"Al di là" is a song written by Italian composer Carlo Donida and lyricist Mogol, and recorded by Betty Curtis. The English lyrics were written by Ervin Drake. The song was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Italian by Curtis at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on 18 March 1961, after Curtis had won the 1961 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival on 2 February 1961, which served as the Italian national selection from 1958 to 1966. It was also recorded by Italian-American singer Connie Francis in Italian in 1962 and in a bilingual version later during the same year, with Connie writing the English lyrics instead of using Ervin Drake's. Donida is best known in America for writing "Uno dei tanti," or "I ". English lyricist Drake also wrote the lyrics for such songs as "Quando, quando, quando" and "Good Morning Heartache", and both the music and lyrics for "It Was a Very Good Year".
Covers
In the United States, Emilio Pericoli is the artist most associated with the song. He sang "Al di là" in a nightclub, with a small combo, in the popular 1962 filmRome Adventure, starring Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette, and his single that year on Warner Bros. Records reached number six on Billboards pop chart and number three on the easy-listening chart. Pericoli's version ranked #48 on Billboard's 1962 Year-End chart.. Pericoli's album version of the song is not the same as in the film. It is much slower and recorded with a full orchestra. In the UK Singles Chart, Pericoli's version peaked only at number 30, but spent 14 weeks in the Record Retailer Top 50, beginning on 30 June 1962.
Willy Alberti released a version in 1962 and on his 1973 album, Van levenslied tot opera.
Al Hirt also appears in Rome Adventure and plays the song in a nightclub scene. He released a version on his 1963 album, Honey in the Horn.
Jerry Vale released a version on his 1963 album, Arrivederci, Roma.
Al Martino, who would later play the fictional crooner Johnny Fontaine in the 1972 filmThe Godfather, recorded "Al di là" in Italian on his 1963 The Italian Voices of Al Martino album.
Sergio Franchi is another Italian-American singer associated with this popular song. He recorded on his 1968 RCA Victor album, Wine and Song. Franchi also sang the song on the 26 December 1964, broadcast of The Hollywood Palace.
