Halfway to Paradise
{{Refimprove|date=August 2018}}
{{short description|1961 single by Tony Orlando}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Halfway to Paradise
| cover = Billy Fury Halfway to Paradise.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Billy Fury
| album = Halfway to Paradise
| B-side = Cross My Heart
| released = 28 April 1961{{cite magazine|date=29 April 1961|title=Billy Fury gets 208 series|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1961/DISC-1961-04-29.pdf|magazine=Disc|page=9|access-date=25 August 2021|accessdate=}}
| recorded = 9 April 1961{{Cite web|title=Halfway To Paradise|url=http://www.nic.fi/~nallew/pages/halfway.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.nic.fi}}
| studio = Decca Studios, London
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = 2:24
| label = Decca
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Don't Worry
| prev_year = 1961
| next_title = Jealousy
| next_year = 1961
}}
"Halfway to Paradise" is a popular song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. In the United States, the song was originally recorded in 1961 by Tony Orlando where it peaked at No. 39 on the Hot 100.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=632}} In Canada, the song reached No. 3 in the CHUM Charts.{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/61-06-05-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - June 5, 1961}}
Billy Fury version
"Halfway to Paradise" was recorded by Billy Fury with Fury's version reaching No.3 on the British singles chart in 1961{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Don%27t%20Bring%20Lulu |title=The Official Charts Company - Billy Fury - Halfway To Paradise |website=Official Charts |access-date=13 May 2009}} and remaining on the chart for 23 weeks. It became the tenth best-selling single of 1961 in the UK .{{cite web |url=http://www.sixtiescity.net/charts/61chart.htm#top100 |title=The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1961 |access-date=29 November 2014}} "Halfway to Paradise" became known as Fury's signature tune and was one of his most popular singles.
Fury's single was a big production for both Fury and Decca and involved a whole orchestra, conducted by Ivor Raymonde.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Fury-Halfway-To-Paradise/release/541782 |title=Billy Fury - Halfway To Paradise (7") at Discogs |website=Discogs |year=1961 |access-date=13 May 2009}} Its success made Fury known for his big ballad numbers, although he began in rock and roll and was always thought of more as a rock musician. The song also marked the beginning of Fury's burst at the top of the charts that would only begin to slow down on the arrival of fellow Liverpudlian act, the Beatles.
Later versions
- Backed with her own composition, "I Can't Believe in Miracles", English singer Barbara Ruskin had her version released in the UK on Piccadilly 7N 35224 in the UK,Spectropop - [https://spectropop.com/BarbaraRuskin/ Spectropop presents BARBARA RUSKIN, An Illustrated U.K. Discography] and on ABC Paramount 10657 in the US in May, 1965. Given a B+ rating in the Cash Box Best Bets section and referring to her performance on the song as "Lustrous vocal work", a nice following for Ruskin's single was predicted by the magazine.Cash Box, May 15, 1965 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-05-15.pdf Cash Box RECORD REVIEWS, Best Bets, BARBARA RUSKIN]Spectropop - [https://spectropop.com/BarbaraRuskin/ Spectropop presents BARBARA RUSKIN, An Illustrated U.K. Discography]
- In 1968, Bobby Vinton revived "Halfway to Paradise" in a mellow, more romantic version. This recording went to No. 23 on the Hot 100, No. 8 on the Easy Listening chart,{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=250}} and No. 17 in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5841.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - August 26, 1968}} The song was included on the million-selling album "I Love How You Love Me" in early 1969.
- Tina Charles recorded the song for her album Dance Little Lady (1976).{{cn|date=June 2025}}
- Nick Lowe released "Halfway to Paradise" as a single in 1977 (backed with "I Don't Want the Night to End", STIFF Records, BUY 21), remaking into a post-punk power ballad, but without any real chart impact. It was later released as a bonus track on the re-release of his 1978 album Jesus of Cool.
- Australian singer Jason Donovan recorded his version of the song for his album Let It Be Me (2008).{{cn|date=June 2025}}
References
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{{Billy Fury}}
{{Nick Lowe}}
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Category:Songs written by Carole King
Category:Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin
Category:Tina Charles (singer) songs
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:Piccadilly Records singles
Category:Stiff Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Smith (British record producer)