Australian singles chart:
(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance entered the Kent charts on 2 June 1962 and peaked at #3. It was #40 on the Top 100 of 1962.
Album:
The song is on Gene’s 1962 album Only Love Can Break a Heart.
Songwriters:
Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer:
Burt Bacharach
Record label of Australian release:
United Artists
BONUS CLIP BELOW – scenes from the 1962 John Ford film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Wikipedia:
(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal who were not yet full-time writing partners, although they were considering it. It was released by Gene Pitney in 1962.
Although it was not used in the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, there is disagreement about whether that was ever the plan. Pitney stated that the recording session was paid for by Paramount, and that it was midway through production when he found out that the song was not going to be included in the film. There is a belief that the movie’s director, John Ford, didn’t like the song and kept it off the soundtrack.
Jimmie Rodgers released a cover similar in form to the Gene Pitney version, which didn’t chart in Australia.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(The_Man_Who_Shot)_Liberty_Valance
Lyrics:
When Liberty Valance rode to town, the womenfolk would hide, they’d hide
When Liberty Valance walked around, the men would step aside
‘Cause the point of a gun was the only law that Liberty understood
When it came to shootin’ straight and fast, he was mighty good
Click for full lyrics
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS CLIP
From HD Film Tributes: the Gene Pitney song with scenes from the 1962 John Ford film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance that starred John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O’Brien, Andy Devine, Ken Murray, John Carradine, Jeanette Nolan, Carleton Young, Woody Strode, Denver Pyle, Strother Martin & Lee Van Cleef.
Note that the song did not appear in the film (see the notes above).
New to Bang a Gong? Click HERE to learn more about us.