It's Only Make Believe

"It's Only Make Believe" is the name of a song written by Jack Nance and Conway Twitty. Twitty released it as a single in 1958 (see 1958 in music. The single performed well, topping both U.S. and British national charts, and to date remains Twitty's only number-one single on the pop charts of either country.

The song's lyrics describe the thoughts and feelings of a man in love with a woman who does not seem to be in love with him. He hopes and prays that, at some point in time, the woman will be able to return his love, but laments that, at present, "it's only make believe."

The co-author of the song, Jack Nance, is not the same person as John Marvin Nance, an actor also known as Jack Nance. The co-author was a drummer, trumpet player and singer, who worked with Conway in Arkansas as a teenager. Later in his career Jack toured with Germain Jackson.

[edit] Cover versions

Many artists have remade this song. Notable cover versions include:

Billy Fury had a hit with his version in the United Kingdom in 1964. It reached No. 10 in the UK and No. 1 in Singapore.
Also in 1964, The Hollies released a version for their album Stay With The Hollies
Glen Campbell's 1970 remake became a top ten hit in both the United States and United Kingdom
Cold Chisel performed it live during their Last Stand concerts. Although not included in the Last Stand concert film or soundtrack album, a version was released on their Barking Spiders Live: 1983 album.
Robert Gordon released his version on his 1979 album Rock Billy Boogie
Ronnie McDowell had success on Billboard's country chart in 1988 with his version; Twitty has a cameo.
Brian May performed this song a couple of times in his 1998 tour. He even released the song on a mini-album. It is one of his favorite songs.
Johnny Farago, a singer from Quebec, performed the song with Chatelaine
Robin Cook, Kelly Hogan, John Wesly Harding, Floyd Cramer, The Four Aces and The Misfits are among the artists who covered the song.
Sam Moore covered this song in 2006 on his CD Overnight Sensational with help from Mariah Carey and Vince Gill
Elvis Presley never recorded the song despite popular belief. When the song first began getting airplay in 1958, many listeners mistook Twitty's voice for that of Presley's. Although it's been rumored for years that Presley recorded it, a commercial or non commercial recording has yet to surface proving so.
Collin Raye on his 2005 album Twenty Years and Change.

Preceded by "Hoots Mon" by Lord Rockingham's XI	UK number one single (Conway Twitty version) 1958	Succeeded by "The Day the Rains Came" by Jane Morgan
Preceded by "It's All in the Game" by Tommy Edwards	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Conway Twitty version) November 10, 1958 - November 16, 1958 (one week) November 24, 1958 - November 30, 1958 (one week)	Succeeded by "Tom Dooley" by Kingston Trio

v • d • e UK Christmas number-one singles in the 1950s

"Here in My Heart" (Al Martino, 1952) · "Answer Me" (Frankie Laine, 1953) · "Let's Have Another Party" (Winifred Atwell, 1954) · "Christmas Alphabet" (Dickie Valentine, 1955) · "Just Walkin' in the Rain" (Johnnie Ray, 1956) · "Mary's Boy Child" (Harry Belafonte, 1957) · "It's Only Make Believe" (Conway Twitty, 1958) · "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" (Emile Ford & The Checkmates, 1959)

Complete list · 1950s · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s