Follow the Boys (song)

Follow the Boys is a 1963 song that was used as the theme song to the 1963 comedy film of the same name and was also a Top 20 hit for Connie Francis.

Recording history

Three different versions of the song exist: the first version was recorded on June 30, 1962 during the shooting of the on-location scenes in Italy, where Francis overdubbed her vocals to a playback which had been pre-recorded under the direction of Geoff Love at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London. This version was used for the opening and closing credits of the film.

The second recording of the "Follow the Boys" theme song was conducted by LeRoy Holmes, a veteran of the classic MGM musicals who by 1963 had left that studio to compose for United Artists films; however he returned to MGM to work with Francis whose 1958 hit "Stupid Cupid" he'd conducted. The recording took place on September 27, 1962. This version was released on the original MGM Records Single.

The third recording was recorded on January 10, 1963. This version used the original September 1962 playback with Francis overdubbing new vocals. This version was released on the album "Follow the Boys" (MGM Records SE-4123), which featured the film's songs on the A-Side and a selection of Italian-flavored songs to fit the movie's setting on the B-Side although they didn't appear in the actual movie.

"Follow the Boys" was stylistically reminiscent of the hit theme song from Where the Boys Are written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield but was in fact written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry (pseudonym for Murray Mencher) the composers of Francis 1962 #1 "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You".

Released in February 1963, "Follow the Boys" was ranked in local hit parades across the US typically peaking in the Top 20 with Top Ten status achieved in Dallas and Philadelphia along with some smaller markets. Nationally "Follow the Boys" peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1963 where it would be Francis' final showing in the Top 20. The single was markedly more successful as ranked by Cash Box spending two weeks at #11.

The B-side of "Follow the Boys", "Waiting For Billy", written by Davis and Murry with Dramato Palumbo was also from the Follow the Boys film, and refers to the Roger Perry character's name being Billy Pulaski. "Waiting For Billy" received enough airplay to "bubble under" the Billboard Hot 100 at #127.

Francis recorded several foreign-language versions of "Follow the Boys": for all versions the playback of the September 1962 recording was used.

Unlike the original US release of "Follow the Boys", the foreign language versions were not coupled with "Waiting for Billy", but with a foreign language version of "Tonight's my night", another song from the movie's soundtrack:

The only evident remake of "Follow the Boys" is that by Iveta Bartošová which appears on her 1989 album Closer Now.

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Connie Francis U. S. albums Who's Sorry Now? The Exciting Connie Francis My Thanks to You Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites Christmas in My Heart Connie's Greatest Hits Rock 'n' Roll Million Sellers Country & Western - Golden Hits Connie Francis Sings Fun Songs for Children One for the Boys Connie Francis Sings Spanish and Latin American Favorites Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites Songs to a Swinging Band More Greatest Hits Connie Francis Sings "Never on Sunday" Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites Connie Francis Sings Modern Italian Hits Connie Francis Sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits Greatest American Waltzes In the Summer of His Years Connie Francis Sings German Favorites Connie Francis and Hank Williams, Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites Movie Greats of the 60s Connie's Christmas Connie Francis and The Kids Next Door Love, Italian Style Happiness – Connie Francis On Broadway Today Grandes Exitos del Cine de los Años 60 Connie & Clyde – Hit Songs of the 30s Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David Connie Francis Sings the Songs of Les Reed International albums Connie Francis en El Patio Melodien, die die Welt erobern Somewhere, My Love U. S. singles Who's Sorry Now? Stupid Cupid/Carolina Moon Fallin'/Happy Days and Lonely Nights I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) My Happiness You Always Hurt the One You Love If I Didn't Care Lipstick on Your Collar Among My Souvenirs/God Bless America Mama Everybody's Somebody's Fool My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own/Malagueña Where the Boys Are Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart/Someone Else's Boy Together When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart) Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Vacation He Thinks I Still Care I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter/Al di là If My Pillow Could Talk In the Summer of His Years Be Anything (but Be Mine) For Mama Forget Domani Jealous Heart Love Is Me, Love Is You So Nice (Summer Samba) My Heart Cries for You Lonely Again I Don't Wanna Play House International singles Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel Ich komm' nie mehr von dir los Wenn ich träume Schöner fremder Mann Einmal komm' ich wieder Eine Insel für zwei Lili Marleen Jamais Tu' mir nicht weh Wenn du gehst Barcarole in der Nacht Ho bisogno di vederti Notable songs Volare Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Young at Heart Mein Herz weiß genau, was es will Once a Day The Shadow of Your Smile Strangers in the Night Misty Blue Filmography Where the Boys Are Follow the Boys Looking for Love When the Boys Meet the Girls Related topics Discography Bobby Darin Brenda Lee Patti Page Neil Sedaka Lesley Gore Carole King Ricky Nelson Book: Connie Francis