Why (Frankie Avalon song)

"Why" is a hit song recorded by Frankie Avalon in 1959 that went to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959, for the week ending of January 2, 1960,[1] making it the last No. 1 single of the 1950s, and the first No. 1 single of the 1960s at the same time. It also became the first No. 1 single of the 1960s on the Cashbox magazine charts. The song was written by Avalon's manager and record producer Robert "Bob" Marcucci and Peter De Angelis. It was Avalon's second and final No. 1 hit.[2]

"Why"
Single by Frankie Avalon
B-side"Swingin' on a Rainbow"
ReleasedNovember 9, 1959
GenrePop
Length2:30
LabelChancellor 1045
Songwriter(s)Peter De Angelis, Bob Marcucci
Frankie Avalon singles chronology
"Just Ask Your Heart" / "Two Fools"
(1959)		 "Why"
(1959)		 "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops"
(1960)
"Why"
Single by Donny Osmond
from the album Too Young
B-side"Lonely Boy"
ReleasedAugust 12, 1972
Recorded1972
GenrePop
Length2:44
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)Peter De Angelis, Bob Marcucci
Producer(s)Mike Curb, Don Costa
Donny Osmond singles chronology
"Too Young"
(1972)		 "Why"
(1972)		 "The Twelfth of Never"
(1973)

The melody is based on an Italian song. The Avalon version features an uncredited female singer (alleged to be Fran Lori[3]), heard in the repeat of the first four lines of the first part of the song, with Avalon replying, "Yes, I love you". He concludes the last quarter of the song with a coda, by himself.

Cover versions
  • The French cover by Dalida in 1960 became very popular as Bras Dessus Bras Dessous. Instead of being featured on her 1960 album Les enfants du Pirée, it was released only on EP with three more songs that appeared on her following 1961 year album Garde-moi la dernière danse.
  • Anthony Newley covered the song shortly after Avalon, and his version went to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1960.[4]
  • Donny Osmond recorded "Why" in 1972, and it peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Easy Listening chart.[5] Osmond’s version also reached No. 13 in the New Zealand.[6]

See also

References
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 38.
  3. http://www.jerryosborne.com/5-5-14.htm
  4. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 47–8. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 187.
  6. Flavour of New Zealand, 8 January 1973


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