"Happy Days and Lonely Nights" is a
torch song written by
Billy Rose and
Fred Fisher, first recorded by The Harmony Brothers on May 18, 1928.[1] The song was successfully revived in the 1950s in the US by
the Fontane Sisters and in the UK most successfully by
Ruby Murray.
Recordings
Ruth Etting made her recording of the song in New York City on 24 May 1928 for release on
Columbia Records. This version was ranked as high as #9 on the charts of the day. [2]
1928 also saw a version of "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" credited to the Knickerbockers actually by Columbia a&r director
Ben Selvin.
The song was revived in 1954 by the Fontane Sisters whose version - made with the
Billy Vaughn Orchestra - reached #18 on the US charts.[5] Although the UK release of the Fontane Sisters' version was overlooked.
Three British-based acts covering "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" for the UK market: both Suzi Miller &
the Johnston Brothers and
Frankie Vaughan took "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" into the UK Top 20 with respective peaks of #14 and #11 in January 1955.
A version by
Ruby Murray - produced by
Norrie Paramor - which debuted that 5 February which became the major hit reaching #6 on the chart dated that 26 February.[6][7] Ruby Murray set a UK chart record the week of 26 March 1955 when she had five releases in that week's Top 20 including "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" then at #16. Her precedent releases "Heartbeat" and "
Softly, Softly" were respectively at #15 and #2 while the first follow-up to "Happy Days and Lonely Nights": "
Let Me Go Lover" was at #5. That week Murray's single "If Anyone Finds, This I Love You" (with Ann Warren) debuted at #17. Murray's feat has yet to be beaten but was equaled the first week of July 2009 by
Michael Jackson.[citation needed]
Connie Francis recorded "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" at Metropolitan Studios (NYC) on 2 September 1958 in a session conducted by its producer Morton "Morty" Kraft. Although relegated to the B-side of the upbeat "
Fallin'", "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" received enough attention to appear on the Cash Box Best Selling Singles chart at #88.[8]