7 Things to Know About ‘I Believe,’ The 1953 Hit That First Set the Just-Tied Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 in the UK

By now, you’ve probably heard that Sam Fender & Olivia Dean ’s “Rein Me In” has tied the all-time record for the longest run at No. 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart – 18 nonconsecutive weeks. That record was set in 1953 by Frankie Laine’s “I Believe.”

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Sam Fender & Olivia Dean’s ‘Rein Me In’ Ties All-Time Record with 18th Week as U.K. No. 1 Single

We decided that if a song is able to hold an important chart record all by itself for 73 years, and only now has to share it, it deserves a spotlight.

“I Believe” is an optimistic and philosophical song with hopeful lyrics such as “I believe for every drop of rain that falls/ A flower grows” and “I believe for everyone who goes astray/ Someone will come to show the way.” It has often been included in collections of inspirational songs, including Perry Como ’s I Believe (1954), Mahalia Jackson’s The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer (1956), Elvis Presley ’s EP Peace In the Valley (1957), Pat Boone ’s The Lord’s Prayer (And Other Great Hymns) (1964), Glen Campbell ’s Oh Happy Day (1970), B.J. Thomas ’ Amazing Grace (1981) and Barbra Streisand ’s Higher Ground (1997).

Four songwriters collaborated on the song: Ervin Drake, Irvin Abraham (as Irvin Graham), Jack Mendelsohn (as Jimmy Shirl) and Al Stillman. Mitch Miller, one of the top music producers of the 1950s, produced the recording, which featured Paul Weston and His Orchestra.

Laine’s “I Believe” was also a big hit in the U.S., peaking at No. 2 on a pre-Hot 100 chart in 1953. Fender and Dean’s “Rein Me In” has struggled to become a similarly sized hit on the Hot 100. It has so far climbed as high as No. 64, though its run isn’t over yet. On the new Hot 100 that will be posted tomorrow, it rebounds from No. 80 to No. 69.

Here are seven things you should know about “I Believe.”

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Billboard. Open at source →