Diana (Paul Anka song)

"Diana"
Single by Paul Anka
from the album Paul Anka
B-side"Don't Gamble With Love"
ReleasedJuly 2, 1957 (July 2, 1957)
RecordedMay 20, 1957 (Don Costa, New York City, U.S.)[1]
StudioRCA Victor, New York City
GenrePop, rock and roll
Length2:28
LabelABC-Paramount 9831
Songwriter(s)Paul Anka
Paul Anka singles chronology
"I Confess"
(1956) 		"Diana"
(1957) 		"I Love You, Baby"
(1957)
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"Diana" is a song written and first performed by Paul Anka,[2] who recorded it in May 1957 at Don Costa’s studio in New York City. Anka stated in his autobiography that the song was inspired by a girl named Diana Ayoub (13 March 1939 – 1 December 2022),[3] whom he had met at his church and community events, and had developed a crush on.[4][5] Session musicians on the record included George Barnes playing lead guitar, Bucky Pizzarelli playing the "Calypso" riff on guitar, Irving Wexler on piano, Jerry Bruno on bass, and Panama Francis on drums. The song was recorded in May 1957 at RCA Victor Studios in New York.[6] Backup singers included Artie Ripp.[7]

Paul Anka's original 1957 recording reached number 1 (for two weeks) on the Billboard "R&B Best Sellers In Stores" chart,[8] (although it climbed no higher than number 2 on Billboard′s composite "Top 100" chart) and has reportedly sold over nine million copies.[9] "Diana" also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart.[10] It also reached number 1 on the UK's New Musical Express chart, staying there for nine weeks,[11] and sold 1.25 million copies in the UK.[12][13]

After signing with RCA Records, Anka re-recorded "Diana", along with many other hits in 1963, for the album Paul Anka's 21 Golden Hits.[14]

  1. ^ "ABC-Paramount 9831". 78discography.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 12 – Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  3. ^ "Diana Ayoub, Ottawa woman who inspired 1957 Anka hit, dead at 83". CBC News. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  4. ^ Anka, Paul; Dalton, David (2013). My Way: An Autobiography. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 34. ISBN 9780312381042.
  5. ^ "Capital Facts: Busting the myth of Paul Anka's doomed love". ottawacitizen. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Anka, Paul; Dalton, David (2013). My Way: An Autobiography. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312381042.
  7. ^ "The Four Temptations (ABC Records)". Whitedoowopcollector.blogspot.com. January 26, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference BestSellers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Paul Anka, History of Rock and Roll. (URL accessed May 14, 2006)
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 32.
  11. ^ Paul Anka – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  12. ^ Ami Sedghi (November 4, 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". The Guardian. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  13. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 33. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  14. ^ "Album Reviews", Billboard, June 22, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved April 1, 2018.