The 10 Best Rosemary Clooney Songs of All-Time

Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress born on May 23, 1928, in Maysville, Kentucky, and she passed away from lung cancer on June 29, 2002, when she was 74.

She actually started her career as a child star, appearing on both radio and in films. In the 50s, she became one of the most popular singers in the country and was well-known for her warm, expressive voice and her amazing ability to sing a wide range of genres. She released 77 singles (1948 to 1976), a wealth of great albums (1952 to 2002), and had a net worth of $20 million.

And, in 2002, Rosemary Clooney received a well-deserved Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

George Clooney is her nephew and was also a pallbearer at her funeral when she was buried at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Maysville. Although every one of her songs was unforgettable, here are the ten best Rosemary Clooney songs of all time, in our opinion:

1.”Come On-a My House” (1951)

This song was a massive success for Clooney and, in fact, topped the charts in 1951 while also selling more than a million copies. On top of that, it made Rosemary Clooney a household name. Although Rosemary usually had a preference for singing much more sophisticated songs than this one, she relented and recorded it anyway and recorded it even when she didn’t really even like it.

2. “Mambo Italiano” (1954)

This is a great song for so many reasons, from its catchy melody to the fun rhythm, and extremely clever lyrics. And, add to that how well Rosemary Clooney sings it with her amazing voice and sense of humor and it became a sure hit back in the 50s. It was written by Bob Merrill who was inspired by an Italian-American group when they performed “Mambo Napoletano”, which was a traditional folk song. In 1954, this Rosemary Clooney song reached the Top Ten in both the UK and the US.

3. “Half as Much” (1952)

Written in 1951 by Curley Williams, “Half as Much” was recorded in 1952 by Rosemary Clooney. It climbed all the way to #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart that year and is on both The Essential Rosemary Clooney CD available on the Columbia/Legacy label as well as on The Essence of Rosemary Clooney from Sony Music.

4. “This Ole House” (1954)

This song, which is also known as “This Old House”, was written by Stuart Hamblen and was actually recorded by several other artists, including Shakin’ Stevens. Rosemary Clooney’s version made it to the very top of the pop music charts in 1954 in both the UK and the US.

5. “Hey There” (1954)

The catchy melody, romantic lyrics, and more than anything else, Rosemary’s beautiful voice, make this an unforgettable song. And, she sang it with such feeling as she did with all of her songs. Add to that the fact that it’s so easy to sing along to and it’s no wonder it was such a big hit in the 50s.

6. “Botch-a-Me (Ba-ba-baciami piccina)” (1952)

“Botch-a-Me (Ba-ba-baciami piccina)” is a really fun song with an upbeat rhythm that was actually written in 1940 by Alberto Rabagliati. The first recording of it was in Italian and was performed by Alberto himself. Then, Eddie Stanley later wrote the English lyrics that we know today. Rosemary Clooney released her hit version in 1952, and it climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and #4 on the charts in the UK.

7. “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” (1951)

Interestingly enough, this is one of those songs that seems to have been recorded by everybody and his brother over the years, from Bing Crosby to Streisand, and even the Irish Tenors. But, nobody seems to have ever done it justice quite the way that Rosemary Clooney did back in 1951. It was written for a 1947 Broadway musical called “Finian’s Rainbow” by E.Y. Harburg and Burton Lane.

8. “A Spoonful of Sugar” (1964)

If you’ve ever seen “Mary Poppins”, you’re sure to remember this great 1964 song covered by Rosemary Clooney from the soundtrack where it was also sung by Julie Andrews onscreen. It’s one of those songs that gets stuck in your head and you can’t seem to get it out. Who could ever forget the sentiment that a spoonful of sugar can make the medicine go down? So true.

9.”I Will Follow You” (1963)

With its choir and strings, the arrangement on this beautiful Rosemary Clooney song is truly amazing. It was written by Geoff Stephens and originally recorded by Petula Clark in 1961. However, Rosemary’s version was a bit hit (albeit not quite as big as some of her other songs), reaching #10 on the UK charts and # 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart here in the US.

10. “A Hundred Years from Today” (1954)

“A Hundred Years from Today” by Rosemary Clooney was released as a single on Reprise Records in 1963. It was written by Ned Washington and Victor Young and was initially published in 1933. This is a moving song that’s all about looking back on one’s life and wondering what the future holds.

Final Words

These were just our choices of the ten best Rosemary Clooney songs of all time. If you’re old enough to remember Rosemary Clooney, then you may think that some of her other songs were her all-time best. If so, you might want to play them again for old times’ sake and remember how good they made you feel and still can again.

These ten songs are all classics that showcase Clooney’s beautiful voice and her versatility as an artist. She was able to sing a wide range of genres, from pop to jazz to standards. She was also a gifted actress, and she appeared in several films, including “White Christmas” and “The Stars Are Singing.” Rosemary was a true legend of American music, and her songs will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.

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