(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance

"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which was released by Gene Pitney in 1962. The song spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 4,[1] while reaching No. 2 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade,[2] and No. 4 on New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade".[3]

"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance"
Single by Gene Pitney
from the album Only Love Can Break a Heart
B-side"Take It Like a Man"
Released1962
GenreCountry pop
Length2:49
LabelMusicor
Songwriter(s)Burt Bacharach & Hal David
Gene Pitney singles chronology
"Town Without Pity"
(1961)		 "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance"
(1962)		 "Only Love Can Break a Heart"
(1962)

Although the song never appeared in the film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, there is disagreement about whether the song had been intended to appear in it.[4] Nevertheless, Pitney has stated that the song's recording session was paid for by Paramount, and that it was midway through the song's recording session that he found out that the song was not going to be included in the film, when one of the orchestra members told him that the film had been released. Session drummer Gary Chester plays on the recording.[4]

The Pitney and Jimmie Rogers version of the song, is noted for a solo violin, that plays in the upper register. both versions are noteworthy for the chorus, where a quick half second strike on the tympani, is heard, depicting the gun shots, which go:

"The man who shot Liberty Valance, (bong) He shot Liberty Valance, (bong), He was the bravest of them all".

The first verse focuses on the outlaw's motives, while the second verse focuses on the hero's girlfriend, who is a pacifist. The girl, when she's full grown, learns the fact that "When two men go and face (or "fight") each other, only one returns".

The song was ranked No. 36 in the Western Writers of America's list of the top 100 Western songs of all time, as compiled from a survey of its members.[5]

Jimmie Rogers released a cover version of the song, similar in form to the Gene Pitney version.

The Greg Kihn Band released a cover of the song on their 1980 album Glass House Rock. James Taylor released a cover of the song on his 1985 album That's Why I'm Here.

Chart performance
Chart (1962) Peak
position
Australia 1
Canada - CHUM Hit Parade 2
New Zealand - Lever Hit Parade 4
US Billboard Hot 100 4
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References
  1. "Gene Pitney - Chart History - The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  2. "1050 CHUM - CHUM Charts, chart No. 271". CHUM. June 4, 1962. Archived from the original on June 3, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  3. "Flavour of New Zealand: Lever Hit Parade". July 12, 1962. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  4. Dominic, Serene (2003). Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans, Serious Record Collectors, and Music Critics, Music Sales Group. p. 75. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  5. Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
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