Many of Stewart’s films had soundtrack albums released. His voice did not appear on most of these (although his photo usually did), but they are still quite collectable and sought after by his fans. Even when there was no soundtrack album, there were releases – 78’s, 45’s and LP’s. Such is the case with The Man from Laramie. The title song written by Ned Washington and Lester Lee, was released in the United states by no fewer than seven artists; a further seven were issued in England. The sheet music for The Man from Laramie featured a photo of Stewart and his co-star, Cathy O’Donnell.
Let’s look at the U.S. releases first. In order of their mention in Billboard magazine, they include the following.
(1) Eddy Howard
Mercury 70639
(Billboard, May 28, 1955)
(2) The Voices of Walter Schumann
RCA Victor 47-6157
(Billboard, June 11, 1959)
With so many versions of the song available, it became almost impossible for any one of them to chart. In Billboard magazine, The Man from Laramie was mentioned just three times on an obscure chart. The chart was called “Tunes with Greatest Radio-Television Audience.” The song was listed in the television section on July 9, 1955, and in the radio section on August 20, 1955 and August 27, 1955. The chart listed song titles only and not the artist.
The Voices of Walter Schumann version was also highly publicized in Billboard, including a full page ad which included a drawing of the film’s star, Jimmy Stewart. It appeared in the June 25, 1955 edition.
This version did chart in Cash Box magazine on a chart titled “The Cash Box Best Selling Singles.” It entered this chart on September 3, 1955, at the #50 position. This was its only week on the chart.
It also charted on the Music Vendor Popular Programming Guide chart, entering on August 29, 1955, and remaining on the chart for five weeks, peaking at #74.
In Billboard (August 27, 1955) it was listed as a “Territorial Hit” in Seattle, WA, at the #9 position.
(3) Al Martino
Capitol F3171 (45 RPM)/Capitol 3171 (78 RPM)
The June 25, 1955, edition of Billboard magazine reviewed the song this way:
Capitol Records thought enough of the recording to take out a full page ad in the July 2, 1955, edition of Billboard magazine (see below), but the record failed to chart.
The Al Martino single was also issued in the UK:
Capitol 45-CL 14343 (45/RPM)/Capitol CL 14343 (78 RPM)
His version of the song entered the UK chart on September 24, 1955. It rose to #19 during its two weeks on the chart. It re-entered the chart on October 29, 1955, at #20. It was on the chart just this one week.
(4) James Brown and the Trail Winders (As pointed out on the label, this is the actor who played Lt. Rip Masters on the TV series Rin Tin Tin, not the more famous R&B singer.)
MGM K 12011
(Billboard, July 9, 1955)
(5) Ralph Young
Decca 9-29615
(Billboard, July 23, 1955)
(6) Hoosier Hot Shots
Campus 45-C105 (issued on red vinyl)
(Billboard, August 13, 1955)
The Hoosier Hot Shots version was also issued on the Tops label (Campus was a Tops subsidiary). The Tops label had been started in 1947. They would record “knock-offs” of major hits and put them back-to-back on their records. While major label records were selling for 79 cents, Tops could sell its product for just 39 to 49 cents.
Tops 45-R261-49
(7) Jimmy Young
London 45-1609
Young’s version of the song was reviewed in the October 8, 1955, edition of Billboard magazine.
Although not a chart hit in the U.S., Young’s version was a major hit in England, so we’ll begin our look at the U.K. versions with Young.
Decca 45-F-10597 (45 RPM)/Decca F 10597 (78 RPM)
Young’s version entered the UK chart on September 16, 1955. It spent 12 weeks on the chart and peaked at the #1 position.
(2) Ben Bowers
EMI-Columbia 5192 (Label scan and audio added June 12, 2017)
(3) Bob Dale
Embassy WB.150
(4) Edmund Hockridge
Parlophone 4051
(5) Maple Leaf Four
Oriole 1310
(6) Gary Miller
Pye Nixa N.15004
(7) Regent Ballroom Orchestra
Decca 45-F-10597
