"BLUE VELVET"

On this day in music history: September 21, 1963 - “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks, also topping the Easy Listening chart for 8 weeks on September 7, 1963. Written by Lee Morris and Bernie Wayne, it is the second chart topping single for the pop vocalist born Stanley Robert Vinton, Jr.. Written in 1950, the song is a hit for singer Tony Bennett the following year, peaking at number sixteen on the Billboard Best Sellers chart. It is also recorded by R&B/Doo Wop vocal group The Clovers in later 1954. Their version peaks at number fourteen on the Rhythm & Blues chart in February of 1955. Vinton’s version is recorded at Columbia Studios in Nashville, TN in just two takes at the end of the session. The song features such top studio musicians as Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph, Grady Martin, and Charlie McCoy. Released in late July of 1963, it quickly becomes a smash. Entering the Hot 100 at #78 on August 10, 1963, it races to the top of the chart six weeks later. Bobby Vinton’s recording of “Blue Velvet” in part inspires David Lynch’s 1986 film of the same name, and is heard several times throughout, by Vinton and is sung by actress Isabella Rossellini. “Velvet” becomes a belated hit in England in 1990 when it is featured in a commercial for Nivea body lotion. The re-release hits number two on the UK singles chart, also peaking at number seven in Australia and number nine in Korea.

A favourite film and of course one of the classic pop ballads of all time but I always think it is Dean Stockwell (criminally under used really in film as he excels here) who sings the title track but he mimes to Roy Orbison's 'In Dreams'  and  Dennis Hopper's 'Frank' mouths along . . . . . it is of course Isabella Rossellini who sings the songs title ballad

Although the actor Michael Ironside claims the Frank Booth character is written with him in mind, Lynch had auditioned Willem Da Foe and Richard Bright. It is always worth remembering that when Hopper finally read the script he is alleged to have telephoned Lynch to ask him to consider him for the role by saying "I AM Frank!"


Not necessarily what one might have wanted to hear!

"A candy-colored clown they call the sandman
Tiptoes to my room every night
And just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper
Go to sleep, everything is all right"