1960s, Pop

Danke Schoen

October 7, 2019

First recorded (as the instrumental “Candlelight Cafe”) by Bert Kaempfert (1959 |1962).
Hit version by Wayne Newton (US #13/MOR #3 1963).

From the wiki: “‘Danke Schoen’ was composed by Bert Kaempfert (‘Spanish Eyes’, ‘Strangers in the Night‘) and was first recorded as a jazzy instrumental titled ‘Candlelight Cafe’ in 1959 with Ladi Geisler on guitar, and again in 1962 in an ‘easy listening’ arrangement. Kurt Schwabach wrote the German lyrics.

“The song gained international fame when, in 1963, Milt Gabler wrote English lyrics and 21-year old singer Wayne Newton recorded an American version. The song was originally intended for singer Bobby Darin as a follow-up to his hit single, ‘Mack the Knife’, but after seeing Newton perform at the Copacabana, in Las Vegas, Darin passed the song along to Newton, transposing the arrangement to fit Newton’s voice. ‘Danke Shoen’ became Newton’s first US Top-20 hit.

Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast

March 30, 2015

First recorded by Daniel Boone (UK #17/NZ #1 1971).
Other hit version by Wayne Newton (US #4/MOR #3/C&W #55 1972).

From the wiki: “‘Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast’ was written by Peter Callander and Geoff Stephens. Daniel Boone (‘Beautiful Sunday’) released the original version of the song as his debut single in 1971. It reached #1 in New Zealand and #17 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the featured track on his 1971 album, Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast. Wayne Newton recorded a cover of ‘Daddy’ in 1972 as a come-back single (having last charted Top 40 in 1965). Newton’s version reached #3 on the MOR chart, #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #55 on the Country chart in 1972.”

Red Roses for a Blue Lady

September 9, 2014

First recorded by John Laurenz (1948).
Hit versions by Vaughn Monroe & The Moon Men (US #3 1949), Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (US #8 1949), Bert Kaempert (US #11/MOR #2 1965), Wayne Newton (US #23/MOR #4 1965), Vic Dana (US #10/MOR #2 1965).

From the wiki: “‘Red Roses for a Blue Lady’ was written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, and first recorded in 1948 by John Laurenz. The best-selling recording was produced in 1949 by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra Vocalists: Vaughn Monroe and The Moon Men. The song was revived three times in 1965: By vocalists Vic Dana and Wayne Newton, and by instrumentalist Bert Kaempfert. Dana’s version was the most successful of the three, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Easy Listening chart.”

Tagged: Wayne Newton