"It's Only Make Believe" is a song written by drummer Jack Nance and Mississippi-born singer Conway Twitty, while both were touring across Ontario, Canada in 1958. The song was recorded on May 7 for MGM Records; produced by Jim Vienneau, it featured Floyd “Lightnin’” Chance on double bass. It was released on side B of "I'll Try" on July 14, 1958. Known as Harold Lloyd Jenkins until changing his name in 1957, Twitty was a relatively unknown rock n' roll singer at the time. That all changed when side B finally hit the chart in September, then made no. 1 twice, on November 10 and 24. The single topped both U.S. and the UK Singles Chart, and became the only #1 pop single of his career. Years later, on a segment of 'Pop Goes The Country', Twitty stated it was a hit in 22 different countries, and sold over 8 million copies. He did not become a country music star until he crossed over in 1966. Though Twitty recorded subsequent versions of "It's Only Make Believe", his original 1958 hit never entered the Country & Western charts. He recorded a 1970 duet with Loretta Lynn, on their first collaborative album, We Only Make Believe. Twitty joins in on the last verse in a 1988 uptempo cover by Ronnie McDowell, which was a #8 hit on the country music charts. Additionally, Twitty contributed to an alternative cover by McDowell.
Chart performance
Conway Twitty version
All-time charts
Cover versions
The Hollies covered it in 1963.
Billy Fury had a UK #10 hit with his version in 1964, which also went to #1 in Singapore.
Jerry Williams the Swedish rock n' roll icon, made a cover in 1970.
Roy Hamilton recorded a version at Chips Moman's American studios in Memphis in 1969.
Glen Campbell's 1970 recording for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album became a top ten hit in both the United States and United Kingdom.
Lynn Anderson recorded a version for her 1970 album Rose Garden.
Robert Gordon included this song on his album Rock Billy Boogie in 1979
Ronnie McDowell had a #8 single on the Billboard country chart in 1988 after recording the song as a duet with Twitty.
The pop band Child released the song as a single in 1978, reaching the top ten in the UK Charts.
Australian rock band Cold Chisel recorded a thundering version of the song in 1983 on their Barking Spiders Live album.
American pop-rock band Cock Robin recorded the song during their third albumFirst Love Last Rites recording sessions, but the track was only released in the 1990 US version of the album, and more generally as a bonus track in their Best of Cock Robincompilation album in 1991.
Canadian country music singerCarroll Baker covered the song on her 1991 compilation Her Finest Collection. It was released as the album's first single and peaked at number 28 on the RPM Country Tracks chart.
The horror punk band Misfits have a cover version on their 2003 covers album Project 1950, retitled "Only Make Believe".
Clay Aiken recorded the song for his 2010 album Tried and True.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins covered the song on his 1972 album "A Portrait of a Man and his Woman" and it has appeared on several subsequent compilation albums.
Sam Moore recorded the song with Mariah Carey and Vince Gill on his 2006 album, Overnight Sensational.
Ivo Linna and Rock Hotel recorded Estonian version titled "Liiv tuule käes" in 1986.
