"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is an off meter ballad concerning a man away from home worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. The song was recorded in many different styles by many artists. It was written by Winston L. Moore (whose stage name was Slim Willet) and was published in 1952.
The title comes from the opening refrain:
Don't let the stars get in your eyes,
Don't let the moon break your heart.
The song was first recorded by Slim Willet and the Brush Cutters (4 Star 11614, reaching #1) and then by Ray Price (Columbia 4-21025, reaching #4). Skeets McDonald followed with a Western swing hit, reaching #1 and staying on the charts 18 weeks. His version was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2216 with the flip side “Big Family Trouble."
The best selling performance was a pop version recorded by Perry Como with The Ramblers on November 4, 1952 and released in the following versions:
In the United States, by RCA Victor, as a 78 rpm single record (catalog number 20-5064) and a 45 rpm single (catalog number 47-5064), with the flip side "Lies." This record reached #1 on the US Billboard charts.
In Argentina by RCA Victor, as a single (catalog number 68-0722) with the flip side "No Hay Bote Como El De Remo."
In the United Kingdom, by HMV, as a 78 rpm single (catalog number B-10400), with the flip side "To Know You (Is to Love You)." This record reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1953.
In Germany, by HMV, as a 78 rpm single (catalog number X-8080), with the flip side “Outside of Heaven” by Eddie Fisher.
Slim Willet and Tommy Hill also wrote the female answer song "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes", which was performed by Hill's sister Goldie Hill.
Boxcar Willie (released by Mainstreet Records as catalog number 950, with the flip side "Boxcar Blues")
Red Foley (recorded October 7, 1952, released by Decca Records as catalog number 28460, with the flip side "Sally")
Dean Martin (1952 in a Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis radioshow)
Henry Jerome (released by MGM Records as catalog number 11385, with the flip side "Keep It a Secret")
Johnnie and Jack (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-5040, with the flip side "The Only One I Ever Loved, I Lost")
Jimmy Justice (released 1964 by Blue Cat Records as catalog number 101, with the flip side "The Guitar Player (Her and Him)")
Gisele MacKenzie (released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 2256, with the flip side "My Favorite Song", and in Australia as catalog number CP-200, with the flip side "Adios")
Bobby Maxwell (released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70047, with the flip side "Ching-Ching-A-Ling")
The Parisian Sextet (released 1962 by Challenge Records as catalog number 59137, with the flip side "The Poor People of Paris")
Slim Whitman
Jerry Lee Lewis
In 1977, Milton Berle, Florence Henderson & Tina Turner performed the song on an episode of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
k.d. lang (released 1988 by Sire Records as track #8 on the album Shadowland)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore (released 2005 by Rounder Records as track #4 on the album Come on Back)
Alberto Semprini recorded it as the third song of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 12) - Hit medley of quick-steps" along with "She Wears Red Feathers" and "Wild Roses." The medley was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10457.
The song was also covered by Eileen Barton in a recording issued by Coral Records as catalog number 60882, with the flip side "Tennessee Tango," and by country music artist k.d. lang on her 1988 album, Shadowland.
It was spoofed by Homer and Jethro on their album America's Song Butchers: The Weird World of Homer and Jethro in a song entitled "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs," the lyrics of which are also found in a Steve Goodman song entitled "Talk Backwards."
The song was recorded in 2008 by Australian singer and composer Alfio for his album Classic Rewinds which pays tribute to Perry Como, Dean Martin and 13 other popular Italian-American singers.
