If (They Made Me a King) explained

If
Type:	single
Artist:	Perry Como
B-Side:	Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom
Released:	December 1950
Genre:	Vocal
Label:	RCA Victor
Prev Title:	You're Just in Love
Prev Year:	1950
Next Title:	There's No Boat Like a Rowboat
Next Year:	1951

"If (They Made Me a King)" is a popular song with music written by Tolchard Evans and the lyrics written by Robert Hargreaves and Stanley J. Damerell. The song was written in 1934, but the most popular versions were recorded in 1950–1951. Perry Como's version, recorded November 28, 1950, was a number-one hit on the Billboard charts for eight weeks.^[1] The Como version was released under the following labels and catalog numbers:

• In the United States, by RCA Victor, as catalog number 47–3997 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
• In Argentina, by Discos RCA Victor Argentina, as catalog number 68–0583 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
• In the United Kingdom, by HMV, as catalog number B-10042 with the flip side "Zing Zing - Zoom Zoom"
• In Germany, by HMV, as catalog number X-7293 with the flip side being a Tony Martin/Dinah Shore recording of "A Penny a Kiss"

Other charted versions in 1951

• Jo Stafford also recorded the song (with "queen" for "king" in the lyric). Her version, with the Paul Weston orchestra backing her, was recorded on October 16, 1950, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39082. This reached No. 8 in the Billboard charts.^[2]
• Billy Eckstine recorded the song December 21, 1950, and scored a #10 hit.^[3]
• Dean Martin recorded the song December 2, 1950, and scored a #14 hit.^[4]
• Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (vocal by Bill Flanagan) - peaked at No. 20.^[5]
• The Ink Spots - peaked at No. 23.^[6]
• Jan Garber & His Orchestra (vocal by Roy Cordell) - peaked at No. 26.^[7]
• Vic Damone - peaked at No. 28.^[8]

Other versions

• Louis Armstrong - recorded February 6, 1951 for Decca Records (catalog No. 27481).^[9]
• In 1961, doowop group "The Paragons" released a version which peaked at No. 82 and spent 5 weeks in the Top 100.
• The Bachelors - Presenting: The Bachelors (1964).^[10]
• Timi Yuro - this was another distaff version (substituting "queen" for "king") and included in her album The Amazing Timi Yuro (1964).^[11]
• Jerry Vale - Jerry Vale's Greatest Hits (1961).^[12]
• Al Hirt released a version of the song in 1969. The song went to #16 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #116 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[13]

Notes and References

1. http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=32562 Perry Como's "If" Chart Positions
2. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 406.
3. Mr B, Billy Eckstine, ASV Mono, Living Era, 2001.
4. Dean Martin, Memories Are Made Of This, 1946-1961, His 58 Finest, Retrospective, 2013.
5. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 251.
6. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 224.
7. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 169.
8. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 120.
9. Web site: The Online Discographical Project. 78discography.com. March 12, 2018.
10. Web site: Discogs.com. Discogs.com. 1964 . March 12, 2018.
11. Web site: Discogs.com. Discogs.com. 1964 . March 12, 2018.
12. Web site: Discogs.com. Discogs.com. 1961 . March 12, 2018.
13. http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=101821 Al Hirt's "If" Chart Positions