(Burt Bacharach - Hal David*)
Australia
#8 Sydney #2 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #9 Adelaide #2 Perth
Single on Sunshine, double-sided hit in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth with Ya Ya.
*Some issues of Normie Rowe’s version give ‘Webster-King’ as the writing credit, but that appears to be out of confusion with a Bobby Darin song of the same name.
Melbourne singer Normie Rowe became Australia’s top teen idol of the late 60s and the star of Ivan Dayman’s Sunshine label. He had a string of hits in Australia from 1965, recorded four singles in London, toured Britain and America, and even inspired a tribute song, Norman-Normie. After he was conscripted to serve in Vietnam he never regained his earlier ‘King of Pop‘ status, but he re-established himself as a respected performer, especially on stage, starring in such productions as Les Miserables and Annie.
Further reading: Detailed biography at Milesago. The official site is at www.normierowe.com
(Burt Bacharach - Hal David)
USA
Original version
Single on Wand label, from 1962 album Any Day Now, arranged by Alan Lorber & Paul Griffin, produced by Luther Dixon.
Along with Rudy Lewis of the Drifters, Chuck Jackson was surely one of the definitive voices of Bacharach & David’s early period. – Mick Patrick & Malcolm Baumgart
Further reading: Notes on this song by Mick Patrick and Malcolm Baumgart at Spectropop. Wand album discography at Both Sides Now.
(Connie St John)
Australia
Red herring
Similar title but not the same song as 'The Breaking Point' by Normie Rowe.
See The Chantinos – Breaking Point for more about the song and this Sydney group.
(Pete King - Paul Francis Webster)
USA
Red herring
Same title but not the same song as 'The Breaking Point' by Normie Rowe.
Single on Atlantic. Some issues of Normie Rowe's The Breaking Point (also from 1966, a remake of Chuck Jackson's 1961 track) credit King and Webster as writers, but this is a different song, copyright 1964 (US Copyright Office).
There are numerous songs registered at BMI and ASCAP with the title (The) Breaking Point.
Thanks to Jeff Smith for the Red Herring alert.
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…