"Why" is a hit song recorded by

Frankie Avalon Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940), better known as Frankie Avalon, is an American actor, singer, and former teen idol. He had 31 charting U.S. ''Billboard'' singles from 1958 to late 1962, including number one hits, "Venus" an ...

in 1959. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959. It was Avalon's second and final No. 1 hit. The song was covered by

Donny Osmond Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, dancer, actor, television host, and former teen idol. He first gained fame performing with four of his elder brothers as the Osmonds, earning several top ten hits and gol ...

, and this version reached No. 3 on the

UK Singles chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

Background

"Why" was written and produced by Avalon's manager and record producer Robert "Bob" Marcucci and Peter De Angelis. The melody is based on an Italian song. The Avalon version features an uncredited female singer (alleged to be Fran Lori), heard in the repeat of the first four lines of the first part of the song, with Avalon replying, "Yes, I love you". He concludes the last quarter of the song with a coda, by himself. The song topped the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959 for the week ending January 2, 1960, making it the last No. 1 single of the 1950s, and the first No. 1 single of the 1960s at the same time. It also became the first No. 1 single of the 1960s on the ''

Cashbox magazine ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' charts. Despite the song's success, Avalon could not take full advantage of its success as he was away filming on location in Texas, and his concentration on his acting career detracted from his recording career, and "Why" would become Avalon's 7th and final top 10 hit.

Charts

Donny Osmond version

recorded "Why" in 1972, and it was released as a single from the album '' Too Young''. It peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the song reached No. 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 19 on the

Easy Listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

chart. Osmond’s version also reached No. 13 in the New Zealand.

Charts

Other versions

*The French cover by

Dalida Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti (; 17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987), professionally known as Dalida, was an Italian-French singer and actress born in Egypt. She sang in eleven languages and sold millions of records internationally. Her best known son ...

in 1960 became very popular as Bras Dessus Bras Dessous. Instead of being featured on her 1960 album ''

Les enfants du Pirée "Les enfants du Pirée" ("Children of Piraeus") is a French song by singer Dalida, first released on EP in June 1960. It was a big international summer hit and remained one of major successes of her career. The song comes from the Greek movie "Nev ...

'', it was released only on EP with three more songs that appeared on her following 1961 year album ''

Garde-moi la dernière danse ''Dalida internationale'' is the eighth album by Dalida, released in 1961. Several of the singles were hits. Track listing Barclay Records, Barclay – 80144 Ⓜ, 065 521-0: References Sources

* ''L'argus Dalida: Discographie mo ...

''. *

Anthony Newley Anthony Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was an English actor, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker. A "latter-day British Al Jolson", he achieved widespread success in song, and on stage and screen. "One of Broadway's greatest leading ...

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

the song shortly after Avalon, and his version went to No. 1 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

in February 1960.

References

{{Donny Osmond 1959 songs 1959 singles 1960 singles 1972 singles Songs written by Bob Marcucci Frankie Avalon songs Donny Osmond songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles UK Singles Chart number-one singles Song recordings produced by Mike Curb Chancellor Records singles Songs written by Peter De Angelis

Background

Charts

Donny Osmond version

Charts

Other versions

See also

References