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Venus (Frankie Avalon song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Venus'" is a song written by Ed Marshall. The most successful and best-known recording of the track was done by Frankie Avalon and released in 1959, where it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
Background
"Venus" became Avalon's first number-one hit on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart, where it spent five weeks atop the survey. The song also reached number ten on the R&B chart. The song's lyrics detail a man's plea to Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, to send him a girl to love and one who will love him as well. 'Billboard' ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1959.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1959
The song was covered in the United Kingdom by Dickie Valentine who spent a week at number 20 in the Singles Chart in May 1959, the week before Frankie Avalon reached the Top 20 with his original version.
In 1976, Avalon released a new disco version of "Venus". This helped revive the singer's career, as his success had been waning prior to its release and was Avalon's last 'Billboard' Hot 100 hit. The re-recording of "Venus" peaking at number forty-six on the U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1976/Billboard%201976-03-06.pdf Billboard Hot 100]", 'Billboard', March 3, 1976. Retrieved June 19, 2018. and at number one on the Easy Listening chart. Avalon was quoted stating his opinion of the remake: "It was all right, but I still prefer the original."Hyatt, Wesley (1999). 'The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits' (Billboard Publications)
Other charting versions
*Johnny Mathis: His version reached No. 23 on 'Billboard's Easy Listening chart"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1968/Billboard%201968-06-22.pdf Easy Listening]", 'Billboard', June 22, 1968. p. 52. Retrieved June 19, 2018. "bubbled under" the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart at No. 111."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1968/Billboard%201968-06-22.pdf Bubbling Under the Hot 100]", 'Billboard', June 22, 1968. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
*Jamie Redfern: His version in 1973 entered the Go-Set - Australian charts at number 27.[http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19730623.html Go-Set Singles]", Retrieved June 11, 2020.
In popular culture
Avalon's recording of the song was used multiple times in the Showtime series 'Dexter', as the favourite song of Arthur Mitchell's sister Vera.
Charts
All-time charts
See also
*List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959 (U.S.)
*List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)
References
Category:1959 singles
Category:1976 singles
Category:Barry Manilow songs
Category:Frankie Avalon songs
Category:Johnny Mathis songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Chancellor Records singles
Category:1959 songs
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