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Mr. Lonely (Bobby Vinton song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Mr. Lonely'" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Bobby Vinton, backed by Robert Mersey and his Orchestra. The song was first released on Vinton's 1962 album, 'Roses Are Red'.
Background
Vinton began writing the song in the late 1950s, while serving in the Army.Alan Levy, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=JkEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78#v=onepage&q&f=false His movie got him money but no fame]", 'Life', March 12, 1965. p. 78 The song describes a soldier who is sent overseas and has no communication with his home. The singer laments his condition and wishes for someone to talk with.[http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/bobby_vinton/mr_lonely.html Bobby Vinton "Mr. Lonely"] 'OldieLyrics'. Accessed October 18, 2015
The single of Vinton's recording was released just as the Vietnam War was escalating and many soldiers were experiencing a similar situation.Bob Leszczak, "Who Did It First?: Great Pop Cover Songs and Their Original Artists", 'Rowman & Littlefield', Mar 13, 2014. p. 134 Vinton's version was noted for his sobbing emotionally during the second verse. Vinton and Gene Allan later re-teamed to compose "Coming Home Soldier", which reached No. 11 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in January 1967.[http://www.billboard.com/artist/295525/bobby-vinton/chart?f=379 Bobby Vinton - Chart History - The Hot 100], 'Billboard.com'. Accessed July 28, 2016.
Although he turned out to be Epic Records' best selling artist of the 1960s, the record company initially did not display confidence in Vinton. This song was included on his first vocal album, 'Roses Are Red', but it was not released as a single at that time. Vinton wanted it to be the followup to his first hit, "Roses Are Red," but Epic's executives chose the very similar "Rain Rain Go Away" instead, giving "Mr. Lonely" to Buddy Greco, whom they were grooming as their next big superstar.
Greco's version reached No. 64 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart on November 10, 1962.[http://www.billboard.com/artist/298491/buddy-greco/chart Buddy Greco - Chart History - The Hot 100], 'Billboard.com'. Accessed October 16, 2015 After Vinton heard Greco's version on the radio, the executives confessed to him that they felt he was more of a musician and songwriter than a singer. However, in the following months, Vinton's continued success as a vocalist made them reconsider their position.
Many months later, when Epic gave Vinton the choice of which song should be the twelfth and final selection for his greatest-hits album, he chose "Mr. Lonely". Following its inclusion on the album, many radio disc jockeys started to play the trackparticularly those who remembered Buddy Greco's version and how Vinton had been prevented from releasing it as a single.
With the song's newfound popularity came a rise in demand for Vinton's version to be released as a single. "Mr. Lonely" became one of Vinton's signature songs and a favorite with servicemen around the world. Epic subsequently built an entire album release around "Mr. Lonely" when it became a hit as a single.
In 1966, Vinton recorded a sequel in which the singer comes home safe, "Coming Home Soldier."
Chart history
The song spent 15 weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on December 12, 1964, while reaching No. 3 on 'Billboard'
In 1973, the song was re-released as a single, and it reached No. 24 in Flanders.[http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/5758/Bobby-Vinton-Mr.-Lonely Bobby Vinton - Mr. Lonely], 'Ultratop'. Accessed October 17, 2015
Johnny Hallyday version (in French)
In 1965, French rockstar Johnny Hallyday did a version of the song called "Quand revient la nuit", which became a success in France.
Charts
References
Category:Bobby Vinton songs
Category:1960s ballads
Category:1962 songs
Category:1964 singles
Category:Songs about loneliness
Category:Songs about the military
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Bobby Vinton
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:Internet memes
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