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Neil Sedaka
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| With scores of hit singles, countless platinum and gold records, and more than four decades worth of recognition as one of pop music’s legendary pioneers, Neil Sedaka’s impressive track record continues to grow. His compositions have become standards that remain timeless.
It was classical music that shaped the musicianship of the young Neil Sedaka. At the age of eight, he began his intensive classical piano training at the prestigious Julliard School of Music, practicing up to five hours a day. By the time Sedaka was sixteen, Artur Rubinstein voted him one of the finest classical pianists in New York City high schools. Classical music has always remained a passion for Sedaka, and though he once considered earning a doctorate in the field, it was not where he chose to forge his legend.
Since his classmates were listening to the popular music playing on the radio, and he was eager to gain the acceptance of his peers, Sedaka began to play popular music at parties. He formed a doo-wop group in high school, the Tokens, and they recorded two singles that became regional hits. Greater success was soon to follow, when after having been introduced to a young neighbor, Howard Greenfield, by Greenfield’s mother, they began a successful songwriting partnership. As Sedaka has noted, “for a long period of time, we wrote a song a day.” While some songs never made it out of the house, many others made their way around the world. In the four years between 1959 and 1963, the songwriting team sold over twenty-five million records and their collaboration was to last for thirty years, one of the longest in pop music history.
Sedaka and Greenfield became one of the original creators of the “Brill Building Sound” in the late fifties and early sixties when they were the first to sign with Don Kirshner and Al Nevins at Aldon Music. Not long after, Kirshner and Nevins signed songwriters Neil Diamond, Carole King, and Paul Simon, among others, and they became the center of the pop music world. They worked in a competitive but communal atmosphere, producing the innocent, romantic anthems of the era that would dominate the music charts. It was in 1958, at the age of eighteen, when Sedaka was catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis recorded his "Stupid Cupid." Rhythm and blues stars Clyde McPhatter and LaVern Baker also scored hits with his songs. These were soon followed by Sedaka’s own recordings of chart toppers “The Diary,” “Oh, Carol,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Calendar Girl,” “Little Devil,” “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” “Next Door To An Angel,” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” songs that have become a part of our lives and can instantly take us back to special moments. Sedaka had become a “teen idol” and flew around the world as one of the youngest performers to tour extensively. He studied the styles of music that had reached the top of the charts in other countries, and innovatively combined these styles with classical and pop music. But all of this was merely the first act in a career that has not ceased to evolve and entertain.
Following the “British Invasion” by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the United States, when the music scene began to change and his record sales dwindled, Sedaka continued to develop his gift for songwriting. He wrote for other performers such as Tom Jones with “Puppet Man,” The Fifth Dimension with “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing,” and the Monkees with “When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door.” Then in 1972, Sedaka re-launched his solo career in England by releasing the album Emergence. A good friend, Elton John, offered to sign Sedaka to his Rocket Record label and re-introduce him to American audiences. The two albums he recorded for the Rocket label, Sedaka’s Back in 1974 and The Hungry Years in 1975, both became top selling albums around the world. His comeback was further heralded by two of his songs, “Bad Blood” and the timeless “Laughter in the Rain,” reaching the #1 position on the music charts. In Rolling Stone Magazine, Sedaka was hailed as “the new phenomenon.” The song “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” was re-released as a ballad in 1975 and made history when it reached the Top Ten charts, becoming the first song recorded by the same artist with two different versions to do so. During this time, Sedaka also helped to launch the career of the Captain and Tennille with their version of his “Love Will Keep Us Together,” and he won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year for this worldwide, number one hit. Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra would also record their own versions of Sedaka hit songs.
In 1976, Sedaka was seen by millions when his television special, “Neil Sedaka: Steppin’ Out,” was shown on NBC, with a guest appearance by Bette Midler. Two more songs of Sedaka’s, “Solitaire” and “Hungry Years,” became top hits, helping to cement his reputation as a songwriting force. In 1980, Sedaka had a Top Ten hit with “Should’ve Never Let You Go,” which he recorded with his daughter, Dara; this remains one of the few father-daughter songs to have ever made the charts. The Sedaka legacy does not end there. His release in the 1990’s, Timeless – The Very Best of Neil Sedaka, which includes both old and new songs, sold over 500,000 copies and earned Sedaka yet another Platinum Album.
As the prolific and versatile author of more than 1,000 songs, the accolades showered on Neil Sedaka have been numerous. Among the honors he has received, Sedaka has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, has had a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sedaka was honored in 1998 as one of a select group of personalities to be enshrined at the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum in Las Vegas. He has received numerous awards from BMI, an organization that monitors the music industry, for the most times a song has been played on radio or television. Recently, his song “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” was listed by BMI as one of the fifty most performed songs of the 20th century. Yet these serve as perfunctory recognition to a body of work that continues to grow and never ceases to entertain.
Live performances have always been a hallmark of the Sedaka career and have taken him to some of the most hallowed and respected concert stages around the world. London’s Royal Albert Hall has always been a favorite and his appeal in England has only grown over the years. His concerts, often with a full orchestra, continue to be enormous draws in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City, and Sedaka still enjoys the interaction with an audience.
The following is a list of the Neil Sedaka hits we publish...One important thing to remember is that Neil & his wife Leba own all his Rocket masters; in addition, Neil has faithfully re-recorded every one of his key early RCA hits and the Sedakas own these also.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1963) US #17 Pop
ALONE AT LAST (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Elektra: 1977) US #17 AC
AMARILLO (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Tony Christie (as IS THIS THE WAY TO AMARILLO)
(MCA: 1971) UK #18
By Neil Sedaka (Elektra: 1977) US #4 AC, #44 Pop
ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Jimmy Clanton (Ace: 1960) US #22 Pop
BAD BLOOD* (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1975) US #1 Pop, #25 AC
BAD GIRL (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1963) US #33 Pop
BEAUTIFUL YOU (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1972) UK #43
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
Original midtempo version:
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1962) US #1 Pop, #12 R&B, UK #7
Updated slow version:
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1976) US #8 Pop, #1 AC
By The Happenings (B.T. Puppy: 1968) US #67 Pop
By Lenny Welch (Commonwealth United: 1970)
US #8 AC, #27 R&B, #34 Pop
By The Partridge Family (Bell: 1972) US #28 Pop, #30 AC, UK #3
By Con Hunley (Prairie Dust: 1977) US #67 Country
By The American Comedy Network (Critique: 1984) US #70 Pop
Other versions include:
The Carpenters, Alton Ellis, Gloria Estefan, Shelley Fabares, The Four Seasons, Eydie Gorme, The Happenings, Vince Hill, Tom Jones, Carole King, Little Eva, Sha Na Na
CALENDAR GIRL* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1961) US #4 Pop, UK #8
Other versions include:
Petula Clark
THE DIARY (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1959) US #14 Pop
Other versions include:
Little Anthony & The Imperials
DON’T HIDE YOUR LOVE (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Cher (Kapp: 1972) US #19 AC, #46 Pop
Other versions include:
Petula Clark
FALLIN’ NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Connie Francis (MGM/UME: 1958) US #30 Pop
FRANKIE* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Connie Francis (MGM/UME: 1959) US #9 Pop
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SIXTEEN* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1962) US #6 Pop, UK #3
Other versions include:
Neil Diamond
THE HUNGRY YEARS (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Wayne Newton (Chelsea: 1976) US #11 AC, #82 Pop
Other versions include:
Shirley Bassey, Rita Coolidge, Buddy Greco, Peggy Lee, Tony Martin, Johnny Mathis, Susannah McCorkle, Neil Sedaka, Kay Starr
I GO APE (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1959) US #42 Pop, UK #9
I WAITED TOO LONG* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By LaVern Baker (Atlantic: 1959) US #5 R&B, #33 Pop
THE IMMIGRANT* (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1975) US #1 AC, #22 Pop
IS THIS THE WAY TO AMARILLO
See: AMARILLO (listed above alphabetically)
KING OF CLOWNS (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1962) US #45 Pop, UK #23
LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN* (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1974) US #1 AC, UK #15
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1975) US #1 Pop
Other versions include:
Earl Klugh, Johnny Mathis, Neil & Dara Sedaka, Caterina Valente,
The Weather Girls
LET’S GO STEADY AGAIN (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1963) US #26 Pop, UK #42
LITTLE DEVIL* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1961) US #11 Pop, UK #9
Other versions include:
Helen Shapiro
A LITTLE LOVIN' (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Polydor: 1974) UK #34
LONELY NIGHT (ANGEL FACE)* (NS)
By The Captain & Tennille (A&M: 1976) US #3 Pop, #1 AC
Other versions include:
Neil Sedaka
LOVE IN THE SHADOWS* (NS/Phil Cody)
by Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1976) US #16 Pop, #4 AC
LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
by The Captain & Tennille (A&M: 1975) US #1 Pop, #1 AC
Other versions include:
Mac & Katie Kissoon, Peters & Lee, Neil Sedaka, Nino Tempo & April Stevens, The Tubes
Spanish version of LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER:
Released under the title: POR AMOR VIVIREMOS
By The Captain & Tennille (A&M: 1975) US #49 Pop
MY WORLD IS SLIPPING AWAY (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Connie Francis (MGM: 1968) US #35 Pop
MY WORLD KEEPS GETTING SMALLER EVERY DAY
(NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Eydie Gorme (RCA: 1970) US #24 AC
NEXT DOOR TO AN ANGEL* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1962) US #5 Pop, UK #29
#1 WITH A HEARTACHE (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Billy Larkin (Casino: 1976) US #66 Country
By La Costa (Capitol: 1978) US #94 Country
OH CAROL* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1959) US #9 Pop
By Clint Eastwood & General Saint (Copasetic: 1994) UK #54
(the above single is by UK artists and does not include the American actor)
Other versions include:
The Four Seasons
THE OTHER SIDE OF ME (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Andy Williams (CBS: 1976) UK #42
Other versions include:
Shirley Bassey, Crystal Gayle, Neil Sedaka
OUR LAST SONG TOGETHER (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (MGM: 1973) UK #31
By Bobby Sherman (Janus: 1975) US #34 AC
Other versions include:
Nana Mouskouri, Glenn Yarbrough
POR AMOR VIVIREMOS
Spanish language version of LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER
See under LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER above
PUPPET MAN (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By The 5th Dimension (Bell: 1970) US #31 AC
By Tom Jones (UK Decca: 1971) UK #49
THE QUEEN OF 1964 (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (Polydor: 1975) UK #35
RING RING
(NS/Phil Cody/Bjorn Ulvaeus/Benny Andersson/Stig Anderson)
By Abba (Epic: 1974) UK #32
RUN SAMSON MAN (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA/BMG: 1960) US #28 Pop
SHOULD'VE NEVER LET YOU GO* (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil & Dara Sedaka (Elektra: 1980) US #19 Pop, #3 AC
Other versions include:
Bernadette Peters
SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Clyde McPhatter (Atlantic: 1959) US #14 R&B, #38 Pop
Other versions include:
Neil Sedaka
SOLITAIRE* (NS/Phil Cody)
By Andy Williams (Columbia: 1973) US #23 AC, UK #4
By The Carpenters (A&M: 1975) US #1 AC, #17 Pop, UK #32
Other versions include:
Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, Sheryl Crow, Vic Damone, Johnny Mathis, Jane Olivor, Elvis Presley, Neil Sedaka
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA/BMG: 1960) US #9 Pop, UK #8
STANDING ON THE INSIDE (NS)
By Neil Sedaka (MGM: 1973) UK #26
STEPPIN' OUT (NS/Phil Cody)
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1976) US #36 Pop, #45 AC
STUPID CUPID (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Connie Francis (MGM: 1958) US #14 Pop, UK #1
Other versions include:
Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Neil Sedaka
SUNNY (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1964) US #86 Pop
THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1973) UK #18
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1975) US #27 Pop, #7 AC
WHAT AM I GONNA DO (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Jimmy Clanton (Ace: 1961) US #50 Pop
By Emile Ford & The Checkmates (Pye: 1961) UK #33
Other versions include:
Billy Fury, Tony Orlando, Neil Sedaka
WHERE THE BOYS ARE* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Connie Francis (MGM: 1961) US #4 Pop
Other versions include:
Lisa Hartman, Lorna Luft, Tracey Ullman
WORKIN’ ON A GROOVY THING* (NS/Roger Atkins)
By Patti Drew (Capitol: 1968) US #34 R&B #62 Pop
By The 5th Dimension (Soul City: 1969) US #15 R&B, #9 AC,
#20 Pop
Other versions include:
Lana Cantrell, Friends Of Distinction, Neil Sedaka
YOU GOTTA MAKE YOUR OWN SUNSHINE (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (Rocket: 1976) US 7 AC, #53 Pop
YOU MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By Neil Sedaka (RCA: 1960) US #17 Pop, UK #45
YOU NEVER DONE IT LIKE THAT* (NS/Howard Greenfield)
By The Captain & Tennille (A&M: 1978) US #10 Pop, #14 AC
Other versions include:
Neil Sedaka
*denotes songs which have become BMI Award-Winners.
Biography courtesy of Alan Warner |
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| Breaking Up Is Hard To Do |
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| Calendar Girl |
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| Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen |
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| Laughter In The Rain |
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| Love Will Keep Us Together |
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| Oh Carol |
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| Solitaire |
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| Where The Boys Are |
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