Ervin Drake

Songs Written by Ervin DrakeTop Songs / Chart Singles Discography

Ervin Drake (born Ervin Maurice Druckman; April 3, 1919 – January 15, 2015) was an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as "I Believe" and "It Was a Very Good Year". He wrote in a variety of styles and his work has been recorded by musicians around the world. In 1983, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. == Biography == Born in New York City, Drake had his first song published at age 12,... [more on Wikipedia]

As a songwriter, Ervin Drake first charted in 1942 with Hayfoot, Strawfoot.The artist placed 23 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, 5 of which reached the Top‑10.The artist scored 7 UK Top‑75 entries, including 4 Top‑10 placements, including 2 number‑ones.On US AC the artist achieved 5 Top‑10s, 1 of which peaked at number‑one.On US RnB the artist achieved 1 Top‑10.

Top songs: #1: I Believe - #2: I Believe / Up on the Roof - #3: I Believe - #4: The Rickety Rickshaw Man - #5: Castle Rock
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  Duke Ellington
1.
11/1942

Hayfoot, Strawfoot
Duke Ellington

19 pts




10
R&B


[Victor 20-1505]
written by Paul McGrane, Harry Lenk & Ervin Drake greentick
  The Andrews Sisters
2.
07/1944

Tico-Tico
The Andrews Sisters

91 pts
18
US






written by Aloysio Oliveira, Jose Abreu & Ervin Drake greentick
  Charles Wolcott and His Orchestra
3.
08/1944

Tico-Tico
Charles Wolcott and His Orchestra

117 pts
13
US






written by Jose Abreu, Aloysio Oliveira & Ervin Drake greentick
  Eddy Howard
4.
08/1946

#4  The Rickety Rickshaw Man
Eddy Howard

204 pts
6
US






written by Ervin Drake greentick
  Woody Herman and His Orchestra
5.
08/1946

Mabel! Mabel!
Woody Herman and His Orchestra

125 pts
12
US






written by Ervin Drake greentick, Henry Katzman & Jimmy Shirl
  Perry Como
6.
12/1946

Sonata
Perry Como

156 pts
9
US






written by Alex Alstone, Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Jo Stafford
7.
01/1947

Sonata
Jo Stafford

142 pts
10
US






[Capitol 319]
written by Alex Alstone, Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
8.
09/1947

Come to the Mardi Gras
Freddy Martin and His Orchestra

102 pts
16
US






vocals by Stuart Wade
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Jimmy Shirl, Max Bulhoes & Milton de Oliveira
  Eileen Barton
9.
07/1950

May I Take Two Giant Steps?
Eileen Barton

68 pts
25
US






written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Hugo Winterhalter
10.
02/1951

Across the Wide Missouri
Hugo Winterhalter

83 pts
21
US






vocals by Stuart Foster
[RCA 47-4017]
written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Paul Weston and His Orchestra
11.
02/1951

Across the Wide Missouri
Paul Weston and His Orchestra

93 pts
19
US






vocals by The Norman Luboff Choir
written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Frank Sinatra and Harry James
12.
09/1951

#5  Castle Rock
Frank Sinatra and Harry James

172 pts
8
US






written by Ervin Drake greentick, Jimmy Shirl & Al Sears
  The Fontane Sisters
13.
09/1951

Castle Rock
The Fontane Sisters

63 pts
27
US






[RCA 47-4213]
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Al Sears & Jimmy Shirl
  Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
14.
10/1952

Marilyn
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra

58 pts
20
US






[dedicated to Marilyn Monroe]
written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Frankie Laine
15.
02/1953

#1  I Believe
Frankie Laine

452 pts
2
US




1
UK
[Columbia 39938]
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Al Stillman
  Jane Froman
16.
04/1953

I Believe
Jane Froman

91 pts
11
US






[Capitol 2332]
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Al Stillman
  Eddie Fisher
My Friend
17.
06/1954

My Friend
Eddie Fisher

71 pts
15
US






[RCA 47-5748]
written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Frankie Laine
My Friend
18.
08/1954

My Friend
Frankie Laine

158 pts






3
UK
written by Ervin Drake greentick & Jimmy Shirl
  Tommy Sands
19.
08/1960

The Old Oaken Bucket
Tommy Sands

50 pts
73
US




25
UK
[Capitol 4405]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
  David Whitfield
20.
11/1960

I Believe
David Whitfield

16 pts






49
UK
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Al Stillman
  Steve Lawrence
21.
01/1964

My Home Town
Steve Lawrence

from What Makes Sammy Run?: Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack   
3 pts
106
US






[Columbia 42952]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
22.
01/1964

A Room Without Windows
Steve Lawrence

from What Makes Sammy Run?: Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack   
3 pts
120
US






US B side to My Home Town
[Columbia 42952]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
  Eydie Gorme
23.
02/1964

The Friendliest Thing
Eydie Gorme

3 pts
133
US






[Columbia 42953]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
  The Bachelors
24.
03/1964

#3  I Believe
The Bachelors

from Presenting: The Bachelors   Presenting: The Bachelors
213 pts
33
US
7
AC


2
UK
#2 hit for Frankie Laine in 1953
[London 9672]
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Al Stillman
  The Ray Charles Singers
Al-Di-La
25.
07/1964

Al-Di-La
The Ray Charles Singers

from Al-Di-La and Other Extra-Special Songs for Young Lovers   
52 pts
29
US
4
AC




[Command 4049]
written by Carlo Donida Labati, Giulio Rapetti & Ervin Drake greentick
  Frank Sinatra
26.
12/1965

It Was a Very Good Year
Frank Sinatra

from September of My Years   September of My Years
65 pts
28
US
1
AC




[Reprise 0429]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
  Della Reese
27.
09/1966

It Was a Very Good Year
Della Reese

5 pts
99
US






[ABC 10841]
written by Ervin M. Drake greentick
  Perry Como
28.
02/1968

The Father of Girls
Perry Como

from Look to Your Heart   
18 pts
92
US
10
AC




[RCA 47-9448]
written by Ervin Drake greentick
  Diana Ross
29.
01/1973

Good Morning Heartache
Diana Ross

from Lady Sings the Blues   
67 pts
34
US
8
AC
20
R&B
53
UK
[Motown 1211]
written by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake greentick & Dan Fisher
  The Ebonys
30.
03/1974

I Believe
The Ebonys

from The Ebonys   
3 pts




34
R&B


[Philadelphia International 3541]
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Al Stillman
  Robson Green & Jerome Flynn
31.
11/1995

#2  I Believe / Up on the Roof
Robson Green & Jerome Flynn

214 pts






1
UK
written by Ervin Drake greentick, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, Al Stillman, Gerry Goffin & Carole King

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US charts info based on Billboard (www.billboard.com) charts   •   UK charts info based on The Official UK Charts Company's charts
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