Catch A Falling Star – Perry Como | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1958

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Between 1943 and 1956, one-time barbershop owner Perry Como placed 101 sides on the pop record charts. In 1956 Elvis Presley’s arrival wiped the 1940’s era singers so far off the map that in 1957 only one of them would have a #1 record. That one was Perry Como with Round And Round. In 1958 Perry repeated the feat with the first song ever written by Paul Vance. Paul sang his lyrics and tune for a publisher who loved the words, yet, was cool on the melody. For that help, Paul was referred to Lee Pockriss, and the two polished off Catch A Falling Star in 30 minutes. Tagged as the next Perry Como release, Vance/Pockriss shared the single with Magic Moments, penned by another new songwriting team, Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Both songs entered the pop chart in January, 1958. In February, Magic Moments peaked at #4, while Catch A Falling Star hit #1 in March.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2023 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Joe Reisman

Lyrics Written by:

• Paul Vance
• Lee Pockriss

Awards:

• Won the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Male
• Nominated for both “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year” at the 1959 Grammy Awards
• In 1958, the song topped the Australian charts and was certified “Gold Record”