View source for Only You (And You Alone)

{{Short description|Pop song composed by Buck Ram}}
"'''Only You (And You Alone)'''" (often shortened to "'''Only You'''") is a [[doo-wop]] song recorded by American band [[The Platters]] and released in June 1955. It was written and composed by [[Buck Ram]], the group's producer and manager who was earlier a successful songwriter; lead vocals are by [[Tony Williams (singer)|Tony Williams]].<ref name=pc5/> The song charted in the US, the UK and Belgium.

Other well-known versions have been recorded by [[Louis Armstrong]], [[The Hilltoppers (band)|The Hilltoppers]], [[Franck Pourcel]] and [[Ringo Starr]]. American [[country music]] versions were released by [[Travis Tritt]], [[Reba McEntire]], [[Bobby Hatfield]] and [[The Statler Brothers]]. In the UK, the most widely heard versions are those by The Platters, Ringo Starr, the band [[Child (band)|Child]] and the actor [[John Alford (actor)|John Alford]]. In Norway, a version by [[Stein Ingebrigtsen]] charted in the Norwegian language. American singer [[Brenda Lee]] scored a hit in Belgium with her version.

==The Platters' original versions==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Only You (And You Alone)
| cover      = The Platters - Only You single.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Mercury hit version
| type       = single
| artist     = [[the Platters]]
| album      = The Platters
| B-side     = Bark, Battle and Ball
| released   = June 1955
| recorded   = April 26, 1955
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Doo-wop]]
| length     = 2:36
| label      = [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
| writer     = [[Buck Ram]]
| producer   =
| prev_title = Maggie Doesn't Work Here Anymore
| prev_year  = 1954
| next_title = [[The Great Pretender]]
| next_year  = 1955
}}

The Platters first recorded the song for [[Federal Records]] on May 20, 1954, but the recording was not released. In 1955, after moving to [[Mercury Records]], the band re-recorded the song (on April 26) and it scored a major hit when it was released in May. In November that year, Federal Records released the original recording as a single (with "You Made Me Cry" as the B-side) which sold poorly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncamarvy.com/Platters/platters.html  |title=The Platters |first1=Marv |last1=Goldberg |year=2008 |access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref>

Platters bass singer [[Herb Reed]] recalled how the group hit upon its successful version: "We tried it so many times, and it was terrible. One time we were rehearsing in the car... and the car jerked. Tony went 'O-oHHHH-nly you'. We laughed at first, but when he sang that song, that was the sign we had hit on something".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9314992/Herb-Reed.html |title=Herb Reed (Obituary) |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=June 6, 2012|access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> According to [[Buck Ram]], [[Tony Williams (singer)|Tony Williams]]' voice "broke" in rehearsal, but they decided to keep this effect in the recording. This was the only Platters recording on which songwriter and manager Ram played the piano.<ref name=pc5/>

The song held strong in the number 1 position on the U.S. [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] charts for seven weeks, and hit number five on the [[Billboard Top 100|''Billboard'' Top 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=463}}</ref> It remained on the charts for 30 weeks, beating out a rival [[cover version]] by [[The Hilltoppers (band)|the Hilltoppers]]. When the Platters track, "[[The Great Pretender]]" (which eventually surpassed the success of "Only You"), was released in the UK as Europe's first introduction to the group, "Only You" was included on the B-side. In the 1956 film ''[[Rock Around the Clock (film)|Rock Around the Clock]]'', the Platters participated with both songs.

The Platters re-recorded a slightly longer version of the song for [[Musicor Records]] in 1966, which features on the album ''I Love You 1,000 Times'' (MM 2091).

In 1999, the 1955 recording on [[Mercury Records]] was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame {{!}} Hall of Fame Artists {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>

=== Charts ===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope=col | Chart (1955&ndash;1957)
!scope=col | Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|4|artist=The Platters |song=Only You (And You Alone)}}
|-
{{singlechart|Wallonia|5|artist=The Platters |song=Only You (And You Alone)}}
|-
|US [[Billboard Hot 100|Best Sellers in Stores]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="billboard chart">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OyMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34|title=Best Sellers in Stores]|magazine=Billboard |page=34 |date=November 5, 1955 }}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|US [[Billboard Hot 100|Rhythm & Blues Best Sellers in Stores]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA124|title=Best Sellers in Stores]|magazine=Billboard |page=124 |date=November 12, 1955 }}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|}

==The Hilltoppers version==
[[The Hilltoppers (band)|The Hilltoppers]] released their version of the song as a [[Dot Records]] single in 1955. It reached number 8 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number 3 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3051/hilltoppers/ |title= Hilltoppers |work=The Official Charts Company }}</ref>

==Franck Pourcel version==
An instrumental version by [[Franck Pourcel]] was a hit single in 1959, and sold more than 5 million copies.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=REUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38 Strictly Instrumental]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. July 8, 1972. p. F 4. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref> Pourcel's version spent 16 weeks on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], reaching number 9,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190306110412/https://www.billboard.com/music/franck-pourcels-french-fiddles/chart-history/hot-100/song/574987 Hot 100 - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles Only You Chart History], ''Billboard''.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref> while reaching number 3 on Canada's [[CHUM Chart|CHUM Hit Parade]],<ref>"[http://las-solanas.com/surveys/CHUM/CHUM_1959-05-25_2.jpg CHUM Hit Parade]", [[CHUM (AM)|CHUM]]. Week of May 25, 1959. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref> and number 18 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Sides]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190306052941/https://www.billboard.com/music/franck-pourcels-french-fiddles/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs/song/574987 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles Only You Chart History], ''Billboard''.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref><ref>"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1959/Billboard%201959-06-15.pdf Hot R&B Sides]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. June 15, 1959. p. 39. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref>

==Ringo Starr version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Only You
| cover      = Only You Ringo Starr single cover.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Standard picture sleeve
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Ringo Starr]]
| album      = [[Goodnight Vienna]]
| B-side     = Call Me
| released   = 
*11 November 1974  (US)
*15 November 1974 (UK)
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| genre      =
| length     = {{Duration|3:16}}
| label      = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| writer     = [[Buck Ram]]
| producer   = [[Richard Perry]]
| prev_title = [[Oh My My (Ringo Starr song)|Oh My My]]
| prev_year  = 1974
| next_title = [[No No Song]]
| next_year  = 1974
}}

In 1974, [[Ringo Starr]] covered this song for his album ''[[Goodnight Vienna]]'' at the suggestion of [[John Lennon]]. This version was released as a single (b/w "Call Me") on 11 November in the US,<ref name=RSE183>{{cite book|last=Harry |first=Bill |title=The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia |year=2004 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=9780753508435 |page=183}}</ref> and it became a number six hit on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' best seller chart]] and reached number one on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening chart]] in early 1975.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=230}}</ref> In Canada, the song also reached number one on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' middle-of-the-road chart <ref> {{cite magazine|title=RPM Pop Music Playlist: January 18, 1975|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=9771&|magazine=RPM|volume=22|issue=21}}</ref> and number 17 on the top singles chart within the same period.<ref> {{cite magazine|title=RPM Top Singles: January 18, 1975|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5099&|magazine=RPM|volume=22|issue=21}}</ref> It was released in the UK on 15 November.<ref name=RSE182>{{cite book|last=Harry |first=Bill |title=The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia |year=2004 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=9780753508435 |page=182}}</ref> Lennon plays acoustic guitar on the track, and recorded a guide vocal which was kept by producer [[Richard Perry]]. [[Harry Nilsson]] sings harmony vocals and appears with Starr in the music video filmed on top of the [[Capitol Records Building]] in Los Angeles. Lennon's vocal version appears on his ''[[John Lennon Anthology|Anthology]]'' box set, in 1998.

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;"|Chart (1974-1975)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br>position
|-
| align=left | Canada Top Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
| align=center | 17
|-
| align=left | Canada Pop Music Playlist (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
| align=center | 1
|-
| align=left |US [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')
|align=center|6
|-
| align=left |US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')
|align=center |1
|}
{{clear}}
==Other cover versions==
*[[Travis Tritt]] released his version of the song as a single in January of 1996, where it peaked at number 52 on the [[Hot Country Songs]] Chart and number 28 on the Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks Chart. It was Tritts first single to miss the Top 40 on the [[Hot Country Songs]] Chart.  
*[[Brenda Lee]] covered the song on her 1962 album ''[[Sincerely, Brenda Lee]]''. When released as a single in Belgium, Lee's version reached number 3 in [[Flanders]] and number 44 in [[Wallonia]].<ref>[https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/d6a0a/Brenda-Lee-Only-You Brenda Lee - Only You], [[Ultratop]]. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/d6a0a/Brenda-Lee-Only-You Brenda Lee - Only You], [[Ultratop]]. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref>
*In 1963, [[Mr. Acker Bilk]] recorded the song as an instrumental number, which reached number 77 (U.S.).<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
*[[Bobby Hatfield]] of [[the Righteous Brothers]] released a version in 1969, which reached number 95 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bobby-hatfield/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 - Bobby Hatfield Only You (and You Alone) Chart History], ''Billboard''.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref>
*English singer Jeff Collins from Enfield recorded the song in 1972. It was popular in Europe, and rose to number 40 in the UK charts, charting  for eight weeks.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Peat|first1=Charlie|title=Former singer inspired to write more music after 40-year-old song proves a hit on YouTube|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11406226.Former_singer_spurred_on_after_old_hit_takes_off/?ref=eb|website=Hendon and Finchley Times|date=13 August 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref>
*In 1973, the singer [[Stein Ingebrigtsen]] had a number one hit on [[Norway]]'s [[VG-lista|''VG''-lista]] with a [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] version of the song, entitled "Bare du".<ref name="NC">[https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Stein+Ingebrigtsen&titel=Bare+du&cat=s Stein Ingebrigtsen - Bare du], ''norwegiancharts.com''. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref> The lyrics were written by the record producer Arve Sigvaldsen.<ref name="NC"/> A [[Swedish language|Swedish]] version of the song, "Bara du", also recorded by Ingebrigtsen, became popular in [[Sweden|that country]]. Ingebrigtsen also recorded a [[German language|German]] version entitled "So wie du" with lyrics written by Ralph-Maria Siegel.
*The pop band [[Child (band)|Child]] released the song as a single in 1979, reaching number 33 in the UK Charts.
*[[Reba McEntire]] had a number 13 hit on the U.S. Country music charts with her cover on her 1981 album ''[[Heart to Heart (Reba McEntire album)|Heart to Heart]]''.
*[[The Statler Brothers]] covered the song on their 1986 album ''[[Four for the Show]]''. Their version was released as a single and peaked at number 36 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Singles]] chart. A music video was made for the song and was shot at [[Opryland USA]].
*[[John Alford (actor)|John Alford]] recorded the song as a double-A side with "[[Blue Moon (1934 song)|Blue Moon]]" in 1996, which reached number 9 in the UK charts. *In 2025 Ludmila Shapira recorded Yiddish version, "Du aleyn" on YouTube with lyrics by Lenny Misikoff.

==See also==
*[[List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)#1955|List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)]]
*[[List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1975 (U.S.)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=pc5>[https://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/partners/UNTML/browse/?start=4&fq=untl_collection%3AJGPC Buck Ram] interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)</ref>
}}

{{The Platters}}
{{Ringo Starr}}
{{Reba McEntire singles}}
{{The Statler Brothers}}
{{Travis Tritt singles}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1954 singles]]
[[Category:1954 songs]]
[[Category:1955 singles]]
[[Category:1959 singles]]
[[Category:1963 singles]]
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[[Category:1974 singles]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
[[Category:1996 singles]]
[[Category:Apple Records singles]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[Category:Federal Records singles]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Mercury Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Reba McEntire songs]]
[[Category:Ringo Starr songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Richard Perry]]
[[Category:Songs written by Buck Ram]]
[[Category:The Platters songs]]
[[Category:The Statler Brothers songs]]
[[Category:The Stylistics songs]]
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