1969 Saw the end of a recording streak that began in 1947: Frankie Laine landed at least fifty records in the top forties including three number one hits (That Lucky Old Sun, Mule Train, and The Cry Of The Wild Goose).
Frankie sang professionally with a series of bands and radio stations and began writing songs as well for over twenty years before he recorded his first record in 1944. In 1947 he recorded That’s My Desire and the song got up to #3 on the pop charts. It was a surprise to everybody when the record also reached #4 on the R&B charts.
His career became a steady stream of hit records. Every year until 1954, Frankie had at least one top ten record and several more top forty records. Two more top ten records followed in 1956 and 1957. Beginning in 1958 musical tastes changed and there were few big singles until 1966 and 1967 brought him a line of top five records on the adult contemporary charts.
His last record to reach the top forty came in 1969 with the release of This Time You Gave Me A Mountain. The song was written by Country singer Marty Robbins earlier in the sixties but was not recorded by Marty until after he brought the song to Frankie. In 1969, Frankie’s version got up to #24 on the Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart. It was the last time he charted on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Frankie followed that record with Dammit Isn’t God’s Last Name which only got as high as #86 on the Hot 100. He continued to record albums and release singles through 2006 and died in 2007.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Laine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Gave_Me_a_Mountain
