Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes
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| "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyesl" | |
| Written by | Slim Willet |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Form | Country |
| Original artist | Ray Price–5/17/52 |
| Recorded by | Slim Willet–9/27/52 Skeets McDonald–10/25/52 Perry Como–11/4/52 (see also Other versions) |
"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is an off meter ballad concerning a man away from home worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. The song was recorded in many different styles by many artists. It was written by Winston L. Moore (whose stage name was Slim Willet) and was published in 1952[1]. The title comes from the opening refrain:
- Don't let the stars get in you eyes,
- Don't let the moon break your heart.
The song was first recorded by Ray Price (Columbia 4-21025, reaching #5) and then by Slim Willet and the Brush Cutters (4 Star 11614, reaching #1). Skeets McDonald followed with a huge Western swing hit, reaching #1 and staying on the charts 18 weeks. His version was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2216 with the flip side “Big Family Trouble"[2].
The best selling performance was a Pop version recorded by Perry Como on November 4, 1952 and released in the following versions[1]:
- In the United States, by RCA Victor, as a 78 rpm single record (catalog number 20-5064[3]) and a 45 rpm single (catalog number 47-5064), with the flip side “Lies”[3]. This record reached #1 on the US Billboard charts.
- In Argentina by RCA Victor, as a single (catalog number 68-0722) with the flip side "No Hay Bote Como El De Remo."
- In the United Kingdom, by HMV, as a 78 rpm single (catalog number B-10400), with the flip side “To Know You (Is to Love You).” This record reached #1 on the UK charts.
- In Germany, by HMV, as a 78 rpm single (catalog number X-8080), with the flip side “Outside of Heaven” by Eddie Fisher.
The song was also covered by Eileen Barton in a recording issued by Coral Records as catalog number 60882, with the flip side “Tennessee Tango,”[4] and by country music star k. d. lang on her 1988 CD “Shadowland.”
It was spoofed by Homer and Jethro on their album America's Song Butchers in a song entitled “Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyeballs,” the lyrics of which are also found in a Steve Goodman song entitled “Talk Backwards.”
[edit] Other recorded versions
- Boxcar Willie (released by Mainstreet Records as catalog number 950, with the flip side “Boxcar Blues”[5])
- Red Foley (recorded October 7, 1952, released by Decca Records as catalog number 28460, with the flip side “Sally”[6])
- Homer and Jethro (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5214, with the flip side “Unhappy Day”[3])
- Henry Jerome (released by MGM Records as catalog number 11385, with the flip side “Keep It a Secret”[7])
- Johnny and Jack (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5040, with the flip side “The Only One I Ever Loved, I Lost”[3])
- Jimmy Justice (released 1964 by Blue Cat Records as catalog number 101, with the flip side “The Guitar Player (Her and Him)”[8])
- Gisele MacKenzie (released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 2256, with the flip side “My Favorite Song”[2], and in Australia as catalog number CP-200, with the flip side “Adios”[9])
- Bobby Maxwell (released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70047, with the flip side “Ching-Ching-A-Ling”[10])
- The Parisian Sextet (released 1962 by Challenge Records as catalog number 59137, with the flip side “The Poor People of Paris”[11])
[edit] External links
- ^ a b Perry Como discography entry for “Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes”
- ^ a b Capitol Records in the 2000 to 2499 series
- ^ a b c d RCA Victor Records in the 20-5000 to 20-5499 series
- ^ Coral records in the 60000 series
- ^ Mainstreet Records listing
- ^ Decca Records in the 28000 to 28499 series
- ^ MGM Records in the 11000 to 11499 series
- ^ Blue Cat Records in the 101 to 130 series
- ^ Australian Capitol Records listing
- ^ Mercury Records in the 70000 to 71696 series
- ^ Challenge Records listing
| Preceded by Why Don’t You Believe Me |
Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record January 17, 1953–January 31, 1953 |
Succeeded by Till I Waltz Again with You |
