This is a popular song that was written by Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson and Bill Borrelli. The song was published in 1952." A recording of the song by Al Martino made history as the first Number 1 on the ‘UK Singles Chart’ on 14 November 1952. ‘Here in My Heart’ remained in the top position for nine weeks in the United Kingdom, setting a record for the longest consecutive run at Number 1.
It remained a record which, over 50 years on, has only been beaten by six other tracks : Bryan Adam’s ‘(Everything I do) I do it For You’ (16 weeks) : The Wet, Wet, Wet version of The Troggs ‘Love is All Around’ (15 weeks) : Drake’s ‘One Dance’ (15 weeks) : David Whitfield’s ‘Cara Mia’ (10 weeks) : Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ (10 weeks) : Whitney Houston’s version of ‘I Will Always Love You’ (10 weeks) : Frankie Laine’s ‘I Believe’ (spent a total of 18 weeks at Number 1, but not consecutively, instead totalling 18 weeks across several runs at the top).
By staying at Number 1 until 1953 in the UK, Martino secured for himself the record of being the only performer to have a Number 1 hit in the entire year of 1952. No subsequent act has ever dominated the top spot so entirely in any later year.
Other versions of this song were recorded by Vic Damone, Tony Bennett and Mario Lanza. In 1963, the non-singing film star performed this song in his film ‘This Sporting Life’.
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This song has always held a special memory for me, and today I dedicate to my dear friend Francesca Sherry on her birthday. Francesca always reminds me of the little Shirley Temple lookalike girl who grew up into a beautiful young woman with a heart of gold. Francesca, who is an excellent artist kindly painted the Madonna statues in our home and in the religious grotto in out allotment. Whenever I pray there now, I always add a little prayer for the future happiness of the beautiful Francesca. Happy Birthday from Bill and Sheila. xxx
his song was first released when I was aged 10 years old and I remember it well as being one of the songs that I once won a singing prize for. They do say that competitors should never enter any talent contest where other competitors include children and animals. I must say that there were several adult singers whom I beat in talent contests when I was a young boy.
It would be almost 10 years later when I emigrated to Canada for a couple of years before the tables were turned on me. I entered a talent contest on the ship I crossed the Atlantic in over the Christmas voyage of 1964, only to come second to a 10-year-old Shirley Temple lookalike with a sugar-coated voice that melted the hearts of every mum and dad on board ship.
Her mere presence won her the contest without any need of every opening that mouth of hers. As soon as she came on stage with her childlike finger in her innocent mouth, feigning a look of shyness and coquettishness that her mother had perfected in her little angel over hundreds of hours of practice.
I really tried hard to be as charitable in thought as much inside as I appeared outside.
But deep down, I must confess that the thought that kept echoing around my brain was, ‘You’ve been robbed Bill, by a bit of parental eye candy’. Believe me, I wasn’t simply being a bad loser. In total objectivity, I'd have to say, 55 years later, that the 10-year-old girl was good but ‘here in my heart’ I just know that I was better!
Love and peace Bill xxx