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Pretend (1952 song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Pretend'" is a popular song, written in 1952 by Dan Belloc, Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman and Frank Levere.
The best-known recording, by Nat King Cole, was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2346. It first reached the 'Billboard' Best Seller chart on January 31, 1953, and lasted 20 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 3.
It also reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1953, just behind Frankie Laine's chart topping hit, "I Believe". Cole would later re-record the song for his 1961 album 'The Nat King Cole Story'.
The recording by Ralph Marterie was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70045. It reached the 'Billboard' Best Seller chart on February 7, 1953 at No. 16, its only week on the chart.
The recording by Eileen Barton was released by Coral Records as catalog number 60927. It reached the 'Billboard' Best Seller chart on March 7, 1953 at No. 18, its only week on the chart.
On the 'Cash Box' chart, where all versions of the song were combined, the song reached a peak of No. 5 in 1953.
The song was subsequently recorded by Tab Smith, reaching No. 89 on the 'Billboard' chart in 1957, and by Carl Mann (issued as catalog number 3546 by Philips International), reaching No. 57 on 'Billboard' and No. 56 on 'Cash Box' in 1959.
Alvin Stardust's cover version was a popular hit in the United Kingdom in 1981, when it reached No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart. This cover was largely based on Carl Mann's 1959 version of this song.
Recorded versions
*Nat King Cole (1953)
*Eileen Barton (1953)
*Ralph Marterie (1953)
*Henri Rene & His Orchestra feat Franz Dietschmann (zither solo) (1953)
*Tab Smith (1957)
*Carl Mann (1959)
*Keely Smith (1959) on the album 'Be My Love'
*Tielman Brothers (1960) on the album 'Tielman On Stage'
*Brenda Lee (1960)
*Gerry & The Pacemakers included it on the album 'How Do You Like It?' (1963) and performed it live with The Everly Brothers in 1965 on 'Shindig!'.
*Johnny Preston released a version of the song on his 1960 album, 'Running Bear'.[http://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Preston-Running-Bear/release/4725604 Johnny Preston, 'Running Bear'], Discogs.com, Retrieved September 10, 2015.
*Buzz Clifford (1963)[http://www.45cat.com/record/r4500 Buzz Clifford, "My Girl" single release], 45cat.com, Retrieved January 20, 2016.
*Sammy Davis Jr., 'The Nat King Cole Songbook', (1965)
*Marvin Gaye (1965)
*Alvin Stardust (1981)
*Don Williams (1995)
* Barbra Lica (2012)
References
Category:1952 songs
Category:Songs written by Lew Douglas
Category:Nat King Cole songs
Category:Johnny Preston songs
Category:Buzz Clifford songs
Category:Alvin Stardust songs
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
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