This week’s selection was written and first performed in 1960 by the most successful duo in history, and became their fourth and largest #1 hit. The song sold eight-million copies worldwide, resided at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for five weeks and even spent one week at the pinnacle of the Billboard R&B charts. This single also captured the attention of the Brits, occupying the top position on the U.K. pop charts for seven weeks in May-June, 1960. This number is also ranked #149 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Years later, The Beatles based the vocal arrangement of “Please Please Me” on this song.
More than three decades later in 1989, this song would become a hit again, only this time the cover version by a female country artist would top both the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. Since the vocalist was female, the lyrics were slightly altered, now telling the story from the perspective of another woman observing the storyline. The video accompanying this song starred Bruce Boxleitner, playing a rather unusual role, in keeping with an Old West motif.