
Singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka celebrates his 82nd birthday today. Wikipedia tells us "Since his music career began in 1957 as a short-lived founding member of the Tokens, he has sold millions of records as a performer and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and others, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody." He recorded his signature song, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," in 1962 and it reached #1 for two weeks that year. In 1975, he remade it as a ballad and it reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the US and Canada, #1 on the Canadian Top 100 Singles chart, and #8 on the Hot 100.
I wonder if any other recording artists have had #1 hits with two versions of the same song. I still have my Sedaka Is Back album. Love him.
Love,
Janie
LikeLike
Just as a guess, Eric Clapton with “Layla.”
LikeLike
I remember he had a resurgence in the late seventies I believe…Bad Blood and some other songs.
LikeLike
The Captain and Tennille did a couple of his songs, notably “Love Will Keep Us Together,” where at the end you can hear them sing “Sedaka’s back!” That’s what brought him back. His first hit in ten years was “Laughter in the Rain,” and of course there was the lounge version of this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know he wrote Love Will Keep Us Together until recently. I remember him on shows back then and I was oblivious to his past.
LikeLike
One of the greats of the early rock era, and still not a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just his writing alone should get him in. I’ve given up on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My parents used ot listen to Neil Sedaka, so I am very familiar with this song, although I don’t think it did brilliantly in Australia.
LikeLike
That happens a lot.
LikeLike
Hi, John!
Thanks for saluting Neil Sedaka on his 82nd birthday, good buddy! Neil is one of my favorite recording artists and songwriters – prolific and terrific. Year after year Neil is overlooked by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee, while millions of his fans protest the injustice. Maybe in our lifetime and Neil’s the Hall will come around and recognize him as one of the architects of rock & roll – the fun, pop style of rock & roll that kids and their parents both appreciated. I remember Neil’s remake of “Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do” but continue to favor the rockin’ original.
Thanks again for visiting Shady’s Place and enjoy the rest of your weekend, good buddy John!
LikeLike
I wonder who comes up with the nominations. Not to have Neil Sedaka in the RRHoF is criminal. As many records as he’s sold, both as a performer and a songwriter? Come on! Maybe they consider him TOO commercially successful, but then how do they have Gerry Goffin and Carole King?
LikeLike
My ex husband is a Sephardic Jew, and us distantly related to Neil. Love his music.
LikeLike
My guess is that they’re not that close that you could invite him to the house and he’d actually come. I’m a shirt-tail relative of Bob Newhart (his sister is married to Mom’s second cousin, I think). Neil is not just a great performer, he’s a hell of a songwriter.
LikeLike
Great oldie!
LikeLike
Glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
š
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember listening to that song.
LikeLike
It’s a good one, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great song š
LikeLike
I switch back and forth on whether I like this version or the slower remake he did in the ’70’s better. Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
I really did thank you Johnš
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you get to see the Leo Sayer song Moonlighting. You said you could not open the video so I sent you another link š
LikeLike
The second worked well. It’s got an interesting rhythm, though I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to dance to it….
LikeLike
No maybe not but a great song š
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful song.
LikeLike
This has always been a favorite. The later, slower version is good, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John – love this one … brilliant to hear it again … what fun – good start to the day … all the best – Hilary
LikeLike
Glad you liked it!
LikeLike
I love this type of music. Sounds so innocent, fresh, naive maybe?
LikeLike
That’s true. His later version, where he slowed down the tempo, didn’t seem quite as innocent. Both are good…
LikeLiked by 1 person