About the song
Penned and composed by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris in 1950, “Blue Velvet” initially gained recognition as a top 20 hit when performed by Tony Bennett in 1951. Over the years, this song has undergone numerous re-recordings, with Bobby Vinton’s 1963 rendition achieving the remarkable feat of reaching the number 1 spot.
During a visit to friends in Richmond, Virginia, Bernie Wayne found inspiration for “Blue Velvet” while staying at the Jefferson Hotel. The catalyst for the lyrics was a woman observed at a party hosted at the Jefferson. When Bernie Wayne presented “Blue Velvet” to Mitch Miller, the head of A&R at Columbia Records, he had only shared the opening line:
“Blue Velvet” has become a timeless piece with a rich history of interpretations, epitomized by Tony Bennett’s original rendition and Bobby Vinton’s later chart-topping version.
“She wore blue velvet …”, when Miller interrupted him, saying: “How about [my giving the song to] Tony Bennett?” Wayne’s response, “Don’t you want to hear the rest of the song?”, drew this advice from Miller: “Quit while you’re ahead!”
Bobby Vinton’s rendition of “Blue Velvet” in 1963 stands as the most triumphant recording of the song. On September 20, 1963, Vinton’s version secured the coveted no. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100, maintaining its supremacy for two consecutive weeks. Additionally, “Blue Velvet” propelled Vinton to a no. 1 spot on the US Middle-Road Singles chart, where it held its reign for an impressive eight weeks.
The success of Vinton’s no. 3 hit, “Blue on Blue,” during the summer of 1963 led to the creation of the “Blue on Blue” album. This album featured songs with the common theme of the word “blue” in their titles. Notably, the track “Blue Velvet” was suggested for inclusion by Vinton’s friend and music publisher, Al Gallico. Gallico went so far as to send his secretary to a music store with a dollar to purchase the sheet music for “Blue Velvet.” Within an hour, Vinton had recorded the song in just two takes.
As a result of its popularity, Vinton’s version of “Blue Velvet” earned the fifth spot on Billboard’s year-end ranking for “Top Records of 1963.” Additionally, it claimed the fourth position on Cash Box’s “Top 100 Chart Hits of 1963” and the eighth spot on Cash Box’s “Top 100 Chart Hits of 1964.”
Despite its initial release failing to make waves on the British charts, a re-release in 1990 saw “Blue Velvet” reaching an impressive no. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, with “Blue on Blue” serving as the B-side.
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Lyrics
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night
Softer than satin was the light
From the starsShe wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet were her eyes
Warmer than May her tender sighs
Love was ours
Ours a love I held tightly
Feeling the rapture grow
Like a flame burning brightly
But when she left, gone was the glow of
Blue velvet
But in my heart there’ll always be
Precious and warm, a memory
Through the years
And I still can see blue velvet
Through my tears