The Father of Girls

( The ) Father of Girls

Words and Music by Ervin M. Drake

Cromwell Music Inc. ASCAP

Original Single 1967:

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

With The Ray Charles Singers

Produced by Andy Wiswell

Recorded in RCA Victor Studio A, 24th Street, New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Recording Time 3:27 ( single ) see note

Recorded December 29, 1967 ~ UPA1-6480 Take 4

Single release: RCA-45RPM-47-9448

note: vocal track for the album is the remake version

Single Flip Side: "Somebody Makes It So"

US Chart Position No. 92

Charted Adult Contemporary No. 10

Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "The First Thirty Years" LFL4-7522 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1975

'This song came out of my own personal experience,' recalls composer Ervin Drake. 'I have two daughters. Linda, who is married now, was 14, and Betsy was 8. I really felt my problems and apprehensions as a father of girls would touch a responsive strain in any father with daughters.' Of Perry's performance, Drake has said, 'Perry sang it in a very quiet, very sensitive way. After all, he himself is the father of girls'.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )

Re-recorded "Voice-Over" Dub from June 1968 ~

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

With The Ray Charles Singers

Produced by Andy Wiswell

Remake recorded in Webster Hall, New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Final Recording Time 3:30 ( album track )

Remake June 19th, 1968 ~ UPA1-6480 Take 8 ( new vocal track )

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Look to Your Heart" LSP-4052 STEREO NOVEMBER 1968

Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Love Songs" NL-42076 STEREO 1968/69

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Note: the single version of Perry's "Father of Girls" was included within the UK compilation "The First Thirty Years" and the only known release on LP. Although recorded in stereo, it was released within that compilation electronically reprocessed to simulate stereo. The full stereo version of this single was first released in 1999 within the compact disc compilation "The Essential 60's Singles Collection" from Taragon Records. The original single version was re-recorded with a voice-over dub for Perry's 1968 album release "Look To Your Heart". Although the actual date of the re-recording is not known, nor generally acknowledged, it probably occurred during the album sessions from June 5th to 19th, 1968. All other album re-releases of this song have been this version.