Thursday's Top Tune Throwback: Gary Lewis & The Playboys' "Save Your Heart for Me"

Flashback to June 1965 when “Save Your Heart for Me” was released on Liberty Records.

The hit song written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell was initially recorded by Brian Hyland in 1963. The song under the Playboys would peak at #2 only being denied the top spot by Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe.”
Producer Snuff Garrett had recommended adding Lewis to the name of the group (they originally were Gary and the Playboys) to take advantage of Gary’s famous father… Jerry, of Martin and Lewis fame. The group had a number one single in 1965, “This Diamond Ring.”
Before the band folded in 1970, they were only one of two ’60s groups that landed their first seven singles in the top ten. The other group to accomplish this was the Lovin’ Spoonful. In addition to Diamond Ring and this week’s feature, Gary Lewis and the Playboys added “Count Me In,” “Everybody Loves A Clown,” “She’s Just My Style,” “Sure Gonna Miss Her” and “Green Grass” to their top ten triumphs.
All in all, the group had eight gold singles and 12 top 40 hit singles. In 1965, Gary Lewis was the Cash Box magazine male vocalist of the year, edging out Elvis and Sinatra. The Playboys got their start performing at Disneyland and later hit it real big after being highlighted on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.