After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" (#19) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the U.S. chart.
However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career. The Belmonts also continued to release records, but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records, and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album.
That's My Desire
Dion & The Belmonts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And reminisce with you that's my desire.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
The lyrics of Dion & The Belmonts's song "That's My Desire" speak of the deep desire to spend a night with a loved one in a place where they used to rendezvous. The song expresses the longing to drink wine together, dance until the break of dawn, and to reminisce about the memories they shared in the past. The singer wants nothing more than to gaze into their partner's eyes, feel the touch of their lips, and to hear them whisper sweet nothings as they bid them goodnight. This song is an epitome of a classic love song that speaks of intense longing, romance, and passion.
The lyrics of "That's My Desire" were written by Helmy Kresa and Carroll Loveday in 1931, and the song has been covered by several other artists over the years, including Frankie Laine, Sammy Kaye, and Elvis Presley. Dion & The Belmonts released their version of the song in 1960, which was featured in their album, "Presenting Dion and The Belmonts."
Line by Line Meaning
To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous,
I want to spend a night with you at our previous meeting place.
And reminisce with you that's my desire.
I want to talk about and remember our past experiences together.
To meet where gypsies play, down in that dim cafe,
I want to meet you at a cafe where gypsies perform.
And dance 'till break of day that's my desire.
I want to dance with you until dawn breaks.
We'll sip a little glass of wine, I'll gaze into your eyes divine.
We will share a glass of wine while I gaze into your beautiful eyes.
I'll feel the touch of your lips pressing on mine.
I want to feel the sensation of your lips on mine.
To hear you whisper low just when it's time to go,
I want to hear you speak softly to me as it reaches the time for us to depart.
Cherie, I love you so, that's my desire.
My ultimate desire is to tell you, Cherie, how much I love you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HELMY KRESA, CARROLL LOVEDAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Airestotle09
That falsetto shreds through space and time
Amazing music
@stevenfeinberg7486
Beautifully put...and accurate. But only some of us understand.
@jewelbee6956
There is a German group, The Firebirds, who do a version of this. Its a great version, and a great falsetto too. Its good to see a younger generation doing doo wop.
@MattAttack54
The Great Angelo D’aleo has a great falsetto still to this day
@Nickygino
"That's my Desire" This record/song circa 1960 on the Laurie record label was the flip side of the golden classic "Where or When" done shortly before Dion had left the Belmonts. This is truly a classic and wonderful Bronx NYC version of Do-Wopp group harmony at its best by of course, Dion & the Belmonts. How I love this record! Angelo D'leo's high soaring falsetto is superb and second to none. They just don't write and sing songs like this anymore. So very many people think that "That's my Desire" was written for Dion & the Belmonts but, no, actually this was written in 1930 and was a pop standard written by Carrol Loveday and Helmy Kresa. It was an old pop standard written by them and was done and redone many times over the years! There are and have been so many variants of this song in particular by Nick Lucas (1936) Frankie Laine (1947) remember him??? Sammy Kaye & Orchestra (1948-49) and so many Do-Wopp versions in the 1950's and early 1960's. The Flamingo's, The Freshman, The Letterman, Yvonne Baker and the Sensations, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald. Even the great Rock & Roll pioneers Elvis, Chuck Berry & Buddy Holly had their own variant of this song! Thou I must make a well deserved mention that Earl Lewis and the Channels from Harlem, NYC had an undisputed great (and popular) Do-Wopp version released in 1957 on the "Whirlin Disc" record label. Either way, this is a classic version by Bronx's own Dion & the Belmonts and I Love it! This is also a great song to slow dance to! Thank you Dion & the Belmonts for all the music and the memories........
@viewer608
There was no one like Angelo D'Aleo and there will never be. His falsetto is the heart of this song. I only wish I knew a way to tell him myself. Angelo you are the BEST.
@billdornan4379
I agree ,Angelo made the group. Great voice ❤️👍🇨🇦
@strikerorwell9232
My dad listened to this version on Radio Luxembourg in 61 as a kid. He bought the version in Gothenburg from sailors who bought Rockn Roll and Doo Wop in the US when our Swedish record stores had very few Rockn Roll records. We had our Swedish Stars who sang in English like Jerry Williams and the Violent who played together with the Beatles at the Top Ten Club and Starclub in Hamburg and The Beatles became such friends with them that they toured Sweden together on the Beatles' first abroad tour. Anyway, a few Swedish bands did the Dion and the Belmonts version of this song and Benny Andersson from ABBA did their version in his first band on tours if Im not mistaken?
@Baci302
Ever hear Earl Lewis sing this song? But Mr. D'Aleo's singing is also spectacular.
@strikerorwell9232
I can ask Benny Andersson in ABBA to pass on the message? My grandpa was his gardener.