I Believe (1953 song)

"I Believe" is the name of a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953.

"I Believe" was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on TV. Froman, troubled by the uprising of the Korean War in 1952 so soon after World War II, asked Drake, Graham, Shirl and Stillman to compose a song that would offer hope and faith to the populace. In addition to Froman, "I Believe" has been recorded by many others, and has become both a popular and religious standard.

Frankie Laine had the big hit version of the song, which still holds the record for the most weeks spent at number one in the UK Singles Chart. However, that total of 18 weeks was not consecutive, as the hit had three separate periods at number one in the UK. For comparison the longest consecutive period at number one in the UK was 16 weeks by Bryan Adams with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (1991), whilst Wet Wet Wet spent 15 consecutive weeks there in 1994 with "Love Is All Around".

During Laine's single's stay at number one, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, Mount Everest was climbed and the England cricket team won back The Ashes after nineteen years.

Quodlibet with Ave Maria

In 1972, Shawnee Music published a new arrangement of "I Believe" that includes a quodlibet with Bach/Gounod, "Ave Maria". This version is frequently performed by choirs at Christmas time.

Recorded versions

• Donny Osmond (on his 1973 album "A Time for Us")
• Marcel Mouloudji (1953, as "Je Crois en Toi")
• The Musical Hearts from Texas (recorded in September 1964. It was released on the extended play, Harmoni HEP 216.
• Andy Williams (on his 1960 album, The Village of St. Bernadette)
• Doris Akers (1963) (RCA Victor 2644)
• The Bachelors (1964)
• The Earls (1964)
• Donna Loren (1965) (Capitol 5548)
• The Righteous Brothers
• Eve Boswell
• Frank Sinatra
• The Chordettes (recorded 1953, released the next year)
• Larry Chance and The Earls
• Jane Froman
• Crystal Gayle (on her 1995 album, Someday)
• Frankie Laine
• Allan Jones, tenor wuith The Peter Knight Singers with orchestra cond. by George Melachrino (recorded in London on April 16, 1953. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10490).
• The Lettermen (on their 1965 album You'll Never Walk Alone, and as the B-side of "Sweet September")
• Elvis Presley from Elvis' Christmas Album (1957)
• LeAnn Rimes
• Robson and Jerome
• Sandler and Young (together with Bach/Gounod's Ave Maria)
• Joni James (on her 1956 album, Give Us This Day)
• Barbra Streisand
• David Whitfield (1960)
• In 2002 the song was included on the Art Greenhaw Records album We Called Him Mr. Gospel Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album, which went on to win a Grammy Award for "Best Album of the Year" in a Gospel category. Performers were Larry Ford, The Jordanaires and The Light Crust Doughboys.
• On 26 November 2007 the track was released by British child singer Connie Talbot (who was discovered on the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent), on her debut album, Over The Rainbow.
• In 2010 a surf-pop version of the song was included on the album Wills & The Light Crust Doughboys: 80th Anniversary, Together Again and performed by Art Greenhaw.

This album was re-released on the 16th June 2008 (with the Christmas tracks replaced).

• Benny Hill (parodied The Bachelors version of "I Believe" in his song, "I'll Never Know")
• Gé Korsten
• Mahalia Jackson
• Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge on their 2002 CD "Peace On Earth" and on their 2007 CD "Songs Of Inspiration"
• The GoldTones (2004)

References

Preceded by "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" by Lita Roza	UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Frankie Laine 24 April 1953 for 9 weeks	Succeeded by "I'm Walking Behind You" by Eddie Fisher
Preceded by "I'm Walking Behind You" by Eddie Fisher	UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Frankie Laine 3 July 1953 top again for 6 weeks	Succeeded by "The Song from Moulin Rouge" by Mantovani and His Orchestra
Preceded by "The Song from Moulin Rouge" by Mantovani and His Orchestra	UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Frankie Laine 21 August 1953 top again for 3 weeks	Succeeded by "Look at That Girl" by Guy Mitchell
Preceded by "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio	UK Singles Chart Number 1 single Robson and Jerome version double A-side with "Up on the Roof" 11 November 1995 for 4 weeks	Succeeded by "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson