BARRY LEVINE: Eight top songs with April in title

April marks a terrific time of year with beautiful weather that yields blossoming gardens and springtime bliss. It’s a time of year for new beginnings. Days are longer and brighter with warmer temperatures. April is a favorite month for vacations, weddings and outdoor activities. April is so popular that parents have named their daughters after the month.

It’s also the month that Dr. Thomas A. Hilsman of Albany first saw the light of day. The Hilsman family has been taking care of the health needs of Southwest Georgians for more than 175 years. He will celebrate his 70th birthday later in April.

Performers also have used the name April for numerous songs for nearly 100 years.

Here are eight of the well known songs with April in the title.

“April Love” by Pat Boone – This was the fifth of Boone’s six No. 1 hits and it topped the charts for six weeks in 1957. The song came from the movie by the same name and starred Boone and Shirley Jones.

The song was nominated for an Academy Award. The honor, however, was won by Frank Sinatra’s “All the Way” from the film “The Joker is Wild.”

Boone’s song is the only tune with April in the title to reach No. 1.

His other No. 1 hits were “Ain’t That a Shame” in 1955, “I Almost Lost My Mind,” “Friendly Persuasion” and “Don’t Forbid Me” in 1956, ”Love Letters in the Sand” in 1857 and “Moody River” in 1961.

Overall, he had 38 Top 40 hits.

“April in Paris” by Freddy Martin – The song was written for the 1932 Broadway musical “Walk a Little Faster” and was performed by Freddy Martin.

More than two dozen superstars from Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. to Ella Fitzgerald have recorded the tune, but the most famous of which was Count Basie’s 1955 version.

“April Showers” by Al Jolson – “April Showers” is a popular song that was initially published in 1921. The song was introduced in the 1921 Broadway musical “Bombo” where Jolson performed it. The tune became a well known Jolson trademark.

The song was re-recorded for the film “The Jolson Story” in 1946.

It has been recorded by many other artists.

“April Come She Will” by Simon & Garfunkel – Written by Paul Simon, the song was on the 1966 best-selling album “Sounds of Silence.”

The song also was featured in the 1967 Oscar-nominated film “The Graduate,” which starred Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross and Anne Bancroft.

It never was released as a single.

“Pieces of April” by Three Dog Night – The group had three No. 1 hits – “Mama Told Me” in 1970, “Joy to the World” in 1971 and “Black and White” in 1972. Three Dog Night had 20 Top 40 hits including “Pieces of April” which climbed to No. 19 in 1972.

“April Lady” by Queen – As with Three Dog Night, Queen had three No. 1 hits – “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites the Dust” in 1980 and “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1984. “April Lady” was on the Queen album “Ghost of a Smile” and was recorded in 1969. The group had 13 Top 40 hits

“April Fool’s” by Rufus Wainwright – The son of folk singer Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus included “April Fools” in his album “Rufus Wainwright,” which was released in 1998.

The song never was released as a single.

“Sometimes It Snows in April” by Prince – Never released as a single, “Sometimes It Snows in April” was on Prince’s 1986 album “Parade.”

A prolific songwriter, Prince has authored between 500 and 1,000 tunes. He had 32 Top 40 hits including those with The Revolution and The New Power Generation. He had five No. 1 hits – “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” in 1984, “Kiss” in 1986, “Batdance” in 1989 and “Cream” in 1991.

Although failing to reach No. 1, “Purple Rain” probably is considered Prince’s signature song.

This week in rock history – The Marcels, a Pittsburgh quintet, took “Blue Moon,” a song written in 1934 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, to the top of the charts on April 3, 1961. … On April 4, 1964, The Beatles set a record that may never be equaled. They held the top five positions on the Hot 100 with “Can’t Buy Me Love” at No. 1, “Twist and Shout” at No. 2, “She Loves You” at No. 3, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at No. 4 and “Please Please Me” at No. 5. … Atco Records signed Sonny Bono, 30, and his 18-year-old wife Cher on April 5, 1965. During the next seven years they had 11 Top 40 hits.

Perry Como had his ninth No. 1 single since 1945 and his only chart topper in the modern rock era with “Round and Round” on April 6, 1957. … Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” entered the pop chart on April 7, 1956, where it would climb to No. 6. It was the first of the Georgia native’s three Top 10 hits. … The Supremes recorded “Where Did Our Love Go” on April 8, 1964. The song was the first of their five straight No. 1 singles.

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected]