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Memories Are Made of This
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Wikipedia article
"'Memories Are Made of This'" is a popular song about nostalgia, written in 1955 by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller. They were the members of a three-pieced group called "The Easy Riders", who served as a backing band for Dean Martin's version of this song, also released in 1955.
History
The song was first issued by Mindy Carson with Ray Conniff's Orchestra and The Columbians. Carson's version reached No. 53 on 'Billboard's Top 100 chart."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1956/Billboard%201956-02-04.pdf The Top 100]", 'Billboard', February 4, 1956. p. 40. Accessed September 21, 2016.
The most popular version of the song was recorded by Dean Martin in 1955.Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. p. 6. Accessed September 21, 2016. He was backed by The Easy Riders (who consisted of Gilkyson, Dehr, and Miller), who wrote it. On the B-side of the 45 and 78 recordings was "Change of Heart" written by John Rox.
Martin's version reached No. 1 on 'Billboard's Top 100 chart, remaining at the top for five weeks in 1956, while spending six weeks atop 'Billboard's chart of songs "Most Played by Jockeys", five weeks atop 'Billboard's chart of "Best Sellers in Stores", and four weeks atop 'Billboard's chart of songs "Most Played in Juke Boxes".Whitburn, Joel (1987). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 195. It became a Gold record and Martin's biggest hit. It was also his only UK number one hit, topping the UK Singles Chart on 23 February 1956,[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/589/dean-martin/ Dean Martin - Full Official Chart History], 'Official Charts Company'. Accessed September 21, 2016. and remaining at the top for four weeks. The song also reached No. 2 in the Netherlands[http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Dean+Martin&titel=Memories+Are+Made+Of+This&cat=s Dean Martin - Memories Are Made of This], Dutch Charts. Accessed September 21, 2016. and No. 20 in Flanders.[http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/5362/Dean-Martin-Memories-Are-Made-Of-This Dean Martin - Memories Are Made of This], Ultratop. Accessed September 21, 2016.
Gale Storm released a version of the song in late 1955, which reached No. 5 on 'Billboard's chart of songs "Most Played by Jockeys", while reaching No. 16 on "The Top 100".Whitburn, Joel (1987). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 292.
After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the song was adapted into the "Honvgy-dal" ('The Song of Homesickness') and used as an unofficial anthem for refugees scattered around the world. Recorded by Ida Boros, it became a cultural phenomenon and a sign of protest against the communist government.
The song charted once more in 1966 by the Drifters, a No. 48, hit for them. It was recorded by Anne Murray for her 'Croonin' album in 1993, but it was only released as a bonus track on the special 'Croonin' album put out by Heartland Records.
In Germany, titled "Heimweh" ("Homesickness") and performed by Freddy Quinn and with lyrics by Ernst Bader and Dieter Rasch, the song was 14 weeks at number one, the most successful song of 1956. Worldwide it sold more than eight million, thus exceeding sales of the Dean Martin version.Catherine C. Fraser/Dirk O. Hoffmann: 'Pop Culture Germany: Media, Arts And Lifestile', 2006, p. 262
Other notable recordings
'English versions:'
* Dave King (1956)
* Petula Clark (1956)
* Bing Crosby for his album 'Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around' (1956)
* Roger Williams (1959. #81 in Music Vendor)
* Ray Conniff (1960)
* The Everly Brothers (1960)
* Jim Reeves (1963)
* Paul Anka (1963)
* Frank Sinatra (1964)
* Little Richard (1964)
* Cliff Richard and The Shadows (1965)
* The Drifters (1966)
* Val Doonican (1967)
* Shorty Long (1969)
* Statler Brothers (1981)
* Stanley and the Turbines - rocksteady version (1983)
* Johnny Cash (1996)
* Deana Martin (2006)
'German versions:'
* Freddy Quinn 'Heimweh (Dort wo die Blumen blh'n)' (1956)
* ZK, later Die Toten Hosen 'Heimweh' (1980)
* Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung 'Alk-Parade' (1991)
* Stephan Remmler und die Schatzsucher 'Heimweh' (1991)
* Element of Crime 'Heimweh' (2004) Soundtrack 'The Edukators'
'Hungarian versions:'
* Ilona Holls (1957)
* Bojtorjn (1984)
'Croatian version:'
* Vice Vukov 'Sve je daleko sad' (1966)
See also
* List of best-selling singles in Germany
References
Category:Songs about nostalgia
Category:Number-one singles in the United States
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Billboard Top 100 number-one singles
Category:1955 songs
Category:Songs written by Terry Gilkyson
Category:Songs written by Frank Miller (singer)
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Dean Martin songs
Category:Capitol Records singles
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