Wikipedia article
"'Roses Are Red (My Love)'" is a popular song composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans. It was recorded by Bobby Vinton, backed by Robert Mersey and his Orchestra, in New York City in February 1962, and released in April 1962, and the song was his first hit.["Bobby Vinton's All-Time Greatest Hits," Varese (Vintage) Sarabande CD compilation, copyright 2003]
Bobby Vinton version
Bobby Vinton found the song in a reject pile at Epic Records.[ He first recorded it as an R&B number, but was allowed to re-record it in a slower more dramatic arrangement, with strings and a vocal choir (from Robert Mersey and his Orchestra) added.]["Bobby Vinton's All-Time Greatest Hits," Varese (Vintage) Sarabande CD compilation, copyright 2003]
The song was released in April 1962.[Alan Levy, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=JkEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q&f=false A dozen red roses - to disc jockeys]", 'Life', March 12, 1965. p. 89] It reached No. 1 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States, and was a major hit in many other countries as well. The song topped the 'Billboard' Hot 100 singles chart on July 14, 1962, and remained there for four weeks.[[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bobby-vinton/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 - Bobby Vinton Roses Are Red Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 19, 2018.][Joel Whitburn, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits", 'Billboard Publications, Inc.', 1987. p. 316] The single was also the first number-one hit for Epic Records.
'Billboard' ranked the record No. 4 in their year end ranking "Top 100 Singles of 1962"["[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/BB-1962-12-29-Who's-Who.pdf Top 100 Singles of 1962]", 'Billboard', Section II, December 29, 1962. p. 82. Retrieved February 24, 2018.] and No. 36 in their year end ranking of the top Rhythm and Blues records of 1962.["[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/BB-1962-12-29-Who's-Who.pdf The Top 50 Country Music and Rhythm & Blues Records of 1962]", 'Billboard', Section II, December 29, 1962. p. 88. Retrieved March 19, 2018.] The song was also ranked No. 17 on 'Cash Box's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1962".
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Ronnie Carroll version
In the UK, a cover version by Northern Irish singer Ronnie Carroll reached No. 3 on the 'Record Retailer' chart on August 8, 1962, the same week that the Bobby Vinton record peaked at No. 15.[[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3744/ronnie-carroll/ Ronnie Carroll- Full Official Chart History], 'Official Charts Company'. Accessed October 13, 2015][[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10255/bobby-vinton/ Bobby Vinton - Full Official Chart History], 'Official Charts Company'. Accessed October 13, 2015] It peaked at No. 7 in the very first Irish Singles Chart published in September 1962.
Chart performance
Other versions
In July 1962, David MacBeth released his version of the song as a single on Piccadilly Records.
The song was recorded by Jim Reeves in 1963 and released on the album 'Gentleman Jim', one of the last albums released while he was still alive.
The song was covered by Singaporean female artist Zhuang Xue Fang (), in edited Standard Chinese lyrics written by Suyin (/) under title name of , with Ruby Records in 1967.
In 1962, an answer song, entitled "Long as the Rose Is Red", was recorded by Florraine Darlin.["[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-09-29.pdf Artists' Biographies]", 'Billboard', September 29, 1962. p. 40. Accessed February 19, 2016] The song spent seven weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, reaching No. 62,[[https://web.archive.org/web/20180521230954/https://www.billboard.com/music/florraine-darlin/chart-history/hot-100/song/581650 Hot 100 - Florraine Darlin Long as the Rose Is Red Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 20, 2018.] while reaching No. 15 on 'Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20180515090501/https://www.billboard.com/music/florraine-darlin/chart-history/adult-contemporary/song/581650 Adult Contemporary - Florraine Darlin Long as the Rose Is Red Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved March 20, 2018.]["[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-09-15.pdf Easy Listening]", 'Billboard', September 15, 1962. p. 26. Accessed February 19, 2016] It was released by Epic Records (single #9529)["[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-08-04.pdf Late Pop Spotlights]", 'Billboard', August 4, 1962. p. 10. Retrieved March 20, 2018.] and was also produced by Robert Morgan.
See also
*List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1962 (U.S.)
*List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1962 (U.S.)
*VG-lista 1962
*List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1960s
*List of number-one singles in 1962 (New Zealand)
References
Category:1962 singles
Category:Bobby Vinton songs
Category:Wednesday (band) songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:Songs written by Paul Evans (musician)
Category:1962 songs
Category:Epic Records singles
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