Where the Boys Are (Connie Francis song)

Where the Boys Are is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and first recorded by Connie Francis.

Original version by Connie Francis

Premise

When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed Connie Francis for a major starring rôle in the motion picture Where the Boys Are (based on the novel of the same name by Glendon Swarthout), Francis solicited the services of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who had written hit songs for her previously (e. g. "Stupid Cupid"), to write original material for her to perform on the film's soundtrack including a Where the Boys Are title song.

Sedaka and Greenfield wrote two potential title songs for the film, but producer Joe Pasternak dismissed the song preferred by Francis and the songwriting team. The dismissed version in question was never recorded, not even for demonstration purposes, as Francis (vocal) and Sedaka (piano) had presented both songs as a live performance for Pasternak.^[1]

Motion Picture Version

The version chosen by Joe Pasternak was recorded for the first time on July 12, 1960 in Hollywood and was only used when combined to medleys with the overture and closing credits scores written by George E. Stoll.^[2]

Original Version 1960

Francis recorded the record version of Where the Boys Are on 18 October 1960^[3] in a New York City recording session with Stan Applebaum arranging and conducting. The same session also came up with Francis' hits Many Tears Ago and Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart as well as the songs On the Outside Looking In, Happy New Year Baby, and Mein Herz weiß genau, was es will, which all would remain unreleased until the 1980s.^[1]

Subsequently, Francis recorded "Where the Boys Are" in six other languages on November 9, 1960:^[3][4]

• German: Wenn ich träume
• French: Je sais qu'un gars
• Japanese: Atashi-no
• Italian: Qualcuno mi aspetta
• Neapolitan: C'è qualcuno
• Spanish: Donde hay chicos

The different versions of the track would provide her with a #1 hit in some fifteen countries.^[5] The Japanese version Atashi-no was even released in the US on MGM Records Single K 13005.^[1]

Where the Boys Are was comparatively less successful in the English speaking world: its US peak was #4 while the track peaked on both the UK and Australian charts at #5.^[6] However, Where the Boys Are became Francis' signature tune and remains a fan favorite.

1978 Recording

After several years of stage absence, Francis recorded a new album entitled Who's Happy Now? in 1978. A revamped Disco version of Where the Boys Are was chosen as the leading track of the album and culled as a single. Although the English recording wasn't able to crack the charts anywhere, Francis also recorded Spanish, Italian and Japanese Disco versions of the song.

Cover versions

• Matti Heinivaho recorded the song in 1961 in Finnish as Tuolla Jossain (meaning There Somewhere)
• Lisa Hartman performed Where the Boys Are for the 1984 remake of the motion picture.
• Lorna Luft who co-starred in the 1984 film also recorded a disco version issued in the name Lorna.
• Tracey Ullman recorded Where the Boys Are for her You Caught Me Out album.
• Linda Martin recorded Where the Boys Are and reached #19 in Ireland.
• The Czars recorded Where the Boys Are in 2005 for their album Sorry I Made You Cry.
• Kari Tapioand recorded another Finnish version entitled Milloin Saapuu Hän (When he arrives) in 1992 for his album Yön tuuli vain
• Anne Mattila covered Kari Tapioand's version for her 2004 album Unihiekkaa.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Roberts, Ron: Connie Francis 1960–1962, companion book to 5 CD retrospective "Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where the Boys Are
2. ^ Connie Francis in Hollywood, CD Booklet, Rhino Records SNY 42812, Hollywood 1997
3. ^ ^{a b} Roberts, Ron: Connie Francis Discography 1955–1973, Fan club project from 1973, revised editions 1979 and 1983
4. ^ Feddersen, Jan: Connie Francis, companion book to 5 CD retrospective "Lass mir die bunten Träume", Bear Family Records BCD 15 786 EI, Hambergen 1994
5. ^ Francis, Connie: Who's Sorry Now? (Autobiography), St. Martin's Press, 1984, ISBN 0-312-87088-4
6. ^ Francis, Connie and others: Souvenirs, companion book to 4 CD retrospective "Souvenirs", Polydor (New York) 1995, Kat.-Nr. 314 533 382-2