"Claudette" is a 1958 song which reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart that year in a recording by the Everly Brothers. ^[1] It was the first notable success as a songwriter for Roy Orbison, who named it after his first wife. Orbison also recorded his own version of the song. ^{[2] [3]} Although originally released as the B-side to the Everly Brothers' number 1 hit " All I Have to Do is Dream", their recording of "Claudette" reached number 30 in its own right, and the two songs were jointly listed at number 1 in the UK. ^{[1] [4]}

Background

The song "Claudette" was written by Roy Orbison in the early days of his career, prior to him achieving fame as a singer. Written about his wife of the same name, whom he had married the previous year, the song was recorded by Orbison but unreleased. ^[5] He cut a demo version at the Sun Studio in Memphis on January 10, 1958, accompanying himself on guitar, in addition to another unreleased version with drums. ^[6]

Orbison would later record two versions of the song for commercial release: firstly, in a version included on his 1965 MGM album There is Only One Roy Orbison, and then in 1986 for In Dreams: The Greatest Hits, an album composed mostly of re-recordings of his hit songs. ^{[5] [6]} "Claudette" was also included as part of his set for Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, a Cinemax television special filmed on September 30, 1987, at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles and first broadcast on January 3, 1988. ^[7] The song was not included in the broadcast due to time constraints, but was on a 1999 re-issue of A Black & White Night Live, an album version of the show. ^[6]

According to Phil Everly, when the brothers were in Chicago, they asked Orbison if he had a song for them, and he gave them "Claudette". ^[8] It was recorded by the Everly Brothers on March 6, 1958, at RCA Studios in Nashville, with the backing conducted by Archie Bleyer. ^{[8] [9] [10]} The song was originally published by Orbison himself on March 7, 1958, and then by Acuff Rose Music on April 29 that year. ^[7] Orbison used the royalties from the song to buy himself out of his contract with Sun Records. ^[11]

The Everly Brothers' manager, Wesley Rose, signed Orbison to Acuff Rose, and became his manager. ^[3] The song was later performed by the Everly Brothers at their September 23, 1983 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a recording of which was issued on The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert album. ^{[10] [12]}

Release and chart performance

Cadence Records released the Everly Brothers' version of "Claudette" as the B-side to "All I Have to Do is Dream", a song which reached number 1 on the US Billboard chart. "Claudette" reached number 30 in its own right, however, in May 1958, and the two songs were jointly listed at number 1 in the UK's New Musical Express chart, a position the record held for seven weeks, starting in July that year. ^{[1] [4] [13]} The Record Mirror also listed both titles at number 1 together, although Melody Maker listed "All I Have to Do is Dream" on its own; ^{[12] [14]} Disc magazine did not list "Claudette" at number 1 in its Top Twenty, but did show both sides together at number 1 in the Juke Box Top Ten. ^[15]

"Claudette" was one of the few UK number 1 singles chart hits from the 1950s not to appear on the sheet music charts, which were broadcast at the time on Radio Luxembourg (the others being the " Let's Have Another Party" medley, " Rose Marie", and " Gamblin' Man"). ^[14]

Cover versions

In 1997, "Claudette" was released as the lead single from Dwight Yoakam's Under the Covers album, and it made the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. ^[16] Other cover versions include:

• Kris Jensen had a single release on the Hickory label in 1962
• John Denver on his 1985 album Dreamland Express ^[15]
• Status Quo on their 2000 album Famous in the Last Century ^[17]
• The Four Pennies on their 1964 album 2 Sides of the 4 Pennies ^[18]
• The Nighthawks on their 1981 album Times Four ^[19]
• Cliff Richard, released on The World Tour 2004 DVD ^[20]
• Robert Johnson on his 1979 album Close Personal Friend ^[21]
• Showaddywaddy on their 2008 release The Sun Album ^[22]
• The Flames ^[23]

References