*(1960) Liberty LRP-3183-2-2 ''It's Only Make Believe'' (Take NA LP Master) Johnny Burnette

''It's Only Make Believe'' (Take NA Liberty LRP-3183-2-2 LP Master) (Harold Jenkings-Jack Nance) (Marielle Music) (2:28) (21:30-01:00)
Recorded November 29, 1960 at United Recording Corporation, 6050 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California

Name (Or, No, of Instruments
Johnny Burnette - Vocals
Joseph Robert ''Bobby'' Gibbons - Guitar
Milton L. Norman - Acoustic Guitar
Alfred Viola - Guitar
George Sylvester ''Red'' Callender - Bass
Jerry Allison - Drums
Unknown - Backup Vocals
Stanley Harris - Viola
Paul Robyn - Viola
Israel Baker, Elliott Fisher, James Getzoff, Henry Hill, Nicholas "Nick" Pisani, Myron Sandler, Ralph Schaefer - Violins

Producer - Thomas ''Snuff'' Garrett
Recording Engineer - Bruce Botnick

"It's Only Make Believe" is a song written by drummer Jack Nance and Mississippi-born singer Harold Jenkins (aka Conway Twitty), while they were touring across Ontario, Canada, in 1958. Twitty was a relatively unknown rock and roll singer at the time, and this song was his first hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard chart in November 1958 for two weeks. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Billy Fury, Child, and Ronnie McDowell, whose recording features contributions from Twitty. Glen Campbell had a Top 10 hit with the song in 1970.

The song was written mainly by Jack Nance, a member of Twitty's band, during an intermission in a show they were playing at the Flamingo Lounge in Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada, with Conway Twitty providing the finishing touches to the song. They recorded a demo of the song, and sent it together with "I'll Try" to Twitty's manager, Don Seat. MGM Records became interested in the songs and arranged for these and other songs to be recorded at the Bradley Studios in Nashville on May 7, 1958. The song was recorded by Twitty with the Jordanaires on backing vocals. Musicians who played on the song included Floyd Cramer on piano, Grady Martin on guitar, and Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance on double bass. The song was produced by Jim Vienneau, who suggested that Twitty should keep the growl in his voice when recording. "It's Only Make Believe" was released by MGM Records on side B of "I'll Try" on July 14, 1958.

The A-side "I'll Try" failed to catch on with the public in the States, and Twitty, believing that the record had failed, went home to work on the farm. However, a disc jockey in Columbus, Ohio took an interest in the B-side "It's Only Make Believe" and it became a hit in the city. It spread nationally and the song hit the Billboard chart in September, 1958, eventually reaching number 1, on November 10 and 24. The single topped both U.S. and the UK Singles Chart, and became the only number 1 pop single of his career. Twitty stated years later, on a segment of "Pop Goes The Country", that it was a hit in 22 countries, and had sold over eight million copies. He crossed over to country music in 1966.

Though Twitty recorded subsequent versions of "It's Only Make Believe", his original 1958 hit did not enter the country music charts. He recorded a 1970 duet of the song with Loretta Lynn on their first collaborative album, We Only Make Believe. Twitty joins in on the last verse in a 1988 uptempo cover by Ronnie McDowell, which was a number 8 hit on the country music charts. Additionally, Twitty contributed to an alternative cover by McDowell.

Johnny Burnette recorded a version of ''It’s Only Make Believe'', a heartfelt rock ballad originally made famous by Conway Twitty in 1958. Burnette’s rendition carries his signature vocal style and was included on his self-titled album. Burnette, known for hits like “You’re Sixteen” and “Dreamin’”, recorded his own take on the song later. His version emphasizes his smoother, pop-rock vocal delivery compared to Twitty’s more dramatic style. The lyrics express longing and heartbreak, centered on the idea that a romantic relationship exists only in dreams, not reality. Example lines: ''People see us everywhere / They think you really care / But myself I can’t deceive / I know it’s only make believe''.
Johnny Burnette’s cover of It’s Only Make Believe shows how versatile the song became across different artists. While Conway Twitty’s original was a rockabilly classic, Burnette’s interpretation leans into his pop-rock sensibilities, making it resonate with fans of early 1960s rock. It’s a great example of how timeless ballads can be reshaped by different voices without losing their emotional core.

Source and more information see: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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