The discography of Sergio Franchi, the Italian-American tenor (1926–1990),Sergio Franchi on Songs of Italy Retrieved January 17, 2012 consists of a total of thirty-five albums: Two live albums, and thirty-three studio albums (USA and Italy). The studio albums are further identified as collaborations (soundtracks, opera, & original cast), and nine are compilation albums (USA and Italy). The Live category included an LP album (1965) and a CD album (released posthumously) of selected songs extracted from Franchi's twenty-four Live TV appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.Sergio Franchi on the Ed Sullivan Show Retrieved January 17, 2012 This discography also includes thirty (one single recorded on two labels) single and EP albums recorded or released in various venues.
Sergio Franchi's American debut album, Romantic Italian Songs, was released on October 6, 1962, and had reached a peak position of seventeen on the Billboard 200 albums chart by the end of the year. The following year three of his albums hit the charts, while Romantic Italian Songs continued at number thirty-three. Our Man From Italy peaked at number sixty-six, and Broadway—I Love You! peaked at number one hundred and three on the Billboard 200. Also in 1963, Franchi recorded an album of duets with the Metropolitan Opera star, Anna Moffo: The Dream Duet peaked at position number ninety-seven on the Billboard 200. In 1965 Sergio Franchi once again had multiple albums on the Billboard 200. Live At The Coconut Grove peaked at number one hundred fourteen early in the year (recorded late in 1964, but released in 1965). His Christmas album, The Heart of Christmas (Cour' Di Natale) was his second best performance peaking at number twenty five.Sergio Franchi on Allrovi.com Retrieved January 17, 2012 It charted again at number one hundred eight in 1967. Eight years after his 1990 death, (and thirty-six years after its first release) Sergio Franchi's American debut album, Romantic Italian Songs, (re-released as a CD in 11-97) reached a peak position on the Billboard 200 at number one hundred sixty-seven in 1998. Many of his studio albums (and several of his singles) were selected for Special Merit and Spotlight awards by Billboard magazine (see Notes below).
Sergio Franchi's Christmas album contained two very notable original songs: "Buon Natale (Christmas in Rome)" written for him by his first musical director, Neil Warner; and the title song "The Heart of Christmas (Cuor' Di Natale)" written by Anthony Velona. Since his death, RCA has released these two (and other Franchi Christmas songs) on dozens of collaboration albums not listed here.* WorldCat Holdings for Sergio Franchi Retrieved December 25, 2012
Studio albums (LP) Four of these original LP albums have been re-mastered and reissued on CDs. [See CD section below]
Year Album Name Album Details US Peak positions Conductor Recording Venue 1962 Romantic Italian Songs Note 1 RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2640 17 Wally Stott Conductor Recorded in England 1963 Our Man From Italy Note 2 RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2657 66 Henri Rene Conductor Not stated Broadway—I Love You! Note 3 RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2674 103 Glenn Osser Conductor The Dream Duet (Sergio Franchi and Anna Moffo) Note 4 RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2675 97 Henri Rene Conductor 1964 Women In My Life RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2696 – Wally Stott Conductor Recorded in England The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi Note 5 RCA Victor LSP-2943 – Stan Applebaum Conductor Webster Hall 1965 The Songs of Richard Rodgers Note 6 RCA Victor LSP-3365 – Marty Manning Conductor The Heart of Christmas (Cuor' Di Natale) Note 7 RCA Victor LSP-3437 25 Marty Gold Conductor 1966 La Dolce Italy Note 8 RCA Victor LSP-3500 – Frank Hunter Conductor RCA Music Center of World, CA 1967 From Sergio - With Love RCA Victor LSP-3654 – Marty Gold Conductor Webster Hall There Goes My Heart Note 9 RCA Victor LSP-3810 – 1968 I'm A Fool To Want You Note 10 RCA Victor LSP-3933 – Sandy Block, Band Leader RCA Victor Studio A, NYC Wine And Song RCA Victor LSP-4018 – Eric Knight Conductor RCA Studio A, NYC Note 11 1970 Within Me United Artists UAS 6727 – Arrangement Credits Only Not Stated 1972 Sergio Franchi Metromedia MD 1047 – Mike Berniker, Producer Allegro Sound Studios 1976 TeleHouse Presents - Sergio Franchi TeleHouse CD 2045 – Wayne J. Kirby, Producer Not stated 20 Magnificent Songs DynaHouse CD 2029 (Australia) – Con Amore Sergio Note 12 Gold Records GR 1001 – Arrangement Credits Only 1989 Encore! Note 13 I.F. Productions YP100189 – Sergio Franchi & Jon Russell, Producers "—" denotes releases that did not chart US Peak Positions for Albums as listed on Billboard 200
Notes
Billboard International Spotlight Album 1962"Spotlight Albums." (October 6, 1962). Billboard, New York While Franchi's debut album peaked at #17 on Billboard's Pop charts before the end of 1962, it remained on Billboard's Pop charts for eight weeks. It still ranked #33 on January 19, 1963."50 Best Sellers (Stereo). (January 19, 1963). Billboard, New York As a Classical Red Seal recording, a February 16, 1963 Billboard Survey of Best Selling Classical Records revealed that Franchi's album was #4 in Classical Album Sales..after Horowitz, Tchaikovsky, & Bartok albums."Classical Music/Best Selling Classical Albums." (February 23, 1963). Billboard New York When re-issued as a CD late in 1997, the album peaked again at #167 on the Pop Charts (September 5, 1998). Eleven editions were published between 1962-1998. Album was issued in UK as RCA SF-7527.Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs, UK release It was Issued in Italy as Un Nuovo Grande Tenore, Sergio Franchi, RCA Italiana LPM-10124.Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs, Italian release Another 1962 issue in Japan (RA-2146).Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs, Japanese release Issued in Argentina (1962) as Canciones Romanticas de Italia. Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs, Argentinian release Issued in Canada as LSC-2640.Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs, Canadian release Issued in Germany as LSC-2932:Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs. German release Issued in New Zealand as RPL-2932:Sergio Franchi - Romantic Italian Songs New Zealand release Issued in France as Chansons Romantiques Italiennes, RCA Red Seal 450.556-5.Sergio Franchi - Chansons Romantiques Italiannes, Franch release Reissues in 1997 and 1998 account for eleven editions. Billboard Special Merit Pick 1963"Special Merit Picks." (January 5, 1963). Billboard, New York Franchi's second album peaked at #66 on February 9, 1963, and was ten weeks on the Pop charts as of April 13, 1963. Including the US issue, RCA issued eight editions of this album. Issued in UK as RCA RD-7556;Sergio Franchi - Our Man From Italy, UK release issued in Canada as LSC-2657;Sergio Franchi - Our Man From Italy, Canadian release issued in Japan (RA-2163);Sergio Franchi - Our Man From Italy, Japanese release issued in Argentina as Muestro Hombre De Italia; Issued in Australia (RCA Red Seal L1632):Sergio Franchi - Our Man From Italy, Australian release Issued in Brazil as LM-2657:Sergio Franchi - Out Man From Italy, Brazilian release Issued in France as Chante L'Italie.Sergio Franchi - Chante L'Italie Franch release As a result of Franchi's record sales and popularity, Billboard announced that Seeburg's Little LP Library was now using 7-inch LPs of his recordings for Jukebox programming."Seeburg's Little LP Library." (April 13, 1963). Billboard, New York This was historically important 50 years ago. Before the advent of boom-boxes, Walk-a-Man's, and MP3 players, (and before the decline of jukeboxes in the 1970s;) Jukeboxes were as important as car radios for listening to popular music away from home. See, eg.Some Jukebox History Retrieved January 21, 2013 Billboard Spotlight Album 1963"Pop Spotlight Albums." (May 25, 1963), Billboard, New York Billboard Breakout Album 1963"Pop Breakout Albums." (June 15, 1963), Billboard, New York This RCA Victor Red Seal album had spent nineteen weeks on Billboard's "150 Best Sellers" chart and ranked #120 as of June 15, 1963. A month later it peaked on the Pop Charts at #103."150 Best Sellers." (July 20, 1963).Billboard, New York Also issued in Canada. RCA announced that this Dynagrove recording would now be available for International distribution in 36 countries in the fall of 1963.RCA Dynagrove Announcement. (October 19, 1963). Billboard, New York RCA featured Sergio Franchi's vocal artistry to entertain their international affiliates and distributors at their 11th annual best buys sales meet that year."Victor Opens W. Va. Session." (July 27, 1963). Billboard, New York Billboard Pop Spotlight Album 1963"Pop Spotlight Albums." (October 19, 1963), Billboard, New York Billboard Breakout Album 1963"Pop Breakout Albums." (December 28, 1963), Billboard, New York This Red Seal album peaked on the Pop charts at #97 on December 28, 1963. The popularity of these two artists singing together was a factor in the Metropolitan Opera selecting Sergio Franchi for the featured tenor role of Alfred in a recording of their popular English production of Die Fledermaus.Robinson, Francis. (1963), The Great Moments From Die Fledermaus, RCA Victor Red Seal, LSC-2728, LP, Liner Notes Billboard Pop Spotlight Album 1964"Pop Spotlight Albums." (September 5, 1964), Billboard, New York This album marked Sergio Franchi's move from RCA Victor's Red Seal Label to Black label in active pursuit of the Pop market. Also issued in Germany as LSP-2943.Sergio Franchi - The Exciting Voice, German release Billboard Spotlight Album 1965"Pop Spotlight Albums." (June 12, 1965), Billboard, New York While starring in his Broadway musical, Sergio pays tribute to Richard Rodgers. Also issued in Canada as LSP-3365. Reissued in 1977 with catalog number ANL1-2463 in RCA's budget priced "Pure Gold" series.Sergio Franchi - The Songs of Richard Rodgers, Canadian release Billboard Christmas Spotlight Album 1965"Christmas Spotlight Albums." (October 16, 1965), Billboard, New York Peaked at #25 in 1965. Charted again on Billboard 200 at #108 in 1967."150 Best Sellers." (December 23, 1967). Billboard, New York Billboard Pop Special Merit Album 1966"Special Merit Picks." (June 4, 1966). Billboard. La Dolce Italy contains some memorable Neapolitan selections. Also issued in Canada as LSP-3500.Sergio Franchi - La Dolce Italy, Canadian release Billboard Pop Special Merit Album 1967"Special Merit Picks." (June 3, 1967), Billboard, New York As per the liner notes, "Sergio Franchi Spins Magic with Romantic Melodies of Love." Released February 10, 1968. Album also issued in Canada as LSP-3933.Sergio Franchi - I'm a Fool to Want You, Canadian release Retrieved January 17, 2012 Per liner notes, "RCA Studio B, NYC," although this venue is in Nashville, and thought to be an error. Full title was Con Amore Sergio - From My Private Collection. Sergio Franchi's last album contains six songs never before recorded by him, including the winning song from the 1988 Sanremo Festival.
Live albums This section contains two live albums: Sergio Franchi's 1965 Live recording (LP), and a 2008 CD issued posthumously by Sofa Entertainment from the archives of The Ed Sullivan Show.
Year Album Name Album Details US Peak positions Conductor Recording Venue 1965 Sergio Franchi Live! At The Coconut Grove Note 1 RCA Victor 3310 114 Freddie Martin Orchestra, Neil Warner Directing Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles) 2008 Sergio Franchi on The Ed Sullivan Show Note 2 Sofa Entertainment, Inc. – Ray Bloch Conductor CBS Studios (New York City) "—" denotes releases that did not chart US Peak Positions for Albums as listed on Billboard 200
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