I was just watching a classic rock and DooWop concert on PBS where various singers from the 50's and 60's performed their most famous songs at a theater in Pittsburgh. The concert was great. One of the singers was Connie Francis. I've been a fan since I was a kid and enjoy many of her hits. I was amazed and pleasantly surprised that in spite of her many setbacks in life, she perserveres and continues to perform. I was just wondering what all of you think about her.

I like Connie! I have a few of her cds, and I enjoy them. I have to admit some of her songs sometimes are a bit mawkish, and I don't care for those done in Italian, but I like her voice and admire her. She's had a tough time of it, and she perseveres. I like her novelty songs ("Stupid Cupid") and "Where The Boys Are" and several others.

BIOGRAPHY on A&E did a very nice segment on her that ran several months ago, I believe.

I wish her the best.

[johnofphilly]

I love everything she ever recorded, my favorite being "Breaking in a Brand New Broken Heart".

She did an album all in Italian, Kathy's right about a bit mawkish, but loud & echoeing, it's really pretty. On warm festive summer nights Pasta Pomodoro blasts it out their second story window on South Street here in Philly.
Good place to get delicious low-fat tomato pie.

Connie's music held its own with the other fabulous recordings of the day - many of those Brill Building records by the Drifters, Ronettes, etc.

It was sad that Connie was the victim of a sexual assault. She knows we're a loving audience out here, and maybe she'll assemble again with those wonderful singer reunions in Pittsburgh. Many of them are still working regularly, Jimmy Beaumont's Skyliners (one of which suicided years back), the Duprees, Jerry Butler, etc.

I didn't know that A&E did a biography on her. I look forward to watching it. I also didn't know she was sexually assaulted. I knew that she was victimized by an over-bearing stage father, but didn't know it went way beyond that. A real traged indeed. As for her Italian songs, I love her version of "Al Di La" I heard it on a bus in Rome and fell in love with her version. I thought it was just as nice as Jerry Vale's. I definitely wish her many years of happiness. God knows, she deserves it.

If you go to A&E.com, or Biography.com, you'll find the videos for sale.

I have too many favorite songs by Connie, to list. Certainly, Breaking In A Brand New Heart, is in that list. Yes, she has had her share of problems, not the least of which, the rape assault.

It is rumored that the attack occurred because she wouldn't, or didn't cooperate with some "organized" type people, who were looking to settle a score, with her brother.

It makes it even more terrible to know that someone of Connies' caliber, should have been placed in such a peril. She was in counseling for many years after, because of her suffered traumas.

I was happy to see that she has gone back to performing.
A wonderful lady, and, one of the top entertainers, of my generation.

[Lourdes]

I like her! I saw many films with her singing and soon she disappeared. I'm glad she's back again!

Mike,

Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to check it out.

[Library Bob]

A talented singer ("Everybody's Somebody's Fool," a Neil Sedaka composition, is my favorite), she is also a person who has endured much personal heartbreak, much of it stemming back to that sexual assault in the early '70's, and still managed to keep on going. Real class, all the way.

Saw that A&E biography several years ago. Very well done, as most of them are. I didn't realize, among other things, that, some ten years after the assault, her brother was allegedly whacked by some "organized" individuals, or that she has to cycle off her lithium every time she goes on a concert tour.

As I say, to go through what she has and emerge as well as she has requires remarkable amounts of class and guts. These she obviously has, and then some.

I just finished watching her biography on one of the A&E channels. Very well done indeed. It certainly cleared up some misunderstandings I had about her and her life. Again, a great talent and a great lady. I wish her only the best.

I saw the A&E Biography and her life touched me -- she is a beautiful strong woman and survived many pains in her life.

I saw her in the 80's perform in Toronto -- she had a fall before the show, and she showed up wearing a cast on one of her legs, but she was there - the audience welcomed her with open arms, and gave her a standing ovation.

Her "Mama" is one of the most beautiful songs she recorded.
I hope and wish her only the best.

[Lynda L]

One of the best female singers in my opinion. She has such a clear and smooth voice. When she sings her slow ballad songs, you can hear the feeling that she puts into her music. One of my favorite songs is Don't Break The Heart That Loves You.

She's gone through a lot in her life. I hope the rest of her life is happy.

Who made some of the best pop records of all time. Her versions of country classics are the true undiscovered gems in her catalog. They've stood the test of time brilliantly. There's even a superb album with the Jordanaires and great duets with Hank Williams Jr.

The pitch-perfect Connie's "interpretations" (actually, butchering)of standards would cause many a raised eyebrow here...

I saw her return concert at Lincoln Center in the 80's: the overwhelming waves of love coming to that girl from that huge packed hall is one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

Don't we need to send her some of that goodwill, rather than re-telling her misfortunes?

Great picture. She certainly was a beautiful woman. She was cute in her teens, but her beauty really came into its own through her 20's and 30's. I grew up 30 miles from Youngstown, Ohio and on the rare occasions she performed there in the late 70's and 80's, the people in that area acted as though the Pope was visiting that prodominantly Italian-American region. She was one of our own who made good and was just loved for that reason (that and her great talent). The only other time there was that much excitement was whenever Sinatra himself performed within a 100 radius of Youngstown. I've never seen her live in concert, but I still remember the excitement and electricity that was in the air when the was in town. What a wonderful time. What a wonderful lady.

[Rich K]

Had the opportunity to see Connie Francis when Frank brought her along, with several other performers, for a benefit show in St. Louis in 1967. She was great; among the songs she sang that night was "Will You Still Be Mine". In her recording, she had a line about "when Frank Sinatra starts getting fat" but she didn't use it that night.

Yes, Connie is a fine vocalist. Besides growing up on Frank, I grew up on Connie too. I have some of her lps and cds. There are 2 cds of romantic Italian songs that are particularly nice.

Glad to hear you also like the 2 Italian cds! Of course, her old standbys like "Where the Boys Are" are always great too.

[Lea]

Does anyone here like Connie Francis?

After Nancy, Connie Francis is my second favourite American singer.
Connie was born in New Jersey (as was Nancy) in 1938. Her real name is Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero.
I love all her music, including her Italian and German recordings (even though I don't understand the words).
Some of her foreign language songs I recognise from her American hits.
Connie even recorded albums in Japanese and Jewish, but I haven't heard those yet.

One of my most favourite Connie songs is "Who's Sorry Now" which was Connie's first big hit and reached #4 in the Billboard charts in 1958.

Other songs of Connie's that I really like are:

My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own, I Don't Wanna Play House, Among My Souvenirs, Stupid Cupid, Second Hand Love, Valentino, Lipstick On Your Collar, Mama, Bye Bye Love, Walk On By, My Happiness, Don't Break The Heart That Loves You, Many Tears Ago, Breaking In A Brand New Heart, Jealous Heart, Blue Winter, God Bless America

Jeez, there are many many more.

I have about 14 Connie Francis CDs. Most of these are compilations.
Connie's albums seem to be very hard to find on CD. I am still waiting for an album called "Swinging Connie Francis."
I recently got her two Italian LPs on one CD, "Sings Italian Favourites" and "More Italian Favourites."
Great stuff.
I have a very nice CD called "The World Of Connie Francis." On this one Connie sings some great covers/standards including, "Strangers In The Night," "Stardust," "Moon River," "Young At Heart," "Three Coins In The Fountain," "The Look Of Love," "Tammy," "The Last Waltz," "Trains And Boats And Plains."

There is a Connie song that I can't find anywhere at the moment "Tweedle Dee," I like that one.

What are your favourite Connie Francis songs?

Recommended Connie Francis CDs. Some of the UK compilations can be picked up from www.amazon.uk at a great price at the moment:

CONNIE'S COUNTRY
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000255OK/qid=1109466669/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_11_2/026-4665816-5293240

THE WORLD OF CONNIE FRANCIS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006YSO/qid=1109467147/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-4665816-5293240

ITALIAN FAVOURITES/MORE ITALIAN FAVOUITES
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001NBNAM/qid=1109467072/sr=8-3/ref=__3/002-0700841-7750457?v=glance&s=music

THE COLLECTION
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000B8UE/qid=1109466669/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-4665816-5293240

WHO'S SORRY NOW
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000026POX/qid=1109466669/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_11_4/026-4665816-5293240

STAR GALA
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000DBDH/qid=1109467001/sr=1-25/ref=sr_1_25/002-0700841-7750457?v=glance&s=music

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (BOXSET)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DG5NW/qid=1109466669/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_11_6/026-4665816-5293240

THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000252VX/qid=1109466863/sr=1-35/ref=sr_1_2_35/026-4665816-5293240

[Lea]

[Lea]

one more pic.

I just love Connie's voice. She does my favorite version of La Vie En Rose. It's just beautiful. She sounds like a natural in every language she sings in.

Thank you for the lovely pictures, Lea! Just one small correction: Her real first name is Concetta.