He began his recording career as vocalist/accordionist with the Three Chuckles, charting with 'Runaround' in 1954, before going solo three years later. In the early years of rock, he co-starred in revues staged by legendary disc jockey Alan Freed, appearing with such artists as Chuck Berry and LaVern Baker.
In the 'teen idol' era, Randazzo hit the charts with 'Little Serenade', 'The Way Of A Clown' and 'Big Wild World'. Subsequent releases like 'You Don't Need A Heart' would find belated favour among soul fans.
Randazzo also had starring roles in such rock films as Hey, Let's Twist, The Girl Can't Help It, Mr. Rock & Roll and Rock, Rock, Rock.
It was as a songwriter and producer, most notably for Little Anthony & the Imperials, that Teddy Randazzo excelled. His 800+ registered compositions consisted mainly of collaborations with lyricists Bobby Weinstein, Bobby Hart, Lou Stallman, Victoria Pike, and Roger Joyce. With Weinstein, he wrote a string of major hits for Little Anthony, including 'Goin' Out Of My Head' and 'Hurt So Bad'. When the Lettermen combined those two songs in a medley, they became pop classics, recorded by a gamut of industry giants, from Frank Sinatra to Dionne Warwick. According to BMI, 'Goin' Out Of My Head' accumulated more than 6 million radio plays, whilst 'Hurt So Bad' which also lists Hart as a co-writer, received in excess of 4 million. Randazzo and Weinstein's 'It's Gonna Take A Miracle' (co-written with Stallman), originally recorded by the Royalettes, was also successful for Laura Nyro and Deniece Williams. He also ran his own labels, Satin and Buttercup. According to Weinstein, he and Randazzo were in the process of writing a song called 'I Never Got The Chance To Say Goodbye' at the time of his death. Randazzo is survived by his wife Shelly, 4 sons and 3 daughters.
Little Serenade
Teddy Randazzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When he looks up above
And he sees that her
Window is open wide
Happy is the boy when
She throws her carnation
With an invitation
Just a boy and girl
And a mandolino
Just a little kiss
As the vow is made
That's the way it is
Down in Puerto Fino
Just a little moonlight
Little serenade
Just a little song
He can win her heart with
Telling of a love
That will never fail
Many a romance
Has been known to start with
Just a little moonlight
(Just a little moonlight)
Little serenade
(Little serenade)
Just a little moonlight
(Just a little moonlight)
Little serenade
(Little serenade)
The lyrics of Teddy Randazzo's "Little Serenade" are about a young man who is happy when he sees that a girl's window is open wide. He is even happier when she throws her carnation as an invitation for him to come inside. The two of them share a moment of romance, singing a little serenade with a mandolin. The boy sings a little song telling the girl of a love that will never fail. The lyrics suggest the promise of a blossoming love that is full of hope and dreams.
The song is a testament to the dreamy and romantic depictions of love and courtship in the 50s and early 60s. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a scene that appears to have been plucked out of a romantic novel. The boy is described as happy when he sees the girl's open window, implying the eagerness of a young man in love. The use of the mandolin in the song adds to the romantic atmosphere. The song is a glimpse into the past, reminding us of the era's values and ideas of love and romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy is the boy
The boy is content and joyful
When he looks up above
When he looks up, he sees something that makes him happy
And he sees that her
The boy sees the subject of his desire
Window is open wide
The girl he desires has left her window open
Happy is the boy when
The boy is joyful when
She throws her carnation
The girl throws a flower to the boy
With an invitation
The girl's action is meant to invite the boy inside
To come inside
The girl wants the boy to enter her location
Just a boy and girl
A boy and a girl are present
And a mandolino
There is also a mandolin present
Just a little kiss
The boy and girl share a little kiss
As the vow is made
This occurs as both individuals make a promise to each other
That's the way it is
This is the way it is
Down in Puerto Fino
This situation takes place in the area of Puerto Fino
Just a little moonlight
There is only a small amount of moonlight present
Little serenade
This is a small and intimate musical performance
Just a little song
The music is just a brief and simple song
He can win her heart with
The boy hopes to capture the girl's heart with this song
Telling of a love
The song communicates the boy's feelings of love
That will never fail
The boy's love for the girl will never falter
Many a romance
Numerous romances
Has been known to start with
Have started with situations similar to this one
Just a little moonlight
Only a small amount of moonlight was present
(Just a little moonlight)
Little serenade
A small and intimate musical performance
(Little serenade)
Just a little moonlight
Only a small amount of moonlight was present
(Just a little moonlight)
Little serenade
A small and intimate musical performance
(Little serenade)
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Sember
Thanks for posting, I remember seeing him sing this on TV back in the day. I still love the song and Teddy’s vocal!
singinjohnny
I haven't heard this song since the time of its release in 1958! Upon listening, I go right back to my Dad's '51 Chevy DeLuxe and the tube-driven car radio that hummed when it was powered on. I later learned that the hum was the oscillator needed to create the alternating current necessary to power the tubes. Thank you so much for posting this! You made my day.
oldiesrnow
I agree with you; this is one of my favorite recordings by him...thanks for the comment!
oldiesrnow
You're very welcome. As talented as Teddy was, he was not as popular as he should have been. It's a shame that he did not have more hits, concerning his body of work. Thanks for commenting.
rjsmth
What a great tune....Love it sung in italian and the other version by the Ames Brothers is just a good. Thanks for posting...
shatinterry
Now I know Teddy Randazzo had so many good songs, Thanks!
Marshmallow
Thanks for posting this. I love this song. Anyone know where or if can get this on karaoke cd? Or if you have the spanish words written somewhere? I can't find on any lyrics site.
Deborah Aguilar
I really love the way he sang all his songs. I't really brings back memories. So sorry for his lost. And too his family may god bless u all.
singinjohnny
@rakeuiff I never realized that he wrote those songs for Little Anthony and the Imperials. I recall in the fall of '64 hearing "On the Outside Looking In" for the first time and thinking that I hadn't heard from this group in quite some time. It had the same beautiful haunting quality that one hears in many of the Flamingos records. Their career was indeed regenerated in that they had a string of hits starting with this, "Out of My Head", and onward.
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1961 {June 27th} Teddy Randazzo was a guest on the Dick Clark ABC-TV network weekday-afternoon program 'American Bandstand'...
Can't find if he performed on this 'Bandstand' appearance; but between 1958 and 1963 he had three records make Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, "Little Serenade" {#66 in 1958}, "The Way of a Clown" {#44 in 1960}, and "Big Wide World" {#51 in 1963}...
Before going solo he charted twice as a member of the Three Chuckles; "Times Two, I Love You" {#67 in 1955} and "And the Angels Sing" {#70 in 1956}...
He had greater success on the Top 100 as a composer; he penned Little Anthony & the Imperials' "Goin' Out of My Head" {#6 in 1964} & "Hurt So Bad" {#10 in 1965}, "Pretty Blue Eyes" by Steve Lawrence {#9 in 1960}, and "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" by Deniece Williams {#10 in 1982, and it reached #1 for 2 weeks on Billboard's R&B Singles chart}...
Mr. Randazzo, born Alessandro Carmelo Randazzo, passed away at the age of 68 on November 21st, 2003...
May he R.I.P.