American Singer Frankie Laine Biography/Obituary; List Of Frankie Laine Recordings

American Singer Frankie Laine Obituary
Written by Paul Rance
Sunday, 11 February 2007

Frankie Laine, one of the most popular pop singers of the 1950s, died at the grand old age of 93 on February 6th. Of Italian extraction, his real name was the exotic Francesco Paolo LoVecchio, and he was born in Chicago on March 30th, 1913.

Laine made his musical breakthrough in 1946, with 'That's My Desire', and was often cited as being one of the singers, after World War Two, who took music into a more dynamic era, after an era of crooners had dominated popular music, with his belting voice accompanying powerful rhythms. Indeed, he's regarded as one of the singers who paved the way for rock 'n' roll.

Certainly having years of struggle before he 'made it', Frankie Laine once recalled just how bad things were: "I would sneak into hotel rooms and sleep on the floor. In fact, I was bodily thrown out of 11 different New York hotels. I stayed in YMCAs and with anyone who would let me flop. Eventually I was down to my last four cents, and my bed became a roughened wooden bench in Central Park. I used my four pennies to buy four tiny Baby Ruth candy bars and rationed myself to one a day."

Frankie Laine's career was at its peak in the mid 1940s to the late 1950s, and his most famous recordings included 'Jezebel', 'I Believe', and the theme song of popular '50s TV western 'Rawhide', and he also sang the title song of the 1957 western, 'Gunfight At The OK Corral'. As well as having an outstanding career in music, Laine was also a noted humanitarian, being a big supporter of the American black civil rights movement, the homeless and aged. Frankie passed away of heart failure in hospital in San Diego, California, after having hip replacement surgery.

Frankie Laine Recordings

1940s
(1944) That's Liberty, In The Wee Small Hours
(1945) Baby Baby All The Time, Heartaches, I'm Confessin', Coquette, Melancholy Madeline (with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers), Maureen (with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, Someday Sweetheart
(1946) Ain’t That Just Like A Woman, Black And Blue, Blue Turning Grey Over You, By The River Sainte Marie, I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me, I May Be Wrong, It Ain’t Gonne Be Like That, Moonlight In Vermont, Oh! Lady Be Good, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Pickle In The Middle (Artie Auerbach vocal, as "Mister Kitzel" -- Frankie can be heard in the background as a peanut vendor), Roses Of Picardy, September In The Rain, Sometimes I'm Happy, Sposin', Texas And Pacific, That’s My Desire, West End Blues, Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams, You Can Depend On Me, You've Changed
(1947) Ah But It Happens, All Of Me, Baby Don't Be Mad At Me, But Beautiful, By The Light Of The Stars, Cherie I Love You, The Day Isn't Long Enough, Hold Me, I Haven't The Heart, Here Comes The Night (recording lost), Inspiration Point, It Only Happens Once, I've Only Myself To Blame, Kiss Me Again, Mam’selle, May I Never Love Again, Nevertheless, Old Fashioned Love, Our Dream, Put 'Em In A Box, Put Yourself In My Place Baby, Shine, Singing The Blues, Stay As Sweet As You Are, A Sunday Kind Of Love, Thanks For You, That Ain't Right, Till We Meet Again, Two Loves Have I, We’ll Be Together Again, When You're Smiling, Who Cares What People Say, With All My Heart, Yes My Dear
(1948) Come Love With Me, Don't Have To Tell Nobody, I Wish You Were Jealous Of Me, I'm Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover, Monday Again, Rosetta, Tara Talara Tala, What Could Be Sweeter?, You're All I Want For Christmas
(1949) At The End Of The Road, Baby I Need You, Baby Just For Me, Bebop Spoken Here, Carry Me Back To Old Virginney, Don't Cry Little Children, Don't Do Something to Someone Else, Exactly Like You, Georgia On My Mind, Give Me A Kiss For Tomorrow, God Bless The Child, I Get Sentimental Over Nothing, Mule Train, My One My Only My All, Now That I Need You, Rockin’ Chair, Satan Wears A Satin Gown, Swamp Girl, Sweet Talk, That Lucky Old Sun, You're Just The Kind, You're Wonderful

1950s
(1950) Black Lace, The Cry Of The Wild Goose, The Day Isn't Long Enough, Dear Dear Dear, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, I Love You For That (with Patti Page), I Was Dancing With Someone, If I Were A Bell, If I Were You Baby (with Patti Page), I'm Gonna Live Till I Die, I'm In The Mood For Love, The Jalopy Song, A Man Gets Awfully Lonesome, May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You, Merry Christmas Everywhere, Music Maestro Please, Sleepy Ol' River, Stars And Stripes Forever, Thanks For Your Kisses, What Am I Gonna Do This Christmas?
(1951) Ain't Misbehavin', Flamenco, Gambella (The Gamblin' Lady) (with Jo Stafford), The Gang That Sang Heart Of My Heart, Get Happy, The Girl In The Wood, Hey Good Lookin' (with Jo Stafford), I Would Do Most Anything For You, In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening, The Isle Of Capri, Jealousy (Jalousie), Jezebel, Love Is Such A Cheat, Metro Polka, Necessary Evil, One For My Baby, Pretty-Eyed Baby (with Jo Stafford), Rose, Rose, I Love You, She Reminds Me Of You, Song Of The Islands, South Of The Border, That's Good! That's Bad! (with Jo Stafford), That's How Rhythm Was Born, That's The One For Me (with Jo Stafford), To Be Worthty Of You, Tomorrow Mountain, What Could Be Sweeter?, When It’s Sleepy Time Down South, Wonderful Wasn't It?, Yes My Dear, You Left Me Out In The Rain
(1952) Chow Willy (with Jo Stafford), Christmas Roses (with Jo Stafford), The Gandy Dancer's Ball, Hambone (with Jo Stafford), High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me), How Lovely Cooks The Meat (with Doris Day), I'd Give My Life, I'm Just A Poor Bachelor, Let's Have A Party (with Jo Stafford), The Mermaid, My Ohio Home, Piece A-Puddin' (with Jo Stafford), Ramblin' Man, The Rock Of Gibraltar, The Ruby And The Pearl, Settin' The Woods On Fire (with Jo Stafford), She's Funny That Way, Snow In Lovers Lane, Sugarbush (with Doris Day), Swan Song, Snow In Lovers Lane, That's How It Goes, There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, Tonight You Belong To Me, When You're In Love
(1953) Ace In The Hole, After You've Gone (vocal duet with Carl Fischer), Answer Me My Love, Answer Me O' Lord, Basin Street Blues (with Jo Stafford), Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold), A Bushel And A Peck (with Jo Stafford), Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, Drill Ye Tarriers, Floatin' Down To Cotton Town (with Jo Stafford), Goin' Like Wildfire (with Jo Stafford), Granada, Hey Joe!, A Hundred Years From Today, I Believe, I Let Her Go, Judy, The Kid's Last Fight, Laughing At Life, Let's Go Fishin' (with Jimmy Boyd), The Little Boy And The Old Man (with Jimmy Boyd), Long Distance Love, Lorelei, The Lord Don't Treat His Chillun That Way, Lullaby In Rhythm, New Orleans, Old Shoes, Poor Little Piggy Bank (with Jimmy Boyd), Rollin' Down The Line (with Jo Stafford), Sittin' In The Sun (Countin' My Money), Some Day, Some Day Sweetheart, Te Amo, Tell Me A Story (with Jimmy Boyd), There Must Be A Reason, Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (with Jo Stafford), Where The Winds Blow, Willow Weep For Me, Your Cheatin' Heart
(1954) Ain't It A Pity And A Shame (with The Four Lads), Back Where I Belong (with Jo Stafford), God's Gonna Take The Saints To Heaven (with The Four Lads), High Society (with Jo Stafford), I Can't Give You Anything But Love, I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long (with The Four Lads), I'd Give My Life, In The Beginning, Juba-Juba-Jubalee (with The Four Lads), Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now, Let Me Be Ready Lord (with The Four Lads), My Friend, Out Of Nowhere, Rain Rain Rain (with The Four Lads), Wa-Hoo! (with The Four Lads), What Would I Do? (with The Four Lads), You Are Too Beautiful, Your Heart - My Heart
(1955) Baby Baby All The Time (with Buck Clayton), Bring Your Smile Along, Bubbles, Champion The Wonder Horse, Cool Water, Didn't He Moan (with The Four Lads), Hawk-Eye, Hummingbird, I Heard The Angels Singing (with The Four Lads), If Spring Never Comes, If You Were Mine (with Buck Clayton), Make Me A Child Again, Mama Mia, Moby Dick, Mona Lisa, My Little One, Never Come Sunday, Remember Me (with The Four Lads), Robin Hood, Roses Of Picardy (with Buck Clayton), Sixteen Tons, Sposin' (with Buck Clayton), Stars Fell On Alabama (with Buck Clayton), Strange Lady In Town, Taking A Chance On Love (with Buck Clayton), The Tarrier Song, That Old Feeling (with Buck Clayton), The Thief, Tick Ticky Tick (I'M Gonna Tell On You), Until The Real Thing Comes Along (with Buck Clayton), Walking The Night Away, Where Can I Go (with The Four Lads), A Woman In Love, You Can Depend On Me (with Buck Clayton), Your Love
(1956) A Capital Ship, Don't Cry, Good Evening Friends (with Johnnie Ray), Hell Hath No Fury, Lonely Man, Lotus Land, Love Is A Golden Ring (with The Easy Riders), Make Me A Child Again, Moonlight Gambler, The Most Happy Fella, On The Road To Mandalay, Only If We Love, There's Not A Moment To Spare, Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Air) (with Johnnie Ray), Without Him
(1957) Addormentarmi Cosi (with Michel Legrand), All Of These And More, Annabel Lee, Autumn Leaves (with Michel Legrand), Besame Mucho (with Michel Legrand), (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue, Blue Turning Grey Over You, By The River Sainte Marie, East Is East, Give Me A Kiss For Tomorrow, The Greater Sin, Gunfight At OK Corral, Jezebel, La Paloma (with Michel Legrand), Laura (with Michel Legrand), The Lonesome Road, Mam'selle (with Michel Legrand), My Gal And A Prayer, Nao Tem Solucao (with Michel Legrand), On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Quiereme Mucho (Yours) (with Michel Legrand), Rockin' Chair, Shine, Si Tu Partais (with Michel Legrand), That Ain't Right, That Lucky Old Sun, That's My Desire, The 3:10 To Yuma, Too Young (with Michel Legrand), Torna A Sorrento (with Michel Legrand), Uh-Huh Oh Yeah, We'll Be Together Again, West End Blues, You Know How It Is
(1958) Baby Just For Me (with Michel Legrand), Because, Blue Moon (with Michel Legrand), Body And Soul, Choombala Bey, A Cottage For Sale, Dream A Little Dream Of Me (with Michel Legrand), El Diablo, Forever More, Here Lies Love, I Cover The Waterfront, I Forget The Time (with Michel Legrand), I Get Along Without You Very Well, I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good), I Have To Cry, I Married An Angel, I Would Do Anything For You (with Michel Legrand), I'll Get By, I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (with Michel Legrand), In My Wildest Dreams, It Only Happens Once, It's The Talk Of The Town, Journey's End, A Kiss Can Change The World, The Love Of Loves (with Michel Legrand), Lover Come Back To Me (with Michel Legrand), Lovin' Up A Storm, Magnificent Obsession, Marie (with Michel Legrand), Midnight On A Rainy Monday, Mona Lisa (with Michel Legrand), My Kind Of Woman, My Little Love, Rawhide, Second Honeymoon, September In The Rain (with Michel Legrand), Side By Side, That's My Desire, These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You), To My Wife, Too Marvelous For Words (with Michel Legrand), Torchin', The Touch Of Your Lips, Try A Little Tenderness, The Valley Of A Hundred Hills, We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye, When I Speak Your Name, You Are My Love, You're Just The Kind (with Michel Legrand), You've Changed
(1959) And Doesn’t She Roll, Careless Love, Cherry Red, Jelly Coal Man, Kisses That Shake The World, Lucy D, New Orleans, Old Blue, Old Virginny, On A Monday, Rockin' Mother, Rocks And Gravel, Sixteen Tons, Stack Of Blues

1960s
(1960) Along The Navajo Trail, Bowie Knife, City Boy, Cool Water, Cry Of The Wild Goose, Et Voila, God Bless This House, Gunfight At The O.K. Corral, The Hanging Tree, Here She Comes Now, High Noon, Mule Train, Rawhide, Sampson, Seven Women, St. James Infirmary, The 3:10 To Yuma, Wanted Man, You're All I Want For Christmas
(1961) Ace In The Hole, Camptown Races, Cow-Cow Boogie, Dead Man’s Hand, Deuces Wild, Gamblin’ Woman, Get Rich Quick, The Green Leaves Of Summer, Gunslinger, The Hard Way, Horses And Women, Luck Be A Lady, The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo, Miss Satan, Moonlight Gambler, Ride Through The Night, The Roving Gambler, Wheel Of Fortune
(1962) Beyond The Blue Horizon, Call Of The Wild, If I Love Again, The Girl In The Wood, De Glory Road, The High Road, I Let Her Go, I'm Gonna Live 'Til I Die, Live Along With Me (Get With It), Love Is Where You Find It, Misirlou, The Moment Of Truth, The New Frontier, North To Alaska, On The Road To Mandalay, On The Trail, Riders In The Sky, Rolling Stone, Serenade, Song Of The Open Road, Swamp Girl, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Wagon Wheels, The Wayfaring Stranger, A Wedded Man, We'll Be Together Again, What Kind Of Fool Am I?
(1963) Die Welt War Niemals So Schon, Don’t Make Me Baby Blue, Hey There Mountain (unissued/lost), Ich Lass Dich Gehn, I'm Gonna Be Strong, No La Hagas Sufrir, No Sabras Mi Dolor, Non Farla Piangere, Prairie Belle, Saro Forte, Take Her, Up Among The Stars
(1964) Che Me Ne Importa...A Me, For Your Love I'd Wait A Lifetime, A Girl, Go On With Your Dancing, Halfway, House Of Laughter, Lonely Days Of Winter, Tangolita
(1965) Answer Me, Come Sunday, He, The Green Leaves Of Summer, Heartaches Can Be Fun, He'll Guide My Way, I Believe, May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You, My Friend, O Bless This House, Seven Days Of Love, The Sound Of Silence, Teach Me To Pray, Two Loves Have I
(1966) Johnny Willow, The Meaning Of It All, Pray And He Will Answer You, What Do You Know
(1967) Ev'ry Street's A Boulevard, Give Me Your Kisses I'll Give You My Heart, The Gypsy, Heartless One, I Heard You Cry Last Night, I Wish You Were Jealous Of Me, If I Didn't Care, I'll Take Care Of Your Cares, I'm Free, Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got), Making Memories, Maybe, The Moment Of Truth, The Real Meaning Of Love, Sometimes I Just Can't Stand You, Somewhere There's Someone, There's Not A Moment To Spare, What Do You Do With An Old Song, You - No One But You, You Taught Me How To Love You Now Teach Me To Forget, You Wanted Someone To Play With, You're Breaking My Heart
(1968) By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Cold Cold Heart, Forsaking All Others, Gentle On My Mind, The Green Green Grass Of Home, Halfway, Honey, I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, I Found You, I Need You, I Wish I Had Someone Like You, I'm Happy To Hear You're Sorry, It Didn't Mean A Thing To Me, I've Got A Right To Cry, Laughing On The Outside Crying On The Inside, Little Green Apples, Please Forgive Me, Pretty Little Princess, Silver Kisses And Golden Love, Take Me Back, To Each His Own, The Wayward Wind, What A Wonderful World, Where Does Love Go, You Always Hurt The One You Love
(1969) Allegra, Born To Be With You, Dammit Isn't God's Last Name, Don't Make Promises, Fresh Out Of Tears, A Place In The Shade, The Secret Of Happiness, Sing An Italian Song, The Story Of My Life, Walk On Out Of My Life, You Gave Me A Mountain

1970s
(1970) Rockin' remakes of: Don't Make My Baby Blue, I Believe, Jealousy, Jezebel, Moonlight Gambler, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Shine, That Lucky Old Sun, That's My Desire, Your Cheatin' Heart
(1971) A Brand New Day, Don't Blame The Child, California Bloodlines, Going To Newport, Mr. Bojangles, My God And I, Po' Folks, Proud Mary, Put Your Hand In The Hand, Talk About The Good Times
(1972) Can You Hear Me Lord, My Own True Love, Time To Ride
(1974) Blazing Saddles
(1976) Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Talk To Me About The Hard Times
(1977) Cool Water, The Cry Of The Wild Goose, Georgia On My Mind, High Noon, I Believe, Jealousy, Jezebel, The Kid's Last Fight, Memories In Gold, Moonlight Gambler, Mule Train, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Rawhide, Shine, That Lucky Old Sun, That's My Desire, We'll Be Together Again, A Woman In Love, You Gave Me A Mountain, Your Cheatin' Heart
(1978) End Of Session Blues, Evergreen, Forgetting Someone, I Don't Feel Like Singing Anymore, If I Never Sing Another Song, It's Gonna Happen, Hey! Hey! Jesus, Life Is Beautiful, The Only Thing That Matters, Nan, Nobody But You, Send In The Clowns, Sunday Morning Coming Down

1980s
(1982) Answer Me, Cool Water, Cry Of The Wild Goose, Don't Fence Me In, Granada, High Noon, Hummingbird, I Believe, Jealousy, Jezebel, Moonlight Gambler, Mule Train, Rain Rain Rain, Rawhide, Rose Rose I Love You, Sixteen Tons, Strange Lady In Town, There Must Be A Reason, Wheel Of Fortune, A Woman In Love
(1984) Love Rustler, Take Me Back To L.A., Texas, We'll Be Together Again
(1985) The Girl I Love, How Do You Keep The Music Playing?, Fever, The Lady Digs Jazz, Makin' Whoopee, San Diego Lovely Lady By The Sea, Solitude, Strike Up The Band For San Diego, This Can't Be Love/Them There Eyes, Time You Old Gypsy Man, What Am I Here For?
(1986) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, The Green Green Grass Of Home, I Believe In You, Jambalaya, Let Me Learn To Dream Of You, Old Dogs Children And Watermelon Wine, One More Time, Over, She Never Could Dance, When Will I Be Loved
(1987) Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (with Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra), High Noon (with Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops Orhestra), Old Boston, Old Chicago, Old St. Louis, Merry Christmas Without You, Rawhide (with Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra)
(1988) Better To Have Loved, Butterfly, Fallen Angel, Fever, Fly Away, I'd Do It Over Again, Just A Dreamer, Rose Ellen, Still There's You

1990s
(1991) Don't Cry Cry Baby, Old Enough To Be Your Father
(1998) Back In The Game, The Best Of Each Other, Come Back To Me, A Day At A Time, The Good Old Days, Giving Back, How Sweet It Is, I Like To Travel, It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over, Moonglow, Nature Boy, Scarlet Ribbons, Song Of India, Soon I'll Be Following You, Taking Care Of My Soul, That's All, That's How I'd Like To Be Remembered, They Call The Wind Maria, This Time The Dream's On Me, How Do You Keep The Music Playing, Until Now, Wheels Of A Dream, You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine, Young At Heart

2000s
(2001) The Story of Taps, Taps/My Buddy
(2002) After Me, The Best Of Love, Dandelion Wine, From Time To Time, The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened, Heavy Breathing, Here's To The Losers, I Don't Remember, Keep Goin' Back To Joe's, More Love, Old Man Jazz, Too Late Smart, Too Soon Old Too Late Smart, When Joanna Loved Me, When Sunny Gets Blue
(2004) Contagious, Contagious (live version), Every Time She Cries, Father Time, A Heart Lies Still, I Go Flyin', If I Could See Into Your Heart, I'll Be Thinking Of You, Jake, Pity The One, She Never Could Dance, Shelter From The Storm, Stars In The Bars