of whom recorded her take on April 7, 1960, at New York's Olmstead Studios...
" |
1 |
1 |
– |
2 |
24 |
5 |
| "Jealous of You (Tango Della Gelosia)" |
19 |
27 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller.The original version was recorded by Connie Francis during three different sessions on July 9, 25, and 31, 1960. Several takes of this recording still exist...
" |
1 |
1 |
– |
11 |
– |
3 |
| "Malaguena" |
42 |
67 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Many Tears Ago" |
7 |
9 |
– |
– |
– |
12 |
| "Senza Momma (With No One)" |
87 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1961 |
"Where the Boys Are" |
4 |
4 |
– |
– |
– |
5 |
| "No One" |
34 |
65 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" is a popular song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller. The song was a 1961 hit for Connie Francis, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song made the Italian top ten later in 1961 as "La Valle Senzo Eco"...
" / "Someone Else's Boy"Someone Else's Boy" is a song written by Hal Gordon and Athena Hosey. It was recorded by Connie Francis on January 31, 1961, in New York.The song was the flipside of Francis' hit single "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart", which peaked at number seven on the U.S. pop chart. Although "Someone...
" |
7 |
5 |
– |
– |
– |
12 |
| "Together "Together" is a 1928 popular song with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The most popular 1928 recording of the song, by Paul Whiteman, with Bix Beiderbecke on coronet, was a #1 hit....
" |
6 |
7 |
1 |
– |
– |
6 |
| "Too Many Rules" |
72 |
64 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "(He's My) Dreamboat" |
14 |
22 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Hollyood" |
42 |
26 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)" |
10 |
8 |
2 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Baby's First Christmas" |
26 |
52 |
7 |
– |
– |
30 |
| 1962 |
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
" |
1 |
2 |
1 |
– |
– |
39 |
| "Second Hand Love" |
7 |
7 |
3 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Vacation Vacation was a hit for Connie Francis which entered the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1962 to peak at #9; its peak on the Cash Box Top 100 chart was #10....
" |
9 |
10 |
– |
– |
– |
10 |
| "The Biggest Sin of All" |
116 |
89 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "I Was Such a Fool (To Fall In Love With You)" |
24 |
18 |
8 |
– |
– |
– |
| "He Thinks I Still Care" |
57 |
51 |
18 |
– |
– |
– |
| "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter" is a recording by Connie Francis released in December 1962 to peak at #18 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100...
" |
18 |
18 |
19 |
– |
– |
48 |
| "Al di là "Al di là" is a popular Italian song. "Al di là" was one of Betty Curtis' biggest hits in Italy. The song was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Italian by Curtis at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on March 18, 1961 after Curtis had won the 1961...
" |
90 |
87 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1963 |
"Follow the Boys" |
17 |
11 |
7 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Waiting for Billy" |
127 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "If My Pillow Could Talk If My Pillow Could Talk was a hit single for Connie Francis recorded in New York City on 22 March 1963 in a session conducted and arranged by Marty Manning best known for his work with Tony Bennett.The song was written by Jimmy Steward, Jr...
" |
23 |
16 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Drownin' My Sorrows" |
36 |
34 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Mala Femmena" |
114 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Your Other Love" |
28 |
22 |
10 |
– |
– |
– |
| "In the Summer of His Years" |
46 |
31 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1964 |
"Blue Winter" |
24 |
16 |
8 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Be Anything (But Be Mine) "Be Anything " is a popular song. It was written by Irving Gordon and was published in 1952.The recording by Eddy Howard was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5815. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on March 21, 1952 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #13...
" |
25 |
23 |
9 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Looking for Love" |
45 |
34 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "Don't Ever Leave Me" |
42 |
37 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "We Have Something More" |
128 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| 1965 |
"Whose Heart Are You Breaking Tonight" |
43 |
42 |
7 |
– |
– |
– |
| "For Mamma (La Mamma)" |
48 |
35 |
12 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Wishing It Was You" |
57 |
49 |
14 |
– |
– |
– |
| "My Child" |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
26 |
| "Forget Domani" |
79 |
55 |
16 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Roundabout" |
80 |
83 |
10 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Jealous Heart" |
47 |
29 |
10 |
– |
– |
44 |
| 1966 |
"Love Is Me, Love Is You" |
66 |
68 |
28 |
– |
– |
– |
| "So Nice (Summer Samba) Summer Samba is a 1966 bossa nova song by Brazilian composer Marcos Valle, with English-language lyrics by Norman Gimbel; the original Portuguese lyrics came from Paulo Sérgio Valle, brother to the composer.The song was first popularized by the Walter Wanderley Trio in 1966 — the album on...
" |
– |
– |
17 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Spanish Nights and You" |
99 |
81 |
15 |
– |
– |
– |
| 1967 |
"Time Alone Will Tell" |
94 |
– |
14 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Another Page" |
– |
99 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| "My Heart Cries for You "My Heart Cries for You" is a popular song, adapted by Carl Sigman and Percy Faith from an 18th century French melody.It was recorded toward the end of 1950 by Guy Mitchell with Mitch Miller and his orchestra, in a recording issued by Columbia Records as catalog number 39067, which sold over a...
" |
118 |
96 |
12 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Lonely Again" |
– |
– |
22 |
– |
– |
– |
| 1968 |
"My World Is Slipping Away" |
– |
– |
35 |
– |
– |
– |
| "Who Can Say Goodbye (A Comme Amour)" |
132 |
– |
27 |
– |
– |
– |
| "I Don't Wanna Play House" |
– |
– |
40 |
– |
– |
– |
| 1969 |
"The Wedding Cake" |
91 |
97 |
19 |
– |
33 |
– |
| 1973 |
"The Answer - Should I Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around the Oak Old Tree" |
– |
99 |
– |
– |
| – |
– |
40 |
– |
– |
– |
| 1982 |
"There's Still a Few Good Love Songs Left In Me" |
– |
– |
– |
– |
84 |
– |
Other notable songs
The A-Side of Francis' first ever published single (1955, MGM Records K 12015). "Freddy" was given the A-Side status rather than the single's B-Side "Didn't I love you enough" because MGM's president, Harry Meyerson, had a son named Freddy and Meyerson thought of this song as a suitable birthday gift. A version recorded by
Eartha KittEartha Mae Kitt was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit Christmas song "Santa Baby"...
and
Perez PradoPerez Prado was a Cuban/Mexican bandleader and composer. He is commonly referred to as the "King of the Mambo"...
was released at the same time as the Francis version. Although it also failed to chart, it still sold better than the Francis version because of its mambo arrangement, which was part of the current sound of the day.
- "My First Real Love" (1956)
Bobby DarinBobby Darin was an American singer and musician.Darin performed widely in a range of music genres, including pop, jazz, folk and country...
wrote this song for Francis, which led to their first encounter. Darin was "The Jaybirds", who were credited as background vocals. The choir effect was reached by Darin recording his part several times in different keys. However, the single failed to chart.
- "Never on Sunday
Never on Sunday is a popular song.The music was written by Manos Hadjidakis, with original Greek lyrics also by Manos Hadjidakis. The original Greek title is Τα Παιδιά του Πειραιά which translates as "The Children of Piraeus", and is the title commonly used in Greece...
" (1961)
Francis was invited to the 1961 Academy Awards ceremony to present one of the songs nominated for an Academy Award. She was offered "The Second Time Around" from the movie
High TimeHigh Time is a 1960 collegiate comedic film, directed by Blake Edwards and starring Bing Crosby. The film is told from the perspective of a middle-aged man who enters the world of a new generation of postwar youth...
starring
Bing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American popular singer and actor whose career stretched over more than half a century from 1926 until his death....
. She turned that song down in favor of "Never on Sunday", even singing a few bars of the original Greek lyrics during the ceremony. Francis never considered releasing a recording of the song as a single, because
The ChordettesThe Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet, usually singing a cappella, and specializing in traditional popular music. The Chordettes were one of the longest lived vocal groups with beginnings in the mainstream pop and vocal harmonies of the 1940s and early 1950s...
had already taken their version to #13 on the charts. But in August 1961, Francis recorded the song for an album featuring songs from motion pictures.
- "Al di là
"Al di là" is a popular Italian song. "Al di là" was one of Betty Curtis' biggest hits in Italy. The song was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Italian by Curtis at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on March 18, 1961 after Curtis had won the 1961...
" (1962)
Contrary to popular belief, this song did not originate in the 1962 movie
Rome Adventure where it was presented by Emilio Pericoli. The song was actually written as an entry for the Sanremo Festival. Originally recorded and performed by Betty Curtis, it became the winning song of the 1961 edition of the festival, which subsequently resulted in the nominations as Italy's entry for the 1961 edition of the
Eurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
(# 5). Connie Francis included the song on her album
Connie Francis sings Modern Italian hits (MGM Records SE-4102), which was recorded in November 1962. Several versions of the Francis version exist: 1.) Bilingual Italian/English, running time 3'17", released in the US on both the album and MGM single K 13116, 2.) Pure Italian, running time 3'30", released in Mexico on MGM Records
EPAn extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
EXPL 1034, 3.) Pure Italian, alternate take, running time 3'46", released in Spain on MGM Records EP 63-025. To this day, "
Al di là"Al di là" is a popular Italian song. "Al di là" was one of Betty Curtis' biggest hits in Italy. The song was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Italian by Curtis at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on March 18, 1961 after Curtis had won the 1961...
" remains as a part of Francis' live act.
Francis created a phenomenon by recording this song, because the lyrics were actually written for a male singer. The original lyrics tell about a man who finds out that his woman is cheating on him. Francis had the song rewritten, which told now the story of a woman telling "the other woman" to leave her man alone. This recording peaked only at # 114 in the US, but became her fourth # 1 hit in Italy
Between late 1962 and late 1964, Francis recorded and released several songs which dabbled with the
Girl groupA girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonize together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
sound, which was created by successful acts such as The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes or
Lesley GoreLesley Gore is an American singer-songwriter of the "girl group era". She is perhaps best known for her 1963 pop hit, "It's My Party", which she recorded at the age of 16. Following the hit, she became one of the most recognized teen pop singers of 1963-1967...
. Popular writers and producers of that sound were
Phil SpectorHarvey Philip "Phil" Spector is an American pioneering record producer and songwriter who was convicted of murder in 2009....
,
Jeff BarryJeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
, and
Ellie GreenwichEleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
. The latter two wrote and co-produced several songs for Francis. One of them was "Tommy". Recorded during an extensive session on April 8, 1964, this song, which would eventually be released as the flip side of "Blue Winter" on MGM Records Single K 13237, featured
Ellie GreenwichEleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
and
The TokensThe Tokens are an American male doo-wop vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are best-known for their chart-topping 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
as special guest backup vocals.
- "Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme
"Lara's Theme" is the generic name given to a leitmotif written for the film Doctor Zhivago by composer Maurice Jarre. Soon afterward, it became the basis of the song "Somewhere My Love."- Original composition :...
)" (1966)
The lyrics for a vocal version of the best known theme from the
Doctor Zhivago-Original creation:*Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak, published in 1957**Yuri Andreyevich Zhivago, a fictional character and the main protagonist of the book Doctor Zhivago-Adaptations:There are several adaptations based on the Doctor Zhivago book:...
sound track were written by Academy Award winning lyricist
Paul Francis WebsterPaul Francis Webster was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Song and was nominated sixteen times for the award.- Biography :...
after a special request from Francis herself. But Francis rejected the lyrics at first because she thought of them as too corny. When she finally realized the song's potential, The
Ray ConniffJoseph Raymond Conniff was an American musician. He was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and learned to play the trombone from his father. He studied music arranging from a course book.After serving in the U.S...
Singers had recorded it and taken to #9 of the charts. Francis' version became a hit nonetheless, becoming a # 1 in several Asian countries and Scandinavia. The Italian recording, "Dove non so", became her last # 1 hit in Italy.
US albums
Connie Francis recorded her first US album in 1958, the first of a prolific career at MGM that would last eleven years. In 1981, she made a comeback album for the label.
- MGM E-3686: Who's Sorry Now?
"Who's Sorry Now?" is a popular song with music written by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It was published in 1923.Who's Sorry Now? was featured in the Marx Brothers film A Night in Casablanca , directed by Archie Mayo and released by United Artists.The song has been recorded...
(released April 1958)
- MGM E-/SE-3761: The Exciting Connie Francis
The Exciting Connie Francis is a studio album recorded by American pop singer Connie Francis. It is the second album Francis cut for MGM Records....
(released March 1959)
- MGM E-/SE-3776: My Thanks To You (released August 1959)
- MGM E-/SE-3791: Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites (released November 1959) US #4, CM # 5, CS # 7
- MGM E-/SE-3792: Christmas In My Heart
"Christmas In My Heart" was released as the first and only single from The Jets' Christmas album Christmas with The Jets. The song peaked at #20 in Japan in December 1986.-Chart performance:...
(released November 1959)
- MGM E-/SE-3793: Connie's Greatest Hits (released November 1959) US #17 / UK #16, CM # 19
- MGM E-/SE-3794: Rock 'n' Roll Million Sellers (released November 1959) UK #12
- MGM E-/SE-3795: Country And Western Golden Hits (released November 1959)
- Lion Records L 70126: Connie Francis Sings Fun Songs For Children (released November 1959)
- MGM E-/SE-3853: Connie Francis Sings Spanish And Latin American Favorites (released July 1960) CM # 23, CS #25
- MGM E-/SE-3869: Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites (released October 1960) US #69, CM #33
- MGM E-/SE-3871: More Italian Favorites (released October 1960) US #9, CM # 39
- MGM E-/SE-3893: Songs To A Swingin' Band (released February 1961)
- MGM E-/SE-3913: Connie At The Copa (released January 1961) US #65
- MGM E-/SE-3942: More Greatest Hits (released May 1961) US #39, CM # 16, CS # 24
- MGM E-/SE-3965: Connie Francis Sings "Never On Sunday" (released October 1961) US #11, CM # 10, CS # 18
- MGM E-/SE-3969: Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites (released November 1961)
- Mati-Mor Superecords M 8002: Sing Along With Connie Francis (released November 1961)
- MGM E-/SE-4013: Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites (released March 1962)
- MGM E-/SE-4022: Do The Twist (released March 1962, retitled Dance Party and repackaged in July 1962) US #47 CM # 48
- MGM E-4023: Connie Francis Sings Fun Songs For Children (released March 1962, re-release of Lion Records L 70126)
- MGM E-/SE-4048: Connie Francis Sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits (released March 1963) US #108, CS #22, CM #33
- MGM E-/SE-4049: Connie Francis Sings Second Hand Love (released May 1962) US #111
- MGM E-/SE-4079: Country Music Connie Style (released August 1962) US #22 CM # 23
- MGM E-/SE-4102: Connie Francis Sings Modern Italian Hits (released December 1962) US #103, CM # 43
- MGM E-/SE-4123: Follow The Boys
Follow the Boys , also known as Three Cheers for the Boys, is a musical film made by Universal Pictures as an all-star cast morale booster to entertain the troops abroad and the civilians at home. The film was directed by A. Edward "Eddie" Sutherland and produced by Charles K...
(released February 1963) US #66 CS # 32 CM # 29
- MGM E-/SE-4124: Connie Francis Sings German Favorites (released January 1964)
- MGM E-/SE-4145: Great American Waltzes (released July 1963) US #94 CS #42, CM # 72
- MGM E-/SE-4161: "Mala Femmena" And Connie's Big Hits From Italy (released August 1963) US #70
- MGM E-/SE-4167: The Very Best Of Connie Francis (released September 1963) US #68, CM # 73
- MGM E-/SE-4210: In The Summer Of His Years (released December 1963) US #126 CS # 47
- MGM E-/SE-4229: Looking For Love
"Looking for Love" is the second single from Swedish singer September's album In Orbit. Released in 2005, it charted in Sweden and Poland, reaching number 17 and number 2, respectively.....
(released June 1964) US #122 CM # 43
- MGM E-/SE-4251: Connie Francis & Hank Williams, jr. Sing Great Country Favorites (released November 1964)
- MGM E-/SE-4253: A New Kind Of Connie (released September 1964) US #149, CM # 73
- MGM E-/SE-4294: Connie Francis Sings "For Mama" (released March 1965) US #78, C #89
- MGM E-/SE-4298: Connie Francis Sings All Time International Hits (released July 1965)
- MGM E-/SE-4334: When The Boys Meet The Girls
When the Boys Meet the Girls is a 1965 American musical film, directed by Alvin Ganzer and starring Connie Francis and Harve Presnell. Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan were both uncredited in their roles as the writers for the play the film is based on.-Cast:...
(released November 1965) US #61
- MGM E-/SE-4355: Jealous Heart
Jealous Heart is a classic C&W song which has also been recorded by several Pop singers.-Early versions:The first recording of "Jealous Heart" was made in 1944 by its composer Jenny Lou Carson...
(released January 1966)
- MGM E-/SE-4382: Movie Greats Of The Sixties (released July 1966)
- MGM E-/SE-4399: Connie's Christmas (released November 1966, re-release of MGM E-/SE-3792)
- MGM E-/SE-4411: Live At The Sahara In Las Vegas (released October 1966)
- King Leo Records LES 903: Connie Francis And The Kids Next Door (released October 1966, originally scheduled as MGM E-/SE-4412)
- MGM E-/SE-4448: Love, Italian Style
Love, Italian Style is a studio album recorded by American pop singer Connie Francis.During October 1966, Francis recorded several Italian language tracks at Milan Ricordi Studios in Rome/Italy...
(released January 1967)
- MGM E-/SE-4472: Happiness - Connie Francis on Broadway today (released April 1967)
- MGM E-/SE-4474: Grandes Exitos Del Cine De Los Años 60 (released July 1967)
- MGM E-/SE-4487: My Heart Cries for You
"My Heart Cries for You" is a popular song, adapted by Carl Sigman and Percy Faith from an 18th century French melody.It was recorded toward the end of 1950 by Guy Mitchell with Mitch Miller and his orchestra, in a recording issued by Columbia Records as catalog number 39067, which sold over a...
(released July 1967)
- MGM E-/SE-4522: Hawaii Connie (released October 1968)
- MGM E-/SE-4573: Connie And Clyde (released May 1968)
- MGM E-/SE-4585: Connie Sings Bacharach & David (released October 1968)
- MGM SE-4637: The Wedding Cake (released May 1969)
- MGM SE-4655: Connie Francis Sings The Songs Of Les Reed (released November 1969)
- MGM/Polydor 1-5406 "I'm Me Again" (1981)
MGM E- = mono release
MGM SE- = stereo release
(US = Billboard Hot 200 LPs Chart, C= Cashbox LPS chart, CM = Cashbox Mono LPS chart, CS = Cashbox Stereo LPS chart)
Selected foreign albums
- MGM Records 60 001: Connie Francis en El Patio
Connie Francis en El Patio is a 12" studio album recorded by American pop singer Connie Francis. The tracklisting consist of a compilation of Francis' most successful Spanish language pop recordings released between 1960 and 1964....
- Columbia 1965
- MGM Records 60 709: Somewhere, my love
Somewhere, my love is a 10" studio album recorded by American popular music singer Connie Francis.Produced as a special release for the German Bertelsmann Record Club, Somewhere, my love is a compilation of English language and German language tracks recorded by Francis in May and June of 1966:The...
- Germany 1967 (Distributed by Polydor)
- MGM Records MG 50 006: Connie Francis canta i suoi best-seller e altri successi internazionali - Italy 1967
External links
- Official Site
- The Work of Claus Ogerman, a pictorial discography showing albums and singles, along with studio photos and complete liner notes which document Francis' work in the 1960s with this arranger/conductor.