Walkin' Back To Happiness

Album: Helen Shapiro (1961)
Charted: 1 100
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the early 1960s Helen Shapiro was England's top selling female artist, and this was her biggest selling single. She was 14-years-old when she recorded this.
  • Ironically, Shapiro never wanted to record this as she felt it sounded too corny and old-fashioned to appeal to her fans. Shapiro says in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "I was brought up on blues and jazz and I thought Walkin' Back To Happiness was corny - all that 'woop-bah-oh-yea-yeah.' I still don't like the song but everyone goes mad for it so I've been proved wrong. That kind of rhythm was not my scene and I didn't really want to do it. I preferred the B-side, Kiss And Run, which was written by Norrie Paramour."
  • This was a UK chart topper and it also spent one week at #100 in the US chart - Shapiro's only chart entry in Billboard top 100. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

Comments: 3

  • Bill from Rensselaer, NyJohn and Paul wrote "Misery" for Helen, but her management didn't like the song.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyIn 1963, Helen went on a British tour with the Beatles as one of the opening acts. When "From Me To You" became the group's second #1 song in a row, the positions reversed in mid-tour, with Helen opening for the Beatles. According to John Lennon, she was very gracious about it, and she was quite freindly with Paul McCartney and John. Paul and John would later be guests on Helen's UK TV show from time to time.
  • Michael from Bradford, EnglandI prefer her "Please Don't Treat Me Like a Child" (her first hit) that went to N°3 in the UK in March 1961.
    "You Don't Know" her first N°1 in the UK in June 1961 I thought better too.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.