It's Only Make Believe (1958)

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Download MP3s from Amazon.com:

• Conway Twitty - It's Only Make Believe (MP3)
• Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe (MP3)

By: Conway Twitty (born Harold Lloyd Jenkins on September 1, 1933 in Friars Point, Mississippi, died of abdominal aneurysm June 5, 1993 on his tour bus in Missouri.)

Conway Twitty's dad was a riverboat pilot who taught him guitar at the age of four. After high school, Twitty was an avid baseball player, and received an offer to join the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, he was drafted by the army. When he got out, Twitty heard Elvis Presley's "Mystery Train" and began writing songs.

Most commonly remembered today as a country music singer, Twitty's initial success was in early rock and roll, R&B and pop.

An Ohio radio station did not play "I'll Try", the A-side of a single that was going nowhere in terms of sales, radio and jukebox play. They instead played the B-side of the single, "It's Only Make Believe".

It gradually became popular throughout the country. For a brief period, some believed that he was Elvis Presley recording under a different name.

Conway re-recorded this several times throughout his career, three times as a duet: once with Loretta Lynn, and twice with Ronnie McDowell.

Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (UK).

"It's Only Make Believe" was Conway's only song to top the pop charts in the US and UK.

The record took nearly a year to reach #1 of the US charts. It went on to sell over 8 million records and hit #1 in 21 different nations, as well.

It was preceded at #1 by "It's All In The Game" (Tommy Edwards) and succeeded by "Tom Dooley" (Kingston Trio).

The Top Ten Songs: November 10, 1958 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "It's Only Make Believe" (Conway Twitty)
2. "Tom Dooley" (Kingston Trio)
3. "It's All In The Game" (Tommy Edwards)
4. "Topsy II" (Cozy Cole)
5. "To Know Him Is To Love Him" (Teddy Bears)
6. "Chantilly Lace" (Big Bopper)
7. "Tea For Two Cha Cha" (Tommy Dorsey)
8. "The End" (Earl Grant)
9. "Rockin' Robin" (Bobby Day)
10. "I Got A Feeling" (Ricky Nelson)

Written by: Conway Twitty and Jack Nance.

Twitty wrote this with his drummer Jack Nance between sets at the Flamingo Lounge in Toronto, Canada.

Also by: Glen Campbell, whose version reached #10 (US) and #4 (UK); Billy Fury, whose version reached #10 (UK).

Download MP3s from Amazon.com:

• Conway Twitty - It's Only Make Believe (MP3)
• Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe (MP3)

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