It is based on a famous Russian tune called "Volga Melody" by Yuri Shchetkov sometimes known as "Samara My Lovely Town." The bridge passage or middle 8 was inserted by the composer.

Tony Bennett recording

The best-known version of the song, recorded by Tony Bennett with Percy Faith and his orchestra, was number one for eight weeks on the Billboard chart in 1953 and became a gold record.[4] In 2012, he recorded a Spanglish version with bachata singer Romeo Santos for his album Viva Duets.

Other versions

Later in 1953, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts[5]

Another version in 1953, by Billy Ward and his Dominoes with Jackie Wilson singing lead made number two on Billboard`s Most Played in Juke Boxes chart.[6]

Later recordings by Sunny & the Sunliners (#45 in 1963)[7] and Elvis Presley (#33 in 1971)[8] also made the Billboard charts.

In popular culture

Tony Bennett`s version was featured in the opening sequence of the 1990 film Goodfellas.[9]

The opening line of the song was sung regularly and exuberantly by the character Carmine Ragusa on the television series Laverne & Shirley,[10] typically when he had good news.

Jackie Wilson`s version of the song is featured in the 2010 video game Mafia II.[11]

Background

It is based on a famous Russian tune called "Volga Melody" by Yuri Shchetkov sometimes known as "Samara My Lovely Town." The bridge passage or middle 8 was inserted by the composer.

Tony Bennett recording

Other versions

Later in 1953, a version by David Whitfield reached number three in the British charts[5]

Another version in 1953, by Billy Ward and his Dominoes with Jackie Wilson singing lead made number two on Billboard`s Most Played in Juke Boxes chart.[6]

Later recordings by Sunny & the Sunliners (#45 in 1963)[7] and Elvis Presley (#33 in 1971)[8] also made the Billboard charts.

In popular culture

Tony Bennett`s version was featured in the opening sequence of the 1990 film Goodfellas.[9]

The opening line of the song was sung regularly and exuberantly by the character Carmine Ragusa on the television series Laverne & Shirley,[10] typically when he had good news.