Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes
"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is a country song about a man away from home who is worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. It was written by Winston L. Moore (whose stage name was Slim Willet) and published in 1952.[1] The song has been recorded in many different styles by many performers, with Perry Como's version hitting number 1 hit in both the US and UK.[2]
The title comes from the opening refrain:
- Don't let the stars get in your eyes,
- Don't let the moon break your heart.
Chart performance
| "Don't Let the Stars (Get in Your Eyes)" | |
|---|---|
RCA Victor | |
| Songwriter(s) | Slim Willet |
| Producer(s) | Eli Oberstein |
The most popular recording of the song, selling over a million and a half copies, was a pop version recorded by Perry Como with The Ramblers on November 4, 1952. It was released in several countries:[1]
- In the United States, by
- In Argentina by RCA Victor, as a single (catalog number 68-0722) with the flip side "No Hay Bote Como El De Remo."
- In the United Kingdom, by
- In Germany, by HMV, as a 78 rpm single (catalog number X-8080), with the flip side "Eddie Fisher.
In the UK, "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" first entered the sheet music charts on January 17, 1953. The song peaked at No. 1 on February 7, its fourth week on chart, staying there for a week. In total, it spent 16 weeks on the sheet music charts. The first recording to be issued in the UK was a British recording by
The same week that the song entered the British sheet music charts, Como's version also entered the UK's singles chart, based on record sales (week ending January 16). The latter chart had only been launched in November 1952, and "Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes" thus became the first of Como's many UK chart hits. It peaked at the top of the singles chart the same week that the song made No. 1 on the sheet music listing (week ending 6 February, its fourth week on chart). Como's recording – the only one to chart in the UK – spent five weeks at No. 1, and 15 weeks on chart in total.[12]
Other recorded versions
- Boxcar Willie (released by Mainstreet Records as catalog number 950, with the flip side "Boxcar Blues")[13]
- Red Foley (recorded October 7, 1952, released by Decca Records as catalog number 28460, with the flip side "Sally")[14]
- Dean Martin (1952 in a Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis radio show)
- Faron Young on the LP Talk About Hits! (1959)
- Henry Jerome (released by MGM Records as catalog number 11385, with the flip side "Keep It a Secret")[15]
- RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5040, with the flip side "The Only One I Ever Loved, I Lost")[6]
- Jimmy Justice (released 1964 by Blue Cat Records as catalog number 101, with the flip side "The Guitar Player (Her and Him)")[16]
- Gisele MacKenzie (released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 2256, with the flip side "My Favorite Song",[5] and in Australia as catalog number CP-200, with the flip side "Adios")[17]
- Bobby Maxwell (released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70047, with the flip side "Ching-Ching-A-Ling")[18]
- The Parisian Sextet (released in 1962 by Challenge Records as catalog number 59137, with the flip side "The Poor People of Paris")[19]
- Slim Whitman for his album I'll See You When (1973).[20]
- Jerry Lee Lewis[21]
- In 1977, Milton Berle, Florence Henderson & Tina Turner performed the song on an episode of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
- k.d. lang (released in 1988 by Sire Records as track number 8 on the album Shadowland)
- Come on Back)[22]
- Alberto Semprini recorded it as the third song of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 12) - Hit medley of quick-steps", along with "She Wears Red Feathers" and "Wild Roses." The medley was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10457.
- The song was also covered by Eileen Barton in a recording issued by Coral Records as catalog number 60882, with the flip side "Tennessee Tango".[23]
- It was spoofed by Homer and Jethro on their album America's Song Butchers: The Weird World of Homer and Jethro in a song entitled "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs," the lyrics of which are also found in a Steve Goodman song entitled "Talk Backwards."
- The song was recorded in 2008 by Australian singer and composer Italian-Americansingers.
- LaVern Baker, for her album See See Rider on Atlantic Records (1962).[24]
See also
- List of number-one singles from the 1950s (UK)
- List of number-one singles of 1953 (U.S.)
References
- ^ a b "Perry Como discography entry for "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes"". Kokomo.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (song by Perry Como) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
- ^ "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (song by Slim Willet) • Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (song by Ray Price) • Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ a b "Capitol Records in the 2000 to 2499 series". 78discography.com. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ a b c "RCA Victor Records in the 20-5000 to 20-5499 series". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (song by Perry Como) • Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. 1953-01-17. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ Billboard, February 7, 1953. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8QwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&dq=don%27t+let+the+stars+get+in+your+eyes+como+best+selling+singles&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjtksTs-efxAhWwQkEAHTTLCn4Q6AEwAnoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q=don't%20let%20the%20stars%20get%20in%20your%20eyes%20como%20best%20selling%20singles&f=false
- ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- OCLC 19389211.
- OCLC 51779766.
- ^ "Mainstreet Records listing". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Decca Records in the 28000 to 28499 series". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "MGM Records in the 11000 to 11499 series". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Blue Cat Records in the 101 to 130 series". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Australian Capitol Records listing". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Mercury Records in the 70000 to 71696 series". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ Global Dog Productions. "Challenge Records listing". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Slim Whitman : I'll See You When". Discogs.com. 1973. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "Jerry Lee Lewis Keeps on Rockin' - Jerry Lee Lewis | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ "Come on Back: Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Coral records in the 60000 series". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "LaVern Baker : See See Rider". Discogs.com. 1963. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
