B-side "Wind Up Doll" Format Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM Genre Pop | Released March 1963 Recorded 1962 Length 2:25 | |
"I Will Follow Him" is a popular song that was first recorded in 1961 by Franck Pourcel, as an instrumental titled "Chariot". The song achieved its widest success when it was covered by Little Peggy March in 1963. The music was written by Franck Pourcel (using the pseudonym J.W. Stole) and Paul Mauriat (using the pseudonym Del Roma). It was adapted by Arthur Altman. The English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.
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Song history
The song was recorded in 1961 by Franck Pourcel and began as an instrumental piece appearing on the 1961 European LP release Amour, Danse, Et Violons. No.17. At the same time, it appeared on the EP release La Voix de son Maître. Pourcel co-wrote the song with his friend and fellow French bandleader Paul Mauriat. The other French bandleader Raymond Lefèvre has been credited for arrangements. Franck Pourcel's original recording was popular on MOR, or "easy listening," stations. Mauriat later recorded an instrumental version in 1976 with a disco beat, using a Moog synthesizer.
In 1963, Percy Faith released an instrumental version, re-titled "I Will Follow You", as the lead song on side 1 of his album titled Themes for Young Lovers. Many other hits at the time were also on the album, including "Up on the Roof", "On Broadway", and "Rhythm of the Rain".
Petula Clark versions
In 1962, Petula Clark released a French language version of the song, titled "Chariot" (lyrics by Jacques Plante), which reached No. 1 in Wallonia, No. 2 in France, and No. 8 in Flanders, and earned Clark a gold record. Her English version reached No. 4 in Denmark, where it was released by Vogue, but failed to chart in the UK and the USA, where it was released by Pye and Laurie respectively. Clark also recorded Italian and German versions of the song, with her Italian verision, "Sul mio carro", reaching No. 4 in Italy, and her German version, "Cheerio", reaching No. 6 in Germany.
Little Peggy March version
In 1963, Little Peggy March's version of "I Will Follow Him", backed with "Wind Up Doll", was released by RCA Victor. March's version reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 27, 1963, making 15-year-old March the youngest female artist to have a U.S. chart-topping single. Her version also reached No. 1 in Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, Uruguay, Canada's CHUM Hit Parade, New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade", and Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart.
Other versions
In Italy three versions of the song were in the charts in 1963 (translated/adapted by Vito Pallavicini and Bruno Pallesi): One recorded by Betty Curtis (highest position: #3), another version by Petula Clark ("Sul mio carro"; #4) and the Franck Pourcel version (#5). Curtis's version was also a top 10 hit in Uruguay.
In 1963, Italian singer Ennio Sangiusto released a version of the song titled "Chariot (La Tierra)", which reached No. 1 in Spain. Also in 1963, Italian singer Joe Sentieri released a version of the song titled "La Tierra", which reached No. 3 in Argentina.
In 1963, Argentine singer Alberto Cortez released a version of the song titled "La Tierra (Chariot)", which reached No. 2 in Spain.
Dee Dee Sharp released a version of the song in 1963, which reached No. 1 in Hong Kong.
In 1982, Dutch singer José Hoebee (former member of the girl band Luv') released a hit cover of the song, which reached No. 1 in Flanders, No. 1 on the Dutch Top 40, and No. 2 on the Dutch Nationale Hitparade.
In 1994, Spanish singer Raphael released a Spanish version of the song titled "La Tierra" (English: "The Earth"), which appeared on his album Fantasía. Raphael performed the song in his tours with remarkable success until 1999.
The Norwegian comedian Lars Mjøen wrote comedic Norwegian lyrics, «Torsken kommer!» (translates to «The cod is coming»). The song was published by the comedy troupe KLM as Brødrene Dal as the B-side of "Gaus, Roms Og Brumund" (PolyGram 2052 206) and on the LP record Spektralplate (Polydor 2382 135) in 1982.