Tell Laura I Love Her
| "Tell Laura I Love Her" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ray Peterson | ||||
| from the album Tell Laura I Love Her | ||||
| B-side | "Wedding Day" | |||
| Released | 1960 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Writer(s) | Jeff Barry, Ben Raleigh | |||
| Producer | Hugo & Luigi | |||
| Ray Peterson singles chronology | ||||
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| "Tell Laura I Love Her" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Ricky Valance | |
| B-side | "Once Upon a Time" |
| Released | 1960 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Label | Columbia/EMI |
| Writer(s) | Jeff Barry, Ben Raleigh |
| Producer | Frank Barber |
"Tell Laura I Love Her", a teenage tragedy song written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh, was an American Top Ten popular music hit for singer Ray Peterson in 1960 on RCA Victor Records, reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later that same year, the song was recorded and released by Ricky Valance in the United Kingdom, where it went all the way to the #1 spot in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Tell Laura I Love Her" has been a hit in 14 countries, and has sold over seven million copies.[2]
"Tell Laura I Love Her" is the tragic story of a teenage boy named Tommy who is desperately in love with a girl named Laura. Although they are only teenagers, he wants to marry her, so he enters a racing car championship, planning to use the prize money to buy Laura a wedding ring if he wins. The second verse tells the mysterious story of how the boy's car overturned and burst into flames — though no-one knows why — and the boy was killed, his last words being "Tell Laura I love her . . . My love for her will never die." In the final verse, Laura prays inside the chapel, where an organ plays[citation needed] and she can still hear Tommy's voice exclaiming the title song one more time, before it fades out.
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[edit] Recording history
The lyrics of "Tell Laura I Love Her" originally concerned a rodeo, not an automobile race, as composer Jeff Barry was an aficionado of cowboy culture. However, at RCA's instigation Barry rewrote the song, in order to more closely resemble the #1 hit "Teen Angel."
Decca Records in England decided not to release Ray Peterson's 1960 recording on the grounds that it was "too tasteless and vulgar," and destroyed about twenty thousand copies that had already been pressed. A cover version by Ricky Valance, released by EMI on the Columbia label, was #1 on the British charts for three weeks.
In 1962, the Smash Records released an album, The Tale of Patches by Dickey Lee, that included a cover of "Tell Laura I Love Her". A cover version by J. Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers on the album Last Kiss was released on the Josie Records label in 1964. Another cover was recorded by singer Ricky Nelson.
John Leyton attended a singing audition with producer Joe Meek and subsequently recorded the song, which was released on the Top Rank label. At that time, however, Top Rank was undergoing a takeover by EMI, which had already released Ricky Valance's version of the same song. The John Leyton recording was withdrawn from sale.
A decade later, Johnny T. Angel's recording on Bell Records peaked at #94 on June 8, 1974 (US). The Swedish band The Boppers also released a version on their album Number 1 (1978).[3]
A Mexican singer, César Costa, sings the hit with the name in Spanish "La Historia de Tommy", in 1963. There is also a version by Gustavo Quintero with a Colombian band named Los Teen Agers.
A Chinese Mandarin version, "Tell Laura I Love Her", recorded by Takeshi Kaneshiro in 1994 for his album "標準情人" Ideal Lover.
A Spanish version, "Dile a Laura que la quiero", was recorded by Chilean singer Ray Palavicino.
The story of the song was adapted for stage and turned into "Tell Laura I Love Her (The Musical)" in 2007 By Richard C Hague.[4]
| Preceded by "Apache" by The Shadows |
UK number one single (Ricky Valance's version) 29 September 1960 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Only the Lonely" by Roy Orbison |
[edit] Answering lyrics
Later on an album named The Answer To Everything - Girl Answer Songs Of The '60'S , an answer song, "Tell Tommy I Miss Him," was performed by Marilyn Michaels. It was originally released by RCA Victor Records on a single as catalog number 47-7771.
The British singer, Laura Lee with Orchestra directed by Johnny Keating, also recorded a version. It was released by Triumph Records on a single in the UK as catalog number RGM 1030 in August 1960.
[edit] Parodies, etc
In 1977 the Swedish Band Rohdes Rockers recorded a parody, which peaked in the chorus 'Köp Aldrig en Folkvagn' (Never Buy a Volkswagen).
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly performed a spoof of the song in 1981. It can be found in the footage of Billy Connolly Bites Yer Bum! In his version, it is Laura herself who is killed in a road traffic accident.
The song is also referenced and parodied by Frenchie in the Broadway musical Grease.
Folk/blues singer Steve Goodman included "Tell Laura I Love Her" in his "Dead Girl Songs" medley, released posthumously on the album No Big Surprise in 1994.
Local Hawaii comedian Rap Reiplinger recorded a parody, "Fate Yanagi", on his album Poi Dog With Crabs.
