Memories Are Made Of This by Dean Martin

Album: Dino: The Essential Dean Martin (1956)

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Songfacts®:

This song is from the film The Seven Hills Of Rome in which it was sung by Mario Lanza. It was written by Terry Gilkyson (who previously had performed with the legendary folk group The Weavers in the early 1950s), Richard Dehr and Frank Miller in 1955.
The backing vocals, singing "Sweet, sweet, the memories you gave to me," belonged to Gilkyson, Dehr, and Miller, the 3 writers of the song, under the name of The Easy Riders. They went on to have a #4 hit in 1957 with the folk song "Marianne."
In the US, a cover version by Gale Storm reached #5, while in the UK the TV comedian Dave King's version also peaked at #5.
According to 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Terry Gilkyson's daughter, the folk singer and songwriter Eliza Gilkyson said of her father, "He hated people looking for hidden meanings in his songs and he did it as a job. He went to the office every day and often wrote about us. Memories Are Made of This is about our family; it's him meeting my mother and having three kids."
The song was adopted as the unofficial anthem for Hungarian refugees scattered around the world after the 1956 revolution against Soviet rule.
Deana Martin borrowed the title for her 2004 book, Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter’s Eyes, and for her first full-length album in 2005.

Comments: 7

Mike Manley from Eugene, OrFor my sons and grandkids
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 13th 1966, the Drifters' covered version of "Memories Are Made of This" entered** Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and five weeks later on April 17th, 1966 it peaked at #48 {for 1 week} and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1954 and 1966 the group had thirty-seven Top 100 records; five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Save the Last Dance for Me" for three weeks in 1960...
They just missed having a second #1 record when "There Goes My Baby" peaked at #2* {for 1 week} in 1959...
* The week "There Goes My Baby" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was “A Big Hunk O’ Love" by Elvis Presley...
** The week "Memories Are Made of This" entered the Top 100, nearly one quarter of the Top 100 were records that were in their first week on the chart, exactly 24 records actually.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 3rd, 1955 "Memories Are Made Of This" by Dean Martin and the Easy Rider entered Billboard's Top 100 chart; and on January 14th, 1956 it peaked at #1 (for 6 weeks) on Billboard's Best Sellers chart and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 (24 weeks)...
And on February 17th, 1956 it reached #1 (for 4 weeks) in the United Kingdom...
"Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford preceded it at #1 on both the U.S.A. and U.K. charts...
R.I.P. Mr. Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, 1917 - 1995.
Thomas Leonard from Pittsburgh, Pa, PaThis was Martin's first big hit after the breakup of Martin/Jerry Lewis comedy team, spending six weeks at No.1 on The Billboard Charts in the US.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyFor three consecutive weeks in early 1956 this song was #1 on all four of Billboard's major charts. The 'Best Sellers in Stores' chart, the 'Most Played by Jockeys' chart, the 'Most Played in Jukeboxes' chart, and finally 'The Top 100' chart!!!
Erin from Portland, OrDean Martin was one of the greatest voices of all times. I don't know how any one could even notice Frank Sinatra after looking at and listening to Dean. The definition of "CLASSIC". Who else could take a song AFTER Mario Lanza (one of the most celebrated voices in history)and make a hit?
Chris from Ofallon , MoI've always liked listening to Rat Pack leader Frank but when I finally got around to picking up a DINO CD and heard MEMORIES, I was hooked. You hear the playful character in Dino's voice, yet the lyrics are sending a message that remind you of the most important things of life. This became an instant favorite of mine.

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