"Catch a Falling Star"
Single by Perry Como
B-side"Magic Moments"
ReleasedDecember 3, 1957
RecordedOctober 9, 1957
GenrePop[1]
Length2:23
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss
Producer(s)Joe Reisman
Perry Como singles chronology
"Jingle Bells"
(1957)
"Catch a Falling Star"
(1957)
"Magic Moments"
(1957)

"Catch a Falling Star" is a song written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. It is best known and was made famous by Perry Como's hit version, recorded and released in late 1957.[2]

Background and chart performance

The song's melody is based on a theme from Brahms' Academic Festival Overture. Perry Como's version features The Ray Charles Singers, who sing the refrain as a repeated round.[2]

It was Como's last number one hit in the United States,[3] reaching number 1 on the Billboard "Most Played by Jockeys" chart, but not in the overall top 100, where it reached number 3.[4] It was the first single to receive a Recording Industry Association of America gold record certification, on March 14, 1958.[5] In Canada, the song reached number 12 on the CHUM Charts, February 3, 1958, co-charting with Magic Moments.[6]

Overseas, in 1958, the song also topped the Australian charts. In the UK Singles Chart, "Catch a Falling Star" peaked at number nine, whereas its B-side "Magic Moments" topped the charts.[7]

Accolades

The single won Como the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Male.

The song has been featured in several films, including:

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Pitzonka, Bill (2001). "The Cuff Links and Street People". In Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (eds.). Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Los Angeles: Feral House. pp. 61–62.
  2. 1 2 "Perry Como - Catch A Falling Star". 45cat.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. "Perry Como Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 187.
  5. "History Of The Awards". RIAA.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  6. "CHUM Hit Parade - February 3, 1958". Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. "Perry Como". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  8. "A Whirl Through Academe" track title, soundtrack album, Concord Records, 2008
  9. "American single certifications – Perry Como – Catch a Falling Star". Recording Industry Association of America.


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