Tell Laura I Love Her

The lyrics of "Tell Laura I Love Her" originally concerned a rodeo, not an automobile race, as composer Jeff Barry was an aficionado of cowboy culture.[3] However, at RCA's instigation, Barry rewrote the song, in order to more closely resemble the No. 1 hit "Teen Angel". The personnel on the original recording included Al Chernet, Charles Macy, and Sebastian Mure on guitars: Lloyd Trotman on bass; Andrew Ackers on organ; Bob Burns on sax; and Bunny Shawker on drums.

Decca Records in England decided not to release Ray Peterson's 1960 recording on the grounds that it was "too tasteless and vulgar" and destroyed about twenty-five thousand copies that had already been pressed.[4] A cover version by Ricky Valance, released by EMI on the Columbia label, was No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[5][6] Valance's version was initially banned by the BBC who consider it in "bad taste" expressing concern for copycat activity.[7][8]

The Peterson single would be re-released in 1962 following the success of Valance's recording.[9]

In the U.S. a recording by Johnny T. Angel (a.k.a Bill Gilliland) on Bell Records peaked at No. 94 on June 22, 1974.[10]

In 1973, Dutch singer Albert West released his 7" version which reached No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40.[11]

The story of the song was adapted for stage and turned into Tell Laura I Love Her (The Musical) in 2007 by Richard C. Hague.[12]

A Spanish version ("Dile a Laura que la quiero") was recorded by Chilean singer Ray Palaviccino in 1962[13] and Spanish group Los HH in 1963.[14]

There were also versions in Serbian ("Lora, ja te volim", by Miodrag Jevremović), Danish ("Hils Lillian kærligt", by Heaven and "Si' til Lis hun er min tøs", by Dick Kaysø and Peter Thorup), Dutch ("Ik blijf van Laura houden", by Charles Tuinenburg and The Melody Strings), Finnish ("Laura (sua kauheesti kaipaan)" by Hector), French ("Dis à Laura", by Richard Anthony), German ("Das Ende der Liebe", by Rex Gildo), Italian ("Dite a Laura che l'amo", by Michele) and Swedish ("Jag Älskar Min Laura", by Carli Tornehave).[15]

An answer song, "Tell Tommy I Miss Him" was released by Marilyn Michaels in 1960.[16] It was originally released by RCA Victor Records as a single and is included on the 2007 compilation album The Answer to Everything - Girl Answer Songs of the '60's.[17] In 1961, country singer Skeeter Davis released the same song on her album Here's the Answer.[18] British singer Laura Lee with Orchestra directed by Johnny Keating also recorded a version, released by Triumph Records as a single in the UK in August 1960.[19]