Record #0013: I’ll Try / It’s Only Make Believe – CONWAY TWITTY

MGM K12677 (original), USA, 1958
Words & Music by:  Conway Twitty, Jack Nance
Musicians: Conway Twitty (vocals, guitar?) and Owen Bradley’s session musicians (Lead guitar possibly by Grady Martin)
Recording sessions:  Owen Bradley Studio, Nashville, TN, May 7, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, CAN #1,  UK #1, Norway #2. (The single went #1 in 22 countries!)

After Elvis Presley found success with RCA in 1956, most of the US record labels were looking for their own “Elvis”. MGM’s best bet was Conway Twitty, who had a couple of good years with rock’n’roll before fading out. He started a “new career” with country music in the mid-60’s and became one of the biggest stars of the genre (with 40 #1 singles in US Country charts – a record that held until George Strait broke it in 2006).

“I’ll Try” was the A-side of the record when it was released. The single did not take off until some DJs started playing the B-side on air.

“It’s OnlyMake Believe” became Twitty's first and only #1 hit in the pop charts. He sounded a bit like Elvis and some people actually believed that he was Elvis recording under a different name.

List price:  “Very Good+” is $12.50 and “Near Mint” is $25.