Although Johnny Mercer is said to have written the lyrics with Judy Garland in mind, this song was first sung by that “bombshell of bombs,” Dorothy Lamour in the 1942 film “The Fleet’s In.” With music composed by the film’s director, Victor Schertzinger, and featuring the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, it became one of Lamour’s signature themes…until Francis Edward Ifield ran away with it 20 years later.

Born in 1937, Ifield taught himself to yodel as a young teen while milking the family cows, about 30 miles outside of Sydney.  By the age of 19 he’d become the biggest recording star in Australia and after venturing to ‘Ol Blighty in 1959 he became the first person ever to have three consecutive Number 1 British hits.

Of course the streak began with Dorothy Lamour’s old signature song. While it peaked at Number 5 in the States, “I Remember You” topped the British charts for a full seven weeks in 1962, making Frank Ifield the first person ever to sell one million records in UK, along the way.

LISTEN TO THIS SONG – Thursday 21 February 

I Remember You

 I remember you

You’re the one who made my dreams come true

A few kisses ago

 I remember you

You’re the one who said “I love you, too”

Yes, I do, didn’tcha know?

I remember, too, a distant bell and stars that fell

Like the rain out of the blue-ooh…

 When my life is through

And the angels ask me to recall

The thrill of it all

Then I will tell them I remember you-ooh…

 I remember, too, a distant bell and stars that fell

Just like the rain out of the blue-ooh…

When my life is through

And the angels ask me to recall

The thrill of it all

Then I will tell them I remember, tell them I remember

Tell them I remember you