Where the Boys Are (1960)

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By: Connie Francis (born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey.) 

Connie Francis is the prototype for the female pop singer of today, and still challenges Madonna as the biggest-selling female recording artist of all time.

"Where the Boys Are" was one of many Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield compositions Francis recorded during her career (others included "Stupid Cupid" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool".) It gained wide exposure in the 1960 motion picture Where the Boys Are. Francis had a role in the film and sang the title song in the film.

"Where the Boys Are" was recorded by Connie Francis on October 18, 1960 in a New York City recording session with Stan Applebaum arranging and conducting.

Francis recorded this, along with many other of her songs, in as many as nine languages. This includes English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Japanese.

Chart position: #4 (US), #5 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: March 20, 1961 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Surrender" (Elvis Presley)
2. "Pony Time" (Chubby Checker)
3. "Don't Worry (Like All the Other Times)" (Marty Robbins)
4. "Where the Boys Are" (Connie Francis)
5. "Dedicated to the One I Love" (Shirelles)
6. "Apache" (Jorgen Ingmann)
7. "Wheels" (String-A-Longs)
8. "Ebony Eyes" (Everly Brothers)
9. "Walk Right Back" (Everly Brothers)
10. "Baby Sittin' Boogie" (Buzz Clifford)

Written by: Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York) and lyricist Howard Greenfield (born March 15, 1936, died March 4, 1986.)

Sedaka and Greenfield also wrote "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (which was a #1 hit for Tony Christie when reissued in 2005), "Stupid Cupid", "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Calender Girl", etc. 

In 1952, sixteen year old Greenfield and 13 year old Sedaka, both lived in the same apartment building in Brooklyn.  However, they didn't know of each other until Greenfield's mother had a chance meeting with the young Sedaka, suggesting to the young pianist that "You should meet my son; he writes great lyrics."  The rest is history.

Sedaka and Greenfield wrote two potential title songs for the film, but producer Joe Pasternak passed over the song Francis and the songwriting duo preferred in favor of a lush '50s style movie theme.



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Lipstick on Your Collar (1959)

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By: Connie Francis (born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey.)

Connie Francis is the prototype for the female pop singer of today, and still challenges Madonna as the biggest-selling female recording artist of all time.

"Lipstick on Your Collar" was recorded April 15, 1959 at the Metropolitan Studio in New York City, New York. Francis was only 20 years old at the time. It was produced and conducted by Ray Ellis. Veteran guitarist George Barnes contributed the guitar solo.

Connie Francis is known for recording her songs in different languages. She sang in over thirteen languages, including English, Greek, German, Swedish, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish, Japanese, Latin and Hawaiian.

That all began with "Lipstick on Your Collar", which she also recorded in German (as "Lippenstift Am Jacket"), which reached #131 in Germany in April 1960. It was the success of the German version of that caused Francis to begin recording versions of her subsequent singles in other languages.

Chart position: #5 (US), in July 1959, #3 (UK).

The flip-side was "Frankie" (#9, US), which made it the most successful double-sided single of Francis' career.

"Lipstick on Your Collar" was the first uptempo Francis single to reach the US Top Ten. It was also Francis' first Top Ten hit in Australia at #4.

Chart position: July 13, 1959 (US Billboard Top 100).

1. "The Battle of New Orleans" (Johnny Horton)
2. "Lonely Boy" (Paul Anka)
3. "Personality" (Lloyd Price)
4. "Waterloo" (Stonewall Jackson)
5. "Lipstick on Your Collar" (Connie Francis)
6. "Dream Lover" (Bobby Darin)
7. "Tiger" (Fabian)
8. "Tallahassee Lassie" (Freddy Cannon)
9. "My Heart Is an Open Book" (Carl Dobkins, Jr.)
10. "Quiet Village" (Les Baxter)
    

Written by: George Goehring (music) and Edna Lewis (lyrics.)

George Goehring also composed the music for "Half Heaven Half Heartache", which was a #12 (US) hit for Gene Pitney in 1962.

Edna Lewis also co-wrote "Judy's Turn to Cry" with Beverly "Ruby" Ross, which was a #5 (US) hit for Lesley Gore in 1963.

Lipstick is known to have been used around 5000 years ago in ancient Babylon, when semi-precious jewels were crushed and applied to the lips.

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Where the Boys Are - Live Concert Performance by 24K Gold Music - Origin...