Englebert Humperdinck – Key of C
“I Believe” is a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Abraham (as “Irvin Graham”), Jack Mendelsohn (as “Jimmy Shirl”) and Al Stillman in 1953. The most popular version was recorded by Italian-American singer Frankie Laine, and spent eighteen weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.
“I Believe” was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on television. Froman, troubled by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1952 so soon after World War II, asked Drake, Graham, Shirl and Stillman to compose a song that would offer hope and faith to the populace.
Froman’s commercial recording reached No. 11 in the Billboard charts during a 10-week stay. “I Believe” has been recorded by many others, and has become both a popular and religious standard.
Frankie Laine’s original version was recorded for Columbia Records on 8 January 1953 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It featured Paul Weston and his Orchestra accompanying Laine.
Instrumentation:
trumpet
alto sax
tenor sax
trombone
rhythm section
