Pop Music
All sorts of songs with an interesting history became hits during this doo wop and rock n roll era. One such song was “It’s All in the Game.”
In 1958 Tommy Edwards’ “It’s All in the Game” went #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. R&B Charts. The tune was written in 1911 and called “Melody in A Major” by Charles Dawes, who later became Vice President under Calvin Coolidge. Dawes also received a Nobel Prize for the Dawes Plan for reparations after World War I. That makes Dawes the only U.S. VP and only Nobel Prize winner to have a #1 hit. In 1951, Carl Sigman, a New York Brill Building songwriter, penned lyrics to it.
Edwards recorded a version of the song with lush strings in the background in 1951. This versions made it to #18 on the charts. It was also recorded by Dinah Shore, Carmen Cavallero, and Sammy Kaye. Edwards’ re-recorded the song with a doo wop arrangement in 1958 to help his career, which was not going so well at that point. That version went to #1 and was on the charts for 22 weeks. It went to #3 on the U.K. Chart. The song became one of the biggest hits of the 1950s.
Covers of the song have remained popular, and artists with versions include (among others), Cliff Richard, the Four Tops, Merle Haggard, and Van Morrison.
3 Comments
Born in 45 and came of age in the late 50’s and 60’s. The best time in America to be young. We’ll never see this great a time again. Love your site. It brings it all back! Thanks
You’re welcome. Sigh. Yes. It was a great time to be young.
Love the song. Didn’t know about its history. Very interesting. Thanks.