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Old Cape Cod

"Old Cape Cod" is a song written by Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus and Allan Jeffrey that was published in 1957. The single, as recorded by Patti Page, became a gold record, having sold more than a million copies. Hailed by Cape Cod natives as the "unofficial Cape Cod Anthem, if ever there was one,"[1] the song has been credited with "putting the Cape on the map" and helping to establish Cape Cod as a major tourist destination.[2]

"Old Cape Cod"

"Wondering"

April 23, 1957 (1957-04-23)

Traditional (classic) pop

2:14

Mercury

Claire Rothrock
Milton Yakus
Allan Jeffrey

Vic Schoen

Background[edit]

The song extols the virtues of Cape Cod as a leisure destination with each verse ending with the line "You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod." The nucleus of the song was a poem written by Boston-area housewife Claire Rothrock, for whom Cape Cod was a favorite vacation spot. "Old Cape Cod" and its derivatives would be Rothrock's sole evident songwriting credit. She brought her poem to Ace Studios, a Boston recording studio owned by Milton Yakus, who adapted the poem into the song's lyrics. His associate Allan Jeffrey wrote the music and a demo recording was made at Ace.[3]

Patti Page version[edit]

Recording and impact[edit]

Patti Page had previously had a hit with the Milton Yakus composition "Go on with the Wedding" in 1956. However, according to Page, Claire Rothrock brought "Old Cape Cod" directly to her, approaching Page at a Boston nightclub where the singer was performing. Page says of the song: "I just fell in love with it." She recorded "Old Cape Cod" during a day trip to New York City, enabling her return to Boston in time for that evening's nightclub performance. The song was intended to be the B-side of her next single, "Wondering".[4]


The "Wondering"/"Old Cape Cod" single was released by Mercury Records on April 23, 1957 as catalog number 71101. Both tracks debuted on the Billboard magazine charts for the week ending June 3, and "Old Cape Cod" quickly became the dominant track, peaking at number three on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart,[5] number eight on the Best Sellers In Stores chart and number seven on the Top 100 composite chart for 1957. "Old Cape Cod" spent 18 weeks on the Cash Box magazine Best Selling Singles list, peaking at number eight and holding there for three consecutive weeks.[6][7] The song was a hit in Australia, peaking at number 14.

Legacy[edit]

Page had never visited Cape Cod until after the song had been released and became a hit. She later recalled her first visit to the Cape, saying:

Her last visit to Cape Cod was in February 2010, when she attended a ceremony held in her honor at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Massachusetts state senator Robert O'Leary remarked:


Symbolizing Page's "contributions in the promotion of Cape Cod through the years and with her music", the ceremony culminated with the O'Leary's dedication and the unveiling of a new street sign, as the road leading to the Chamber of Commerce was renamed Patti Page Way.[8]


Following Page's death on January 1, 2013, the Chamber of Commerce credited the song's success with helping to establish Cape Cod as a major tourist destination:


The song was referenced by Bruce Johnston in the lyrics of "Disney Girls", his nostalgic song about growing up in the 1950s: "Patti Page and summer days on old Cape Cod."

"Old Cape Cod" was the subject of a 1990 lawsuit after a song appeared in a 1989 commercial for American Savings Bank. Page sued the advertising agency, alleging that the commercial implied that Page endorsed the bank.[9]

sound-alike

performed "Old Cape Cod" on his CBS Radio program in 1957,[10] and the recording was released after his death. Also in 1957, Michael Holliday covered the song for the U.K. market.[11] His version, which featured the Norrie Paramor Orchestra, failed to chart. The Norman Petty Trio also recorded the song in 1957, a version that was originally featured on the Top 12 Vol 4 multi-artist compilation album and subsequently on Songs of New England, a 1962 multi-artist compilation album.[12]

Bing Crosby

In 1960, recorded "Old Cape Cod" for her A Little Travelin' Music album. The track was included on the 1994 multi-artist compilation Capitol Sings Coast to Coast. Also in 1960, instrumentalist Billy Vaughn included the song on his soundtrack album for The Sundowners[13] and as the B-side of the title track's single release,[14] which reached #51.

Susan Barrett

's 1963 version bubbled under the Hot 100, peaking at #118. It was included on his 1964 album Have You Looked Into Your Heart.[15] Also in 1963, Bobby Rydell remade "Old Cape Cod" for his Wild (Wood) Days album.[16]

Jerry Vale

In 1965 the recorded a version "Old Cape Cod" as the B-side for their theme for the film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. Neither side became a hit, but "Old Cape Cod" did reach #33 on the Easy Listening chart.[17] Also in 1965, recordings of "Old Cape Cod" were made by Robert Goulet for his album Summer Sounds[18] and by Jane Morgan for her album In My Style.[19]

Four Freshmen

Other artists who have recorded "Old Cape Cod" include:

"Old Cape Cod" was featured in the 1990 film Die Hard 2, playing on a phonograph record in a character's airport basement apartment.

[28]

The song plays on the radio in the film Desert Hearts (1985) when the main character, played by Helen Shaver, moves to a new apartment in Reno, Nevada in the late 1950s.

Donna Deitch

In 2006, the song appeared in the movie A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.

Ridley Scott

On August 8, 2010, the song appeared on AMC's Season 4 episode "The Good News."

Mad Men

In 2021 the song was featured in the ‘Red Tide’ portion of American Horror Stories 10th season, “Double Feature.”

Photo and video of Patti Page at ceremony to dedicate "Patti Page Way"