"Everybody Loves Somebody" is a song written in 1947 by
Irving Taylor and Ken Lane. The song had already been recorded
by several artists (including Frank Sinatra) by 1964, but
without much success. But it was in that year that Lane was
playing piano for Dean Martin on his
Dream With DeanLP sessions, and with an hour or so of
studio time left and one song short, Lane suggested that Martin
take a run at his tune. Dean was agreeable, and the small combo
of piano, guitar, drums and bass performed a relatively quiet,
laid back jazz version of the song.
Almost immediately thereafter, Martin re-recorded the tune
for his next album, this time with an orchestra and chorus. His
label, Reprise Records, was so enthusiastic about the hit
potential of this version, they even titled the LP
Everybody Loves Somebodyto capitalize on it.
Although still a major recording artist, Martin had not had
a Top 40 hit since 1958. And with the British Invasion ruling
the U.S. charts, few had hopes that a middle aged Italian
crooner would sway many teenagers. And yet, defying the odds,
Everybody Loves Somebodyshot straight up to the top of
the Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the Billboard "easy
listening" chart for eight weeks. It ultimately replaced
"That's Amore" as Martin's signature song, and he sang it as
the theme of his weekly television variety show from 1965 until
1974. The song has become so identified with Dean Martin, that
later cover versions are invariably compared to his hit take on
the tune.
By 1964, Dino, Frank, Sammy and the rest of the Rat Pack's
martini-swilling lounge sound was out of synch with the Rock n'
Roll now dominating the Top 100 Billboard. Dean in particular,
resented and despised anything rock n' roll, which created
conflict at home with his fourteen year old son Dean Paul
Martin, who like every other teenager in the Western world,
worshipped the Beatles. Tiring of his son's infernal boasting
of how great the Beatles were, Dino told Dino, Jr., "I'm gonna'
knock your pallies off the charts". Quoted from
Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreamsby Nick
Toches. Having not had a hit for six year, Dino Jr. rolled his
eyes, and simply cast the prediction off as nonsense and forgot
about it. That is until August 15, 1964 when
Everybody Loves Somebodyknocked the Beatles off the
Number One slot on Billboard. Dino smugly remarked to Dino Jr.,
"I told you I'd knock your pallies off the charts.". Dino Jr.
stood there speechless and gazed at his father in utter
amazement, wonder, and with a newfound idolatry. Dean Martin
became the only person in history to ever predict he'd knock
the Beatles off the charts, and actually succeed.
Following the song's peak at the top of the charts, Martin
sent his close friend Sinatra a telegram saying "THAT'S THE WAY
YOU DO IT". Dean sent a message to Elvis Presley "IF ONE OF US
CAN BEAT THE BEATLES -- I'LL DO IT!!" In the 1990s the song was
licensed to Western Union for use in a series of television
commercials.
The words "Everybody Loves Somebody" appear on Dean Martin's
grave marker in Los Angeles.