EVERY UK NUMBER ONE SONG: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ – Buddy Holly

What was the number one song in the UK on 24th April 1959?

By Hayley Beasley Dye

American singer Buddy Holly, was number one with It Doesn’t Matter Anymore for 3 weeks.

Sadly, this single reached the top spot posthumously as Buddy Holly died on 3rd February 1959 in a plane crash at the tender age of 22. So for that reason, the song is slightly tinged with sadness and an irony regarding the song title. It’s a very typical Buddy song showcasing his unique singing voice. It’s a perfect 50s pop song.

Wikipedia

“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song reached number 13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1959, shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed with “Raining in My Heart”. “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was Holly’s last US Top 20 hit and featured the orchestral backing of Dick Jacobs. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, where it became the country’s first posthumous number 1 hit.

The song was recorded in mid-October 1958 in New York City. Paul Anka wrote it specifically for Holly. He donated his royalties from the song to Holly’s wife. He said: “‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly’s family. I’m giving my composer’s royalty to his widow – it’s the least I can do.”

Lyrics