For many years the song most associated with Dean Martin was Thats Amore. However since he recorded it in 1964, Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime has become that song that fans and non-fans alike think of when called upon to identify a Dean Martin song. In 1964 rock n roll was transitioning into rock music and both types of songs had knocked traditional pop tunes largely off of the Top 10 listings. Dean did not appreciate this phenomenon and was no fan of either genre. At the time Dean was doing just fine, releasing albums, performing in clubs and on TV and getting movie roles. However he had not had a Top 40 hit record since 1958. Then Ken Lane came upon the scene. Dean was about to release an LP called Dream with Dean and was working with pianist and songwriter Ken Lane. For years Lane had tried to interest Dean in recording his tune, Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Dean had always demurred, but this time with one more tune needed to complete the LP, Dean decided to include that song. And wonder of wonders, it was not a hit, but a mega hit and the most successful recording Dean had ever put out. Released as a single as well, it shot up the charts, reaching number one in the summer of 1964, knocking the Beatles out of that slot, which was something Dean took great joy in. He was not only thrilled for himself but for all those other great singers like Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, Vic Damone, etc., who were recording those great lyrical songs that seemed to hit a glass ceiling on the billboard charts. And the rest as they say is history. Deans career really went into orbit after that. He got his own TV show, his night club bookings and salary soared and he was offered myriad movie roles. And Ken Lane, well Dino took care of Ken. You may remember Ken appeared weekly on the TV program playing piano for Dean in his solo song segment, where he would always come out and hop on the piano, while Ken played away and Dean sang some special tune. Lane was a white haired man and was a kind of shy guy, and Dean would kid him mercilessly about being a boring fellow. But it was all in fun, because as you can imagine Dean was very grateful to, and really loved that man. And Lane by appearing on the TV show garnered a certain celebrity status of his own. If only Dean had listened to Lane early on, maybe this would have happened sooner, but then maybe this was just the right time. Lane had written the song in 1947 with two other men, and it had been recorded by Peggy Lee in the 1950s with very moderate success. Initially Ken had offered the song to Frank Sinatra who released it in 1948, but Franks version had laid an egg. Something Im sure Dean loved to kid his old buddy about. I know youve all heard the song, so Ill link to a version Dean did at a live charity event where he kids around a bit while singing it. I love the shower reference and his bringing up Jerry Lewiss name recalling Jerrys youthful very skinny build.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 03:49:57 +0000
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