"Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)" is a 1966 song written by Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance. It was most notably performed by Jerry Vale, who released it as a single in mid 1966. His version reached the US pop and easy listening-oriented charts. It was the only single for his 1967 album The Impossible Dream. Other versions were released by Steve Rossi and Vance himself.
Background and releases Paul Vance had been a songwriter since the 1950s, writing several hits for artists like Perry Como. In 1966, along with his main songwriting partner at the time, he wrote "Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)." It was originally intended as a demo recording by Vance for Scepter Records, but under the firm's president's request, it was released as a single soon after. For Vance's version, Lee Pockriss arranged it and the two songwriters co-produced it.
Jerry Vale had been a recording artist for Columbia since the 1950s, recording several pop hits. In the early 1960s, Vale achieved major commercial success via his albums and singles featuring English and Italian standards. Vale would repeat the format with "Dommage, Dommage". In August his label released "Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)" as the lead single for his The Impossible Dream LP. The song was described by critics as "remorse about a romance which ends up on the rocks." The single was produced by Mike Berniker, and arranged by Glenn Osser.
Critical reception
The single received a positive critical reception upon its release. Billboard magazine stated that "The much recorded ballad is given a warm, commercial reading by Vale and it should rapidly climb the chart," believing that it is the "Strongest Vale entry in some time." Cashbox believed that the versions of the song "seem destined to create excitement aplenty," saying "Messers Rossi, Vance and Vale all turn in splendid readings on the lyrical, slow-shufflin' hauntingly melodic tale."
Chart performance Jerry Vale's version of "Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)" debuted on Billboard magazine's pop-oriented Hot 100 chart in the issue dated October 8, peaking at number 93 during a two-week run on it. The single reached a lower No. 113 on the Cashbox Looking Ahead and Record World Singles Coming Up. It became a top-10 single on America's Billboard Easy Listening chart, rising to the number 5 position. "Dommage, Dommage" became Vale's second biggest Easy Listening hit at that point, and the final Hot 100 entry of his career.
Paul Vance's version reached a similar position of No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. On the chart published by Record World it only reached No. 107 and on the Cashbox chart it reached No. 108. Unlike Vale's version though, it completely missed the Easy Listening chart.
Charts
+Chart performance for "Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)" by Jerry Vale Chart (1966) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 93 US Billboard Easy Listening 5 US Cashbox Looking Ahead 113 US Record World Singles Coming Up 109
+Chart performance for "Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad)" by Paul Vance Chart (1966) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 97 US Cashbox Looking Ahead 108 US Record World Singles Coming Up 107
References