This is the second number one song Brenda Lee has on the chart this year. The first was “I’m Sorry.” “I Want to be Wanted” has an unusual story. The melody was heard in the 1960 movie, Never on Sunday (the original version which was done in Greece). The song originated in Italy and when Brenda heard the melody, she liked it so much that she contacted the writers in Italy to get permission to sing it here in the United States.

The English lyrics were written by Kim Gannon, who was an American lyricist, particularly in movies and on the stage. The original melody was written by Pino Spotti and Alberto Testa. It’s original name was Per tutta la vita (For all lifetime) Brenda recorded it on the Decca label when she was at her prime.

While Brenda Lee is the biggest selling female of the Sixties decade, she never had another number one. She continued to chart on the pop chart until 1967. Her last Top 20 song was “Comin’ On Strong” which peaked at number eleven in 1966. She had been charting on the country chart right from the beginning, she hit that chart regularly, if not strongly until 1985 and then again in 1997. She is a member of the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Rockabilly Hall of Fame. She also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 Today she is very involved in the Country Music Hall of Fame, working on the committee that selects the inductees each year. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I Want to be Wanted”entered the pop chart on September 19, 1960 and spent just one week at number one.