If (They Made Me a King)

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"If"
Single by Perry Como
A-side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
Released December 1950
Genre Vocal
Length 3:12
Label RCA Victor
Writer(s) Tolchard Evans, Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell
Perry Como singles chronology
"You're Just in Love"
(1950)		 "If"
(1951)		 "There's No Boat Like a Rowboat"
(1951)

"If (They Made Me a King)" is a popular song with music written by Tolchard Evans and the lyrics written by Robert Hargreaves and Stanley J. Damerell. The song was written in 1934, but the most popular versions were recorded in 1950-1951. Perry Como's version, recorded November 28, 1950, was a #1 charted hit on the Billboard charts for 8 weeks.[1] The Como version was released under the following labels and catalog numbers:

  • In the United States, by RCA Victor, as catalog number 20-3997 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
  • In Argentina, by Discos RCA Victor Argentina, as catalog number 68-0583 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
  • In the United Kingdom, by HMV, as catalog number B-10042 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
  • In Germany, by HMV, as catalog number X-7293 with the flip side being a Tony Martin/Dinah Shore recording of "A Penny a Kiss"

Dean Martin recorded the song December 2, 1950, and scored a #14 hit.[2] Billy Eckstine recorded the song December 21, 1950, and scored a #10 hit.[3]

Al Hirt released a version of the song in 1969. The song went to #16 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #116 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]

Jo Stafford also recorded the song (with "queen" for "king" in the lyric) about the same time. Her version, with the Paul Weston orchestra backing her, was recorded on October 16, 1950 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39082.

Another distaff version (substituting "queen" for "king") was released by Timi Yuro in 1964.

In 1961, doowop group "The Paragons" released a version which peaked at No. 82 and spent 5 weeks in the Top 100.

References

  1. ↑ Perry Como's "If" Chart Positions Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Dean Martin, Memories Are Made Of This, 1946-1961, His 58 Finest, Retrospective, 2013.
  3. ↑ Mr B, Billy Eckstine, ASV Mono, Living Era, 2001.
  4. ↑ Al Hirt's "If" Chart Positions Retrieved March 24, 2013.
Preceded by Cash Box magazine best selling record chart
#1 record
April 7–14, 1951		 Succeeded by
Mockin’ Bird Hill
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores number-one single
March 3, 1951 (Perry Como)		 Succeeded by
"Be My Love" by Mario Lanza
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores number-one single
March 17–April 14, 1951 (Perry Como)		 Succeeded by
"How High the Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford
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