Dion and the Belmonts signed a record contract in 1957 and had a wonderful string of hits over the next couple of years. In 1960, Dion Dimucci decided it was time to embark on a solo career. It was a wise choice because Dion DiMucci would go on to compose, record and release some of the biggest songs of the 1960s. Known simply just as Dion, his music would infiltrate popular culture on a mass level. Even 50 years later, people still listen to Dion’s classic songs like “Runaround Sue,” “The Wanderer,” “Teenager In Love,” and so on. They are constantly played at weddings and continued to be played on radio stations, tv soundtracks and in the homes of millions still on a daily basis.
Our top 10 Dion songs will take a look at both the career of Dion the Belmonts and Dion’s solo career. We hope you enjoy this top 10 Dion Songs & Dion and the Belmonts Songs list. For those of us over 40, it was basically the soundtrack of our Lives.
# 10 – I Wonder Why
We we’ll start out this top 10 Dion and the Belmonts songs list in chronological order with Dion’s hits with the Belmonts. Dion and the Belmonts’ first big hit with the song entitled “I Wonder Why.” The song was written by Melvin Anderson and Ricardo Weeks. “I Wonder Why.” was released in 1958. The song “I Wonder Why.” hit the number 22 position on the US Billboard Top 100 in 1958. The song’s legendary opening acapella lines I’ve been featured in countless movies and television shows over the past 50 years. You know this one the first second you hear it.
# 9 – Teenager In Love
Continuing with our top 10 Dion and the Belmonts songs list we move ahead in time one year later to 1959. As the decade of the 1950s came to a close, Dion and the Belmonts would score the second-highest charting song of their career. Their soon-to-be legendary song entitled “Teenager In Love,” become a top 10 hit peaking at number 5 on the US Billboard Top 100 in the year 1959. The song defines the term iconic. How many times have you heard this song and sung this one throughout your lives?
# 8 – Where or When
The success of their hit single “Teenager In Love,” turned Dion and the Belmonts into a household name. Riding their wave of fame the band released another single in 1959 that would score even higher on the Billboard top 100. Dion and the Belmonts’ cover of Rodgers & Hart’s “Where or When,” reached all the way to number three on the Billboard Top 100 in 1959. While this song might not be remembered as much as “Teenager In Love,” it was in fact the highest-charting single of their career.
# 7 – New York Is My Home
We open up this part of our top 10 Dion songs list focussing on Dion’s solo career with this most recent remarkable gem entitled “New York Is My Home.”The song was released in 2016 as a duet between Paul Simon and Dion. Two native New Yorkers singing about the home they grew up in, that they have loved, and that they have been proud to be a part of. The Bronx (Dion) meets Queens (Paul Simon) in this mesmerizing performance.
We are all proud or at least beholden to our native towns and cities in which we were raised. As a native New Yorker myself, I have a certain sensitivity to this song that absolutely generates a bias toward these two incredible singers and artists. Incredible song, mesmerizing video, I could listen to this one every day.
# 6 – Lonely Teenager
“Lonely Teenager,” was Dion’s first single released as a solo artist. The song was released in 1960. In so many ways the song defines a transition between the 50s and into the 1960s. Gone is the doo-wop sound replaced by a strumming guitar and rhythm and groove beat. Yet, it still carries Dion’s iconic 1950s vocal sound. It’s a fascinating look back at a time when music culture had still not lost its innocence but had no idea of the turbulent decade that lay ahead.
# 5 – Lovers Who Wander
Continuing with our Top 10 Dion Songs list we turn to Dion’s big time 1962 hit entitled “Lovers Who Wander.” Two years into his solo career Dion scored a top10 hit with “Lovers Who Wander.” The song became a top 10 hit for Dion peaking at the number three position on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Making it even sweeter was the fact that Dion also wrote the song with Ernie Maresca. The song was released on Dion’s album also entitled Lovers Who Wander.
# 4 – Donna The Prima Donna
One of our favorite titled Dion songs has to be “Donna The Prima Donna.” The classic Dion song was released in 1963. Once again the songwriting team of Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca scored a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song peaked at the number six spot. 1963 was the big transition year in the 1960s for music. The Beatles released their first album entitled Please Please Me in 1963. The Rolling Stones would show up within the year with their debut The Rolling Stones in 1964. The musical landscape of rock and roll would change very quickly.
# 3 – Ruby Baby
As we move closer to the number one spot on our Top 10 Dion Songs and Dion And The Belmonts Songs list we turn to the three big ones. While “Ruby Baby,” may not have had the cultural impact that “Runaround Sue,” and “The Wanderer,” had, it still stands as one of the best Dion songs ever released. Dion had a huge hit with the song in 1962. Promoted by Columbia Records Dion’s cover of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s song hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.
“Ruby Baby,” is a song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The song has been covered by a long list of diverse artists including Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser of Blue Oyster Cult fame, and other legendary artists such as Mitch Ryder, The Beach Boys, Bobby Rydell. Bobby Darwin and many more.
# 2 – Runaround Sue
We would argue that there is probably no one alive on this planet over the age of 35 who has not heard Dion’s “Runaround Sue.” The song is pop culture! Dion’s “Runaround Sue.” was released in September of 1961. The song “Runaround Sue.” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a number-one song in the countries of Canada and New Zealand. It was a top 20 hit in the United Kingdom and hit number two in the land down under. The song “Runaround Sue.” was written by Dion Dion and Ernie Maresca.
# 1 – The Wanderer
It was tough to choose between Dion’s “Runaround Sue,” and “The Wanderer,” for the number one position on our Top 10 Dion Songs list. On any given day we could flip the order. Dion’s legendary song “The Wanderer,” was originally released as the B side to the song “The Majestic.” Talk about a record company getting it wrong.
While “The Wanderer,” may not have hit number one, it came as close to it as you could get peaking at the number two position on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.
Updated June 20, 2023
Top 10 Dion And The Belmonts Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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Top ten Dion & the Belmonts — but half on your list are without the Belmonts. ??
No matter what, some people will always find sonething to complain about. If you actully read the article before attacking it, you would have understood our reasoning behind the selections.