It was 66 years ago today that Dean Martin stood in the recording studios at Capitol Records to record a song that he will forever be associated with – That’s Amore. In 1953, Dean recorded it with Dick Stabile and his orchestra. The session went from 8:30pm to 12:30am. Also recorded at that session was the flip side of the record, a song called “You’re the Right One”.
The song first appeared in the Martin and Lewis movie, The Caddy, which was released by Paramount Pictures three days earlier. The song was written by Jack Brooks (who wrote the lyrics) and Harry Warren (who wrote the music). According to Jerry Lewis, the writers of The Caddy left Dean very little to do. The relationship between Dean and Jerry was already a bit strained. According to Jerry, he went behind Dean’s back and said that he needed “a hit song” for Dean to sing in the movie – and That’s Amore was it. Jerry said he paid about $30,000 for the song. The song received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song (it lost to Doris Day’s ‘Secret Love’). It reached #2 on the charts.
The video below is taken from the Capitol Collector’s Series, which includes some playful studio chatter from Dean before the take. Enjoy.
That’s Amore
“That’s Amore”
When boy meets girl here’s what they say)
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That’s amore
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you’ll sing “Vita bella”
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella
When the stars make you drool just like a pasta e fazool
That’s amore
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in love
When you walk in a dream but you know you’re not dreaming, signore
Scusa mi, but you see, back in old Napoli
That’s amore
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That’s amore (That’s amore)
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s amore (That’s amore)
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you’ll sing “Vita bella” (Vita bell—Vita bella)
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella (lucky fella)
When the stars make you drool just like a pasta e fazool
That’s amore (That’s amore)
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in love
When you walk in a dream but you know you’re not dreaming, signore
Scusa mi, but you see, back in old Napoli
That’s amore (amore)
That’s amore
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
I could pick his voice out of anyones… very distinctive.
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If I had to pick a favorite singer, it would be Dean. I have every song he ever recorded on 4 CD box sets. He was so effortless. As an Italian, it’s almost blasphemous to pick someone over Frank Sinatra, but I always thought Dean had a better voice. Frank was a master, don’t get me wrong, but I always loved how smooth Dean’s voice was.
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You are required as an Italian by law to say that…lol just joking.
I agree with you about Dean’s voice…as far as a pure voice yes Dean has a better one…What makes Frank Frank is his phrasing.
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Without a doubt! Frank’s phrasing was perfect.
It’s always neat for me personally to listen to songs that both of them have recorded and listen to the different interpretations. Listen to Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean – laid back, almost lazy, but smooth. Then listen to it by Frank – Phrasing is SO different. Words are pronounced so clearly.
I love comparing the two.
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