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"Why" is a hit song recorded by Frankie Avalon 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, and this version reached No. 3 on the UK Singles chart.

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 for the week ending January 2, 1960, published on the week of December 28, 1959. 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 charts.

Avalon could not take full advantage of the song's success because he was filming on location in Texas. His concentration on his acting career detracted from his recording career, and "Why" became Avalon's seventh and final top 10 hit.

Charts

Donny Osmond version

"Why"
Single by Donny Osmond
from the album Too Young
B-side	"Lonely Boy"
Released	August 12, 1972
Recorded	1972
Genre	Pop
Length	2:44
Label	MGM
Songwriter(s)	Peter De Angelis, Bob Marcucci
Producer(s)	Mike Curb, Don Costa
Donny Osmond singles chronology
"Too Young" (1972) "Why" (1972) "The Twelfth of Never" (1973)

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

Charts

Other versions

• The French cover by Dalida in 1960 became very popular as "Bras Dessus Bras Dessous". Instead of being featured on her 1960 album Les enfants du Pirée, it was released only on EP with three more songs that appeared on her following 1961 year album Garde-moi la dernière danse.
• Les Compagnons de la chanson also recorded the French version "Bras dessus, bras dessous", which reached No. 8 on the Belgian chart in 1960, and No. 6 in France, with high sales figure in the country.
• Anthony Newley covered the song shortly after Avalon, and his version went to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1960.

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959 (U.S.)
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1960
• List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK)

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 38.
2. ^ Bronson, Fred (1997). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. p. 62. ISBN 9780823076413.
3. ""MR. MUSIC"". Jerryosborne.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
4. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
5. "Frankie Avalon – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. "Frankie Avalon – Why" (in French). Ultratop 50.
7. "Frankie Avalon – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
8. "Frankie Avalon – Why". VG-lista.
9. "Frankie Avalon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
10. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. December 28, 1959.
11. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 187.
12. ^ "Donny Osmond". Flavour of New Zealand.
13. "Donny Osmond: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
14. "Donny Osmond Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
15. "Donny Osmond Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
16. "Les Compagnons De La Chanson – Bras dessus, bras dessous". Ultratop.
17. "Les Compagnons de la chanson". infordisc. Select "Les Compagnons de la chanson" from list
18. "French Newsnotes". Billboard. February 20, 1961. p. 16.
19. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 47–8. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.

• 1959 songs
• 1959 singles
• 1960 singles
• 1972 singles
• Songs written by Bob Marcucci
• Frankie Avalon songs
• Anthony Newley 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