Little Things Mean a Lot
"Little Things Mean a Lot" is a popular song written by Edith Lindeman (lyrics) and Carl Stutz (music), published in 1953.[2] Lindeman was the leisure editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Stutz, a disc jockey from Richmond, Virginia.[2] Stutz and Lindeman are also known for writing Perry Como's 1959 hit, "I Know" (which reached No.47 on the U.S. Billboard chart and No.13 on the UK Singles Chart).
"Little Things Mean a Lot" | ||||
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Single by Kitty Kallen | ||||
B-side | "I Don't Think You Love Me Anymore"[1] | |||
Released | March 8, 1954 | |||
Recorded | December 30, 1953[1] | |||
Studio | Decca Studios, Pythian Temple, New York City | |||
Genre | Traditional pop | |||
Length | 2:57 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Songwriter(s) | Edith Lindeman, Carl Stutz | |||
Producer(s) | Jack Pleis | |||
Kitty Kallen singles chronology | ||||
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The best known recording of "Little Things Mean a Lot," by Kitty Kallen (Decca 9-29037), reached No.1 on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1954, and also reached No.1 on the Cash Box chart the same year. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song of 1954. In addition, the track climbed to the top spot in the UK Singles Chart in September of that same year.[2]
A cover of the song was done by Alma Cogan with orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell in London on May 22, 1954. Cogan's recording was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10717 and reached No. 11 in the UK. The flip side was "Canoodlin' Rag."
Harry James recorded a version in 1955 on his album Jukebox Jamboree (Columbia CL 615).
The song reached the Top 40 again in the U.S. in 1960 when a recording by Joni James reached No.35. "Little Things Mean a Lot" was a U.S. C&W hit in 1978 for Margo Smith, whose version reached No.3 C&W and also charted at No.37 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[3] In 1985 a remake of the song by Dana reached No.27 in Ireland. "Little Things Mean a Lot" has also been recorded by Cilla Black, Anita Bryant, Patty Duke, Julie London, Susan Maughan, Cliff Richard, Bettye Swann, the Teddy Bears and Little Shoes Big Voice for a 2013 Axa television advert in the UK. The song was also recorded in 1976 by Gene Rondo and TT Ross.
Otto Leisner wrote lyrics for a Danish rendering entitled "Småting kan sige alt", which was recorded by Raquel Rastenni, accompanied by Harry Felbert's sextet, conducted by Harry Felbert; and recorded in Copenhagen in 1954. The song was released on His Master's Voice X 8211. It was arranged by Børge Nordlund.
References
- Decca Records in the 29000 to 29499 series
- Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 14. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 222.
Preceded by "Wanted" |
Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record June 5, 1954 – June 19, 1954 |
Succeeded by "Three Coins in the Fountain" |
Preceded by "Three Coins in the Fountain" |
Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record July 3, 1954 – July 10, 1954 |
Succeeded by "Three Coins in the Fountain" |
Preceded by "Three Coins in the Fountain" |
Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record July 24, 1954 – July 31, 1954 |
Succeeded by Sh-Boom |
Preceded by "Cara Mia" by David Whitfield |
UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Kitty Kallen 10 September 1954 for 1 week |
Succeeded by "Three Coins in the Fountain" by Frank Sinatra |