WHO IS "CONCETTA ROSA MARIA FRANCONERO"? - BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT'S! "CONNIE FRANCIS"
Dec 03 '04 (Updated Dec 23 '04)
The Bottom Line "Connie Francis" was in fact born "Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero" on 12 December 1938 in Newark, NJ
Some sources indicate that her real middle name was Rosemarie and some state it is Rosa Maria. She began her musical career in 1941 at the early age of 3 when her Father George who was a contractor, gave her an accordion. She would play her accordion at family gatherings and local neighborhood shows. She made her first live debut at Palisades Park in Irvington, NJ. "Palisades Park" would be the subject of and the name of the biggest hit single by "Freddy Boom Boom Cannon" who took it to #3 in 1962. In 1948 at the age of ten she was accepted to perform on "Star Time" a local New York City NBC television show that featured talented child performers. The host of the show was "Arthur Godfrey" who had a very hard time trying with her name so he suggested the easier pronounceable name of Francis. After having played the accordion for 3 weeks on the show her Manger and the TV show's Producer suggested she stop playing and concentrate on her singing only. She continued singing on the show for four years. For the next few years she applied to many record companies for a singing contract.
At the age of 16 in 1955 she was able to finally secure a deal with "MGM" records and begins recording demo tapes sounding like "Kay Starr" and "Jo Stafford". Starr had a #1 hit with "Rock And Roll Waltz" in 1956 and a #1 hit with "Wheel Of Fortune" in 1952. Stafford had a #1 hit with "You Belong To Me" in 1952 and a #1 hit with "My Darling, My Darling" in 1948. On 28 January 1956 she made her first National appearance on "Stage Show" on CBS TV. Other entertainers on this episode were "Jimmy Dorsey", "Tommy Dorsey", "John Morgan", "Gordon McRae" and "Elvis Presley" who also made his National TV debut singing "Heartbreak Hotel". Connie had no success at all with her first 9 single record releases. This year she also appears in "Alan Freed's" Rock Musical "Rock, Rock, Rock" with "The Teenagers", "Chuck Berry", "Johnny Burnette", "The Flamingos", "Fats Domino", "Bert Convy", "LaVern Baker", "Valerie Harper" and others.
She next appears in 1957 in the Rock Musical "Jamboree" also known as "Disc Jockey Jamboree" with "Jean Martin", "Carl Perkins", "Jerry Lee Lewis", "Fats Domino", "Frankie Avalon", "Dick Clark", "Count Basie", "Buddy Knox" and others. Her 10th single "The Majesty Of Love" a duet with country singer "Marvin Rainwater" is her very first charting record when it debuts on 2 December. It would be on the chart for only 1 week where it peaked at #93. On New Years Day in 1958 she is the only guest on "American Bandstand" on ABC TV. She is invited back and appears again on the show as the only guest once again on 23 January singing her newly recorded "Who's Sorry Now". She had recorded the song for her Father because it was his all-time favorite song and it had been previously a #18 hit by "Harry James" in 1946. There had also been 3 top 10 versions of this song on the charts at the same time in 1923. She next appears on the Premier episode of "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" on ABC TV along with "Jerry Lee Lewis", "Johnny Ray", "Pat Boone", "The Royal Teens" and Chuck Willis" on 15 February.
On 24 February "Who's Sorry Now" debuts on the US singles charts and later peaks at #4 on both the Pop & R&B charts and sells over a million copies. It would peak at #1 in the UK in May where it stayed for 6 consecutive weeks. She appears again on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" on 26 April with "The Chordettes", "Bobby Freeman", "Melvin Smith", "Tony Randall" and "Somethin' Smith & The Redheads". She appears on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 11 May with "Tony Martin", "Al Hibbler", "George Givot", "Eleanor Roosevelt", "Dick Contino", "Wayne & Shuster" and others. The next day the song she had sung the previous night "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" that was first a hit in 1918 by "Henry Burr" makes its' debut on the singles chart and peaks at #36 in the US and at #11 in the UK. Her album "Who's Sorry Now" is also released this month but it fails to chart. In July she releases "Heartaches/I Miss You So" but it fails to make the singles charts. She appears again on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" with "Fabian", "The Olympics" and "Tony & Joe" on 26 July.
On 28 July the single "Stupid Cupid" written by "Neil Sedaka" and "Howard Greenfield" and refused by "The Shepherd Sisters" debuts on the chart for her and would peak at #14 on the US pop chart and at #1 in the UK and stay there for 6 weeks. She appears on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" on 27 September with "Bobby Freeman", "Gordon McRae" and "Valerie Carr". On 13 October "Fallin'" written by "Neil Sedaka" and "Howard Greenfield" makes its' debut and peaks at #30 in the US. It would peak at #20 in the UK with a different song "I'll Get By" on the flip side there that charts separately and peaks at #19. On 29 November she appears on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" this time with "Sal Mineo", "Little Anthony & The Imperials", "Bobby Darin", "Danny & The Juniors", "Frankie Avalon" and "Eddie Cochran". This year her voice is heard in UK made Comedy Western "The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw" starring "Kenneth Moore", "Jayne Mansfield", "Robert Morley", "Bruce Cabot" and others.
"My Happiness" written in 1933 is her next single release on 8 December and it peaks at #2 for 2 weeks on the US pop chart, at #11 on the R&B chart and at #4 in the UK. This song was on the chart in 1948 by 5 different artists including "The Pied Pipers" and "Ella Fitzgerald" and peaked the highest for "Jon & Sondra Steele" who had it peak at #2 for them. In January 1959 "You Always Hurt The One You Love" released in the UK only peaks at #13 there. It was previously a #1 hit and a gold seller for "The Mills Brothers" in 1944. On 14 February she makes another appearance on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" with "Frankie Avalon", "Duane Eddy", "The Kalin Twins" and "Richard Rome". Connie next covers a #2 hit by "The Ink Spots" in 1939 with "If I Didn't Care" that debuts on 2 March and peaks at #22 for her on the pop chart and at #29 on the R&B chart. She is on "The Ed Sullivan Show" next on 29 March with "Shelley Winters", "James Stewart", "Lee Remick", "Richard Boone", "The Bizzaro Brothers" and others.
On 2 May she appears again on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" with "Bobby Darin", "The G-Notes", "Wilbert Harrison" and "The Crests". Also this month she asks Sedaka and Greenfield to write her a song called "Bobby" to pay homage to her boyfriend "Bobby Darin". Instead they write a song in homage to "Frankie Avalon" titled "Frankie" and it debuts on 18 May later peaking at #9 on the US singles pop chart and peaks at #17 on the R&B chart. The flip side of this record "Lipstick On Your Collar" debuts the same day charting separately and it peaks at #5 on the US pop chart, at #10 on the R&B chart and at #3 in the UK. On 14 June she makes another appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" along with "Brook Benton", "Henny Youngman" and "Wayne & Shuster". "You're Gonna Miss Me" debuts on 31 August and would peak at #34 on the US singles chart. The A-Side of the record "Plenty Good Lovin'" finally makes the charts on 21 September charting separately and would peak at #69 in the US and at #18 in the UK.
She appears again on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" on 3 October with "Dale Hawkins", "Sandy Nelson" and "Paul Evans". On 23 November her cover of a #1 hit by "Paul Whiteman" hit in 1928 "Among My Souvenirs" debuts and would peak at #7 on the US pop chart, at #10 on the R&B chart and at #11 in the UK. The flip side "God Bless America" written by "Irving Berlin" and previously a #1 hit by "Kate Smith" in 1939 debuted a week earlier and would peak at #36. This record would become her 3rd gold selling single. On 2 December she appeared on "The United States Steel Hour" on ABC TV with "Sid Caesar", "Jose Ferrer", "Marge Champion", "Gower Champion", "Audrey Meadows" and others. Three days later she once again appears on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" with guests "Paul Anka", "Ralph DeMarco", "Neil Sedaka" and "Marv Johnson". She released 3 albums this year in "The Exciting Connie Francis", "My Thanks To You" and "Christmas In My Heart" but they all failed to make the charts.
In 1960 she has 6 songs on the singles charts. Two of these hits "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own" both peaked at #1 in the US. Fool peaked at #24 on the country chart and at #2 on the R&B chart and Mind Of Its Own peaked at #11 on the R&B chart. She has 2 UK only releases this year in the album "Rock 'N' Roll Million Sellers" that peaked at #12 and the single "Valentino" that peaked at #27 there. On 2 April she won the Best Selling Female Artist at the first Annual NARM Awards and would win it again in 1961 and in 1962. She had 4 appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" this year and 3 appearances on "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" including the final show on 14 May with "Frankie Avalon", "Fabian", "Duane Eddy", "Bobby Darin", "Bobby Rydell" and "Annette Funicello". In June she has a UK only release "Mama" backed by "Robot Man" and it peaks at #2 on the singles chart there. On 28 December she appeared on "The Perry Como Show" on NBC TV with "Kay Thompson" and "Renee Taylor". She had her first 2 US charting albums this year with "Italian Favorites" that peaked at #4 followed by "Connie's Greatest Hits" that peaked at #17 and it would peak at #16 in the UK the following year.
She also appeared this year in the Romantic Drama "Where The Boys Are" with "Jim Hutton", "Chill Wills", "George Hamilton", "Frank Gorshin", "Dolores Hart", "Paula Prentiss", "Yvette Mimieux" and others. "More Italian Favorites" released in December 1960 would peak at #9 on the US album chart in 1961. "Where The Boys Are" written by Sedaka from the Movie of the same name debuts on 16 January, peaks at #4 in the US on the singles chart and is her biggest selling record this year and it becomes her 7th gold seller. She had a total of 9 songs on the singles charts this year with the second biggest seller of these being "Together", previously a #1 hit in 1928 by "Paul Whiteman" and it peaks at #6 for her and is her 8th gold selling single. She has 4 albums on the chart this year with the biggest seller being "Never On Sunday" a collection of Movie theme cover songs that peaks at #11 in the US.
On 20 November "When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart)" makes its' debut with "Baby's First Christmas" on the B-Side that charts separately and debuts on 11 December. The A-Side peaks at #10 in the US but fails to chart in the UK as a version done by "Cliff Richard" had previously peaked at #3 in the UK earlier this year. The B-Side peaks at #26 on the US pop chart, at #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart and at #30 in the UK. Connie was a secret guest on "What's My Line?" on CBS TV on 27 August with special guest panelist "Jerry Lewis". She appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 3 times this year including an episode shown on 8 October that was previously taped in West Berlin, Germany with "Van Cliburn", "Louis Armstrong", "Maureen O'Hara", "The Bluebell Girls", "Rowan & Martin" and others. She had 6 charting songs in 1962 with the biggest of these being her 3rd #1 pop hit with "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You". It peaked at #39 in the UK and became her 2nd #1 US Adult Contemporary singles hit.
She also had a #7 pop hit with "Second Hand Love" written by "Phil Spector" that also went to #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. On 6 October "She Thinks I Still Care" that was a #1 country hit for "George Jones" in 1962 is covered by Connie titled "He Thinks I Still Care" that peaks at #57 on the pop singles chart. She released 4 albums this year but only 2 made the charts. "Connie Francis Sings" peaked at #111 and in October "Country Music Connie Style peaked at #22 both on the pop chart. In September Connie's book "For Every Young Heart" published by Prentice Hall is released in the US. She appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 6 times including an episode taped at The Moulin Rogue in Paris, France that aired on 1 July with "Annie Cordy", "Gil Dova", "Johnny Halliday", "Cinco Brutos", Gino Johnny Dorelli" and others. On 4 November she appeared as one of the 2 celebrity contestants on "Password" on CBS TV with "Darren McGavin".
She had only one appearance on "American Bandstand" this year on 13 December being the only guest once again. Her final appearance this year was on "The Ed Sullivan Show" Christmas special live from Guantanamo Naval Base on 23 December with "Louis Armstrong", "Jack Carter", "Frank Fontaine", "Carol Lawrence" & "George Carl". In 1963 Connie had 6 more songs on the US singles charts. Her biggest seller this year was "Follow The Boys" from the Movie of the same name that peaked at #17 on the US pop chart and peaked at #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. She also starred this year in this Romantic Comedy along with "Paula Prentiss", "Dany Robin", "Janis Paige", "Russ Tamblyn", "Richard Long" and others. She had 6 charting albums this year with the biggest seller being the re-release of "Christmas In My Heart" that was originally released in 1959 but failed to chart, this time around it peaks at #16 on the US pop album chart.
She appeared on "The Jack Benny Show" on NBC TV on 19 February with "Dale White". On 6 March she was the only guest once again on "American Bandstand". Her only appearance this year on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 28 April with "Jack Carter", "Xavier Cugat", "Abbe Lane", "Jan Peerce" and others. Her final TV appearance this year was on "American Bandstand" with "Nick Adams", "Annette Funicello", "Trini Lopez, "Paul Peterson", "Johnny Mathis", "Connie Stevens", "Nino Tempo" and others. 1964 would be the last year she would have a song in the Top 40. She had 4 singles on the chart this year and the biggest seller of these was "Blue Winter" that peaked at #24 on the US pop chart. She also released the title song from her Movie "Looking For Love" that peaked at #45 on the pop singles chart. She also starred in this Romantic Drama with "Jim Hutton", "Susan Oliver", "George Hamilton", "Paula Prentiss", "Yvette Mimieux", "Danny Thomas", "Johnny Carson" and others.
She had 3 albums on the chart this year as well and the biggest of these was the film soundtrack from "Looking For Love" that peaked at #122 in the US. She had 4 TV appearances this year with 3 on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and once on "The Jack Benny Show" on 30 October. The other guests on Benny's show were "Dale White", "Herbie Faye" and "Sammy Weiss". In 1965 she had 6 singles on the chart and her biggest seller of these was "Whose Heart Are You Breaking Tonight" that peaked at #43 on the US pop chart and went to #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Her only charting album this year was "Connie Francis Sings For Mama" that peaked at #78 on the US pop chart. She starred in the Musical Comedy "When The Boys Meet The Girls" this year with "Louis Armstrong", "Herman's Hermits", "Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs", "Liberace", "Sue Ane Langdon", "Harve Presnell" and others. She appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 2 times this year which included her 25th time that is said to be an unconfirmed record. She also appeared on TV in Europe on "Ready Steady Go", "The Eamonn Andrews Show" and on "Thank Your Lucky Stars" all in May.
On 19 March 1966 she released "Love Is Me, Love Is You" and it peaks at #66 on the US pop singles chart. On 6 April she appears on "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre" on NBC TV with "James Farantino", "Anne Seymour", "Emily Banks", "Michael Stanwood" and others. In May the soundtrack album from her last Movie "When The Boys Meet The Girls" debuts with songs by her, "Louis Armstrong", "Herman's Hermits", "Liberace" and others and it peaks at #61 on the and would become her final ever US charting album. Her final TV appearance this year is on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with "The Four Seasons", "Gwen Verdon", "Alan King", "The Muppets", "Jimmy Durante" and others. "Spanish Nights And You" debuts on the singles chart on 5 November but stops at #99. She released 4 other albums this year, none of which made any of the charts. They were "Connie's Christmas", "Live At The Sahara in Las Vegas", "Movie Greats of the 60's" and "Songs Of Love".
She appeared on "The Dean Martin Show" on NBC TV on 23 February 1967 along with "Phil Harris", "Dom DeLuise" and "Don Cherry". "Time Alone Will Tell" released on 15 April is only on the US pop singles chart for one week at #94. On 25 June she once more performs on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with "Henny Youngman", "Ronnie Dove", "Flip Wilson", "Stiller & Meara" and others. Her final TV appearance of the year is once again on the "Ed Sullivan Show" on 26 November along with "Al Hirt", "John Byner", "The Doodletown Pipers", "Jayne Morgan", "The Beatles" via tape and others. "The Beatles" performance that was shown was the promotional clip for their upcoming release of "Hello Goodbye" that debuts on the US singles chart on 2 December and later peaks at #1for 3 weeks. The clip is not shown in the UK because of a Musician's Union agreement that bans miming. Connie releases 4 more non-charting albums this year. They include "Happiness: Connie Francis On Broadway Today", "Love Italian Style", "My Heart Cries For You" and "The Incomparable Connie Francis" that was released on the "Metro" records label.
Connie has only one TV appearance in 1968 on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 3 November along with "Alan King", "George Hamilton", "Peter Gennaro" and "Stiller & Meara". She releases 4 more new albums on "MGM" none of which make any of the charts. They were "Connie And Clyde", "Connie Sings Bacharach & David", "Hawaii: Connie" and "My Best To You". Her final US charting single "The Wedding Cake" debuts on the chart on 8 March 1969 and peaks at #94. Her only TV appearance this year is on 27 April on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with "Joe Cocker & The Grease Band", "Alan King", "John Byner", "Lovelace Watkins" and others. Her only album release this year is "The Wedding Cake" that also fails to chart. She begins to headline shows on the nightclub and cabaret circuit as well as doing charity shows for UNICEF and the USO entertaining the troops in Vietnam. After a 15-year relationship she decides not to renew her contract when the "Polydor" record company takes over control of the "MGM" label deciding instead to settle down with her 3rd husband.
Her only TV appearance in the 70's is on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 7 June 1970 with "Morey Amsterdam", "George Kirby", "Scoey Mitchell, "Dick Jenson" and others. She releases one non-charting album this year in "Connie Francis Sings The Songs Of Les Reed". In September 1972 she performs for "President Lyndon Baines Johnson" at the White House in Washington, DC. She releases 2 more non-charting albums in 1973 with "Connie Francis Sings Great Country Hits, Vol. 2" and "Great Songs Of The Sixties". She is next encouraged to return to performing on stage by her current husband. On 8 November 1974 after performing at the Westbury Music fair in Westbury, NY, Connie is attacked at knifepoint and rapped in a 2nd floor room at the local Howard Johnson's Motel. This incident contributed greatly to the divorce from her 3rd husband and she became so emotionally shattered that she retreats from the public eye and would later be awarded over 3 Million Dollars in damages.
In 1975 she had to recover from a botched nasal surgery that temporarily robbed her of her voice. In August 1977 "20 All Time Greats" released in the UK only on the "MGM" label peaks at #1 on the album chart there where it stays for 2 weeks and earns a platinum disc. She made her first TV appearance in 10 years on "The American Bandstand" on 20 December 1980 along with "Billy Burnette". Connie's brother George was brutally murdered in a gangland-style killing in 1981. She appeared on TV only one more time in the 80's on 30 October this year for "American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary Special". Other artists that appeared were "The Beach Boys", "Earth, Wind & Fire", "Barry Manilow", "Rod Stewart", "The Oak Ridge Boys", "The Righteous Brothers", "Stevie Wonder", "Kim Carnes" and many others. She wrote her autobiography "Who's Sorry Now" in 1984. Connie spent a few years in a rest home convalescing and in 1988 she returned to live performances in Hollywood and in Las Vegas.
In 1989 she appeared in the Documentary "Roger & Me" directed by "Michael Moore" who also starred in the Movie with her, "Pat Boone", "Bob Eubanks" and "Anita Bryant". She collapsed on stage during one of her performances in New Jersey in 1992 due to her addition to prescription drugs. On 21 March 1993 she returned to the city of her attack in 1974 to perform to a sellout crowd. From 1974 through 1996 she would have 13 more non-charting albums released between the UK and the US on 7 different record labels. On 16 April 1996 a German record label "Bear Family" records releases a 148-track, 5-CD box set titled "Kissin' And Twistin': Going Where The Boys Are". It is followed by "Souvenirs" on 22 October a 118-track, 4-CD box set on "Polydor" records but both fail to score. On 29 October "Sony" records releases "The Return Concert: Live At Trump's Castle" recorded during one of her many performances there the previous year that also fails to chart.
In May 1997 "The Singles Collection" is released in the UK only and peaks there at #12 on the albums chart becoming her first charting record anywhere in 20 years. In August she attends "Bandstand Day" in Philadelphia, PA along with "Chubby Checker", "Bobby Rydell" and "Fabian". They are celebrating the rededication of the former WFIL TV building where Bandstand had originated from into the new West Philadelphia Enterprise Center. Connie has had more than a dozen albums released since 1997 with her most recent being on 24 November 2004 titled "The Best Of Connie Francis" on "Collectibles" records. This was a re-issue of the album originally released in 1998 on "Polydor" records but with a different album/CD cover. The only CD I currently own by her is "WHO'S SORRY NOW: THE HITS COLLECTION" that was released on 24 December 2002 on "Universal International" records. The songs on this CD are listed below in the order, as they appear followed by the length of each song and then my rating of the song.
1. Stupid Cupid - 2:15 - 5
2. Lipstick On Your Collar - 2:18 - 5
3. Where the Boys Are - 2:39 - 5
4. Second Hand Love - 2:52 - 5
5. Singing The Blues - 2:16 - 3
6. Valentino - 2:40 - 4
7. You Always Hurt the One You Love - 2:23 - 3
8. My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own - 2:33 - 5
9. Bye Bye Love - 2:21 - 4
10. Your Cheatin' Heart - 2:21 - 4
11. I Can't Stop Lovin' You - 2:50 - 4
12. Walk On By - 2:12 - 4
13. Among My Souvenirs - 2:32 - 5
14. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - 2:40 - 5
15. Who's Sorry Now - 2:18 - 5
16. My Happiness - 2:29 - 5
17. I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You) - 2:48 - 4
18. Follow The Boys - 2:41 - 5
19. If My Pillow Could Talk - 2:10 - 4
20. Drownin' My Sorrows - 2:08 - 4
TOTAL POINTS: 88 POINTS DIVIDED BY 20 SONGS = 4.40 or 4 1/4 STARS
Rating Key:
5 - Great
4 - Very Good
3 - Good
2 - Fair
1 - Poor
0 - This song does not belong here!
Billboard US Top 100 Pop Singles for "CONNIE FRANCIS"
1. The Majesty Of Love - Debut 12/02/57, Peaked at #93 (with "Marvin Rainwater") (GOLD)
2. Who's Sorry Now - Debut 02/24/58, Peaked at #4 (GOLD)
3. I'm Sorry I Made You Cry - Debut 05/12/58, Peaked at #36 (#1 hit for "Henry Burr" in 1918)
4. Stupid Cupid/Carolina Moon - Debut 07/28/58, Peaked at #14 (GOLD)
5. Fallin' - Debut 10/13/58, Peaked at #30
6. My Happiness - Debut 12/08/58, Peaked at #2 for 2 weeks (GOLD) (First recorded by "Ella Fitzgerald" in 1938)
7. If I Didn't Care - Debut 03/02/59, Peaked at #22 (#2 pop hit for the "Ink Spots" in 1939)
8. Lipstick On Your Collar - Debut 05/18/59, Peaked at #5 (GOLD)
9. Frankie - Debut 05/18/59, Peaked at #9 (B-side of #8)
10. You're Gonna Miss Me - Debut 08/31/59, Peaked at #34
11. Plenty Good Lovin' - Debut 09/21/59, Peaked at #69 (B-side of #10)
12. God Bless America - Debut 11/16/59, Peaked at #36 (B-side of #13)(Written by "Irving Berlin")(Most popular version ever recorded was done by "Kate Smith" in 1940 when it went to #5)
13. Among My Souvenirs - Debut 11/23/59, Peaked at #7 (GOLD) (#1 pop hit for "Paul Whiteman" in 1928)
14. Mama - Debut 02/22/60, Peaked at #8 (GOLD) (an Italian song written in 1941 with English lyrics added in 1946)
15. Teddy - Debut 02/29/60, Peaked at #17 (written by "Paul Anka")(B-side of #14)
16. EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY'S FOOL - Debut 05/09/60, Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks (GOLD) (#24 country hit for Connie this year)
17. Jealous Of You (Tango Della Gelosia) - Debut 05/23/60, Peaked at #19 (B-side of #16)
18. MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN - Debut 08/15/60, Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks (GOLD)
19. Malaguena - Debut 08/22/60, Peaked at #42 (written in 1929 by Cuban composer "Ernesto Lecuona")(B-side of #18)
20. Many Tears Ago - Debut 11/07/60, Peaked at #7 (GOLD)
21. Senza Mamma (With No One) - Debut 11/07/60, Peaked at #87 (B-side of #20)
22. Where The Boys Are - Debut 01/16/61, Peaked at #4 (GOLD) (written by "Neil Sedaka")(Theme song from the Movie of the same name)
23. No One - Debut 01/16/61, Peaked at #34 (B-side of #22)
24. Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart - Debut 04/17/61, Peaked at #7 (GOLD)
25. Together - Debut 06/26/61, Peaked at #6 (GOLD) (Also peaked at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart)(#1 hit for "Paul Whiteman" in 1928)
26. Too Many Rules - Debut 07/17/61, Peaked at #72 (B-side of #25)
27. (He's My) Dreamboat - Debut 09/25/61, Peaked at #14 (written by "J. D. Loudermilk")
28. Hollywood - Debut 09/25/61, Peaked at #42 (written by "J. D. Loudermilk")(B-side of #27)
29. When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart) - Debut 11/20/61, Peaked at #10 (GOLD)
30. Baby's First Christmas - Debut 12/11/61, Peaked at #26 (B-side of #29)(Peaked at #113 on pop chart in 1962 and at #13 in 1965 on the Christmas chart)
31. DON'T BREAK THE HEART THAT LOVES YOU - Debut 02/10/62, Peaked at #1 (GOLD)(Also Peaked at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart)
32. Second Hand Love - Debut 05/12/62, Peaked at #7 (written by "Phil Spector) (GOLD)
33. Vacation - Debut 07/28/62, Peaked at #9 (GOLD) (Composed by "Hank Hunter", "Gary Weston" and Connie)(NOT the same version that was a #8 pop hit in 1982 by the "Go-Go's")
34. I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You) - Debut 10/06/62, Peaked at #24
35. He Thinks I Still Care - Debut 10/06/62, Peaked at #57 (B-side of #34)(#1 country hit for "George Jones" in 1962 as "She Thinks I Still Care)
36. I'm Gonna' Be Warm This Winter - Debut 12/15/62, Peaked at #18
37. Al Di La - Debut 01/05/63, Peaked at #90 (from the Movie "Rome Adventure" starring "Tony Donahue")(B-side of #36)
38. Follow The Boys - Debut 03/02/63, Peaked at #17 (Theme song from the Movie of the same name)
39. If My Pillow Could Talk - Debut 05/18/63, Peaked at #23
40. Drownin' My Sorrows - Debut 08/10/63, Peaked at #36
41. Your Other Love - Debut 10/19/63, peaked at #28
42. In The Summer Of His Years - Debut 12/28/63, Peaked at #46 (a tribute to recently assassinated "President John Fitzgerald Kennedy" on 22 November in Dallas, Texas)
43. Blue Winter - Debut 02/16/64, Peaked at #24
44. Be Anything (But Be Mine) - Debut 05/09/64, Peaked at #25 (a #7 pop hit for "Eddy Howard" in 1952)
45. Looking For Love - Debut 07/18/64, Peaked at #45 (Theme song from the Movie of the same name starring "Connie Francis" and "Jim Hutton")
46. Don't Ever Leave Me - Debut 10/24/64, Peaked at #42
47. Whose Heart Are You Breaking Tonight - Debut 01/23/65, Peaked at #43
48. For Mama (La Mamma) - Debut 03/06/65, Peaked at #48
49. Wishing It Was You - Debut 05/01/65, Peaked at #57
50. Forget Domani - Debut 06/26/65, Peaked at #79 (from the Movie "The Yellow Rolls Royce" starring "Rex Harrison" and "Ingrid Bergman")
51. Roundabout/Bossa Nova Hand Dance - Debut 09/11/65, Peaked at #80
52. Jealous Heart - Debut 11/27/65, Peaked at #47 (#2 country hit for "Tex Ritter" in 1945 and a #4 pop hit for "Al Morgan" in 1949)
53. Love Is Me, Love Is You - Debut 03/19/66, Peaked at #66
54. Spanish Nights And You/Games That Lovers Play - Debut 11/05/66, Peaked at #99
55. Time Alone Will Tell/Born Free - Debut 04/15/67, Peaked at #94
56. The Wedding Cake - Debut 03/08/69, Peaked at #91 (Peaked at #33 for Connie on the country chart this year)
57. There's Still A Few Good Love Songs Left In Me - Debut 03/12/83, Peaked at #84 on the country chart
SOME SONG LYRICS
DON'T BREAK THE HEART THAT LOVES YOU
Don't break the heart that loves you so
Don't break the heart that loves you, handle it with care
Don't break the heart that needs you, darlin', please be fair
Why do you flirt and constantly hurt me
Why do you treat our love so carelessly
You know I'm jealous of you and yet you seem to try
To go out of your way to be unkind
Sweetheart, I'm begging of you don't break this heart that loves you
Don't break this heart of mine
Darling, please don't hurt me. Please, don't make me cry. I don't know what I'd do
if you'd ever say goodbye. Remember I love you so much and love's life's greatest
joy. Please don't break my heart like a child breaks a little toy.
Sweetheart, I'm begging of you don't break this heart that loves you
EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY'S FOOL
The tears I cried for you could fill an ocean
But you don't care how many tears I cry
And though you only lead me on and hurt me
I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye
Cuz everybody's somebody's fool
Everybody's somebody's plaything
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
I told myself it's best that I forget you
Though I'm a fool at least I know the score
Yet darlin' I'd be twice as blue without you
It hurts but I'd come runnin' back for more
Cuz everybody's somebody's fool
Everybody's somebody's plaything
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
Someday you'll find someone you really care for
And if her love should prove to be untrue
You'll know how much this heart of mine is breakin'
You'll cry for her the way I cry for you
MY HAPPINESS
Evening shadows make me blue
When each weary day is through
How I long to be with you, my happiness
Every day I reminisce
Dreaming of your tender kiss
Always thinking how I miss my happiness
A million years it seems
Have gone by since we shared our dreams
But I'll hold you again
There'll be no blue memories then
Whether skies are gray or blue
Any place on earth will do
Just as long as I'm with you, my happiness
MY HEART HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN
I told this heart of mine our love could never be
But then I hear your voice and somethin' stirs inside of me
Somehow I can't resist the memory of your kiss
Guess my heart has a mind of its own
No matter what I do, no matter what I say
No matter how I try I just can't turn the other way
When I'm with someone new I always think of you
Guess my heart has a mind of its own
You're not in love with me so why can't I forget
I'm just your "used-to-be", it's wrong, and yet
I know forgetting you would be a hopeless thing
For I'm a puppet and I just can't seem to break the string
I say "I'll let you go" but then my heart says "no"
STUPID CUPID
Stupid cupid, you're a real mean guy
I'd like to clip your wings so you can't fly
I'm in love and it's a crying shame
And I know that you're the one to blame
Hey, hey -- set me free
Stupid cupid, stop pickin' on me!
I can't do my homework and I can't see straight
I meet him every morning 'bout a half-past eight
I'm acting like a lovesick fool
You've even got me carrying his books to school
Hey, hey -- set me free
Stupid cupid, stop pickin' on me!
You mixed me up but good right from the very start
Hey, go play Robin Hood with somebody else's heart
You've got me jumping like a crazy clown,
And I don't feature what you're putting down
Since I kissed his lovin' lips of wine,
The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine!
Hey, hey -- set me free
Stupid cupid, stop pickin' on me!
You've got me jumping like a crazy clown,
And I don't feature what you're putting down
Since I kissed his lovin' lips of wine,
The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine!
Hey, hey -- set me free
Stupid cupid, stop pickin' on me!
WHERE THE BOYS ARE
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
A smilin' face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
Where the boys are, my true love will be
He's walkin' down some street in town and I know he's lookin' there for me
In the crowd of a million people I'll find my valentine
And then I'll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he's mine
Till he holds me I wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
Till he holds me I wait impatiently
Where the boys are, where the boys are
Where the boys are, someone waits for me
WHO'S SORRY NOW
Who's sorry now, who's sorry now
Whose heart is achin' for breakin' each vow
Who's sad and blue, who's cryin' too
Just like I cried over you
Right to the end just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
Right to the end just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
JAGUARDOG'S FINAL THOUGHTS
First I have a little story to tell everyone. When I was only 10 years old in 1961 my dad took me to my very first drive-in Movie. It was a twin bill showing this night and as strange is this may sound the Movies were "Where The Boys Are" and the Horror film "Gorgo". I never figured why they would put a Horror Movie with a Chick Flick as a twin bill. This is the only drive-in Movie I ever remember seeing when I was young and to this day I believe I remember this fact because of how strange I have always thought the paring of these 2 Movies together were. Anyway I owned at one time about a dozen of Connie's singles and the CD above is the first Album/CD I have ever owned by her. She is another one of my all-time favorite Sexy looking female artists of the 50's through the 70's. Cute smile, pretty eyes, beautiful hair, great legs and she had an outstanding body to boot. She is right up there with "Nancy Sinatra" as being very Hot!
Over the years Connie has recorded over 70 albums and released over 60 singles. It is rumored that Connie was signed to "MGM" records because one of the songs on her Demo tape was "Freddy" and that was also the name of the President of the Company's son. Her very first official release was that song but it failed to make the charts. Connie almost gave up her singing career after having her first 6 consecutive singles flop. She had accepted a pre-med. scholarship to New York University and on 2 October she was at what was supposed to be her final recording session for "MGM". She recorded 2 songs and thanked and said goodbye to everyone at the recording studio then decided to record her Father's favorite song, which she made in one take. The song "Who's Sorry Now" was played by "Dick Clark" on "American Bandstand" and Dick announced to his TV audience 8 Million after playing the song that "Connie Francis is a new girl singer that is heading straight for the number one spot". Because the song hit so big and so fast that Connie decided not to go to College after all and the rest as they say "Is History".
Connie's musical sound was amiable, bittersweet, cheerful, delicate, distraught, dramatic, earnest, energetic, innocent, gentle, good-natured, plaintive, poignant, restrained, romantic, sentimental, smooth, soothing, springlike, stylish, sweet and wistful. Below I am including a partial list of other celebrities that were also born on the same day Connie was on 12 December. I am not positive yet who I will be covering next. It will either be "FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD" or "ARETHA FRANKLIN". As always I hope everyone enjoyed this review today and thank you all for reading, rating and leaving a comment if you have time. Best of Luck to everyone, have a Wonderful and Safe Weekend and God Bless, Ron.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
12 DECEMBER 1893 - EDWARD G. ROBINSON
12 DECEMBER 1897 - HERMIONE GINGOLD
12 DECEMBER 1915 - FRANK SINATRA
12 DECEMBER 1923 - BOB BARKER
12 DECEMBER 1924 - EDWARD I. KOCH
12 DECEMBER 1938 - CONNIE FRANCIS
12 DECEMBER 1941 - DIONNE WARWICK
12 DECEMBER 1943 - GROVER WASHINGTON JR.
12 DECEMBER 1946 - CLIVE BUNKER
12 DECEMBER 1946 - EMERSON FITTIPALDI
12 DECEMBER 1952 - CATHY RIGBY
12 DECEMBER 1959 - SHEILA ESCOVEDO better known as SHEILA E.
12 DECEMBER 1962 - TRACY AUSTIN
12 DECEMBER 1970 - JENNIFER CONNELLY
12 DECEMBER 1970 - KIRK CAMERON
12 DECEMBER 1972 - JAMAL WILLIS
12 DECEMBER 1973 - STANLEY PRITCHETT
12 DECEMBER 1974 - REY MYSTERIO JR.
POSSIBLE UPCOMING REVIEWS:
(F)
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - ?
ARETHA FRANKLIN
FREDDIE & THE DREAMERS
FREE
BOBBY FREEMAN
BOBBY FULLER FOUR, THE
BILLY FURY
(G)
PETER GABRIEL
MARVIN GAYE
J. GEILS BAND, THE
GENESIS
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS
(MORE TO COME)
SOME MUSIC SOURCES USED INCLUDE:
http://www.allmovie.com/
http://www.allmusic.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.ask.com/
http://www.billboard.com/
http://www.bizrate.com/
http://www.famousbirthdays.com/
http://www.leoslyrics.com/
http://www.lyrics.com/
http://www.lyricsconnection.com/
http://www.lyricsfind.com/
http://www.lyricsworld.com/
http://movies.go.com/
http://www.mtv.com
http://www.rollingstone.com/
http://www.tvguide.com/
http://www.tvtome.com/
http://www.vh1.com/
NOTE: I would like to thank a non-member named Sal for helping me fix the (GOLD) singles for Connie and also for providing me with these 2 GREAT Connie Francis sites that you may want to check-out yourself?
www.conniefrancis.com
www.batnet.com/mfwright/connie_francis.html
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Epinions.com ID:
JAGUARDOG
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 - Top 100 |
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Member: Ron Drain
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 235
Trusted by: 494 members
About Me:
I LOVE Music/TV/Movies & sports like Football - NFL/College, Baseball, Olympics - Summer/Winter and Wrestling.
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