Frankie Avalon – Venus

Frankie Avalon’s “Venus” was released in January 1959 on Chancellor Records. Written by Ed Marshall, the ballad became Avalon’s breakthrough single and his signature hit. The song is a romantic plea to the Roman goddess of love to send the singer a girl who will love him in return, capturing the innocence and charm of late-1950s pop.

“Venus” quickly rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed at No. 1 for five weeks, and also reached No. 10 on the R&B chart. It became one of the year’s defining hits and firmly established Avalon as a teen idol. The track’s lush orchestration and Avalon’s smooth vocal delivery made it a favorite for radio play and jukeboxes alike.

Avalon revisited the song in 1976 with a disco-flavored remake. While the new version peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100, it climbed all the way to No. 1 on the Easy Listening (Adult Contemporary) chart, proving the tune’s adaptability across eras and styles.

Over the years, “Venus” has remained a staple of Avalon’s live performances and is frequently highlighted in oldies showcases. Its enduring appeal has also led to multiple cover versions, including translations into other languages, and it continues to appear in films, television, and classic pop anthologies. More than six decades later, “Venus” stands as Frankie Avalon’s defining contribution to American pop music.

Timeline

• January 1959 – Released as a single on Chancellor Records

• February–March 1959 – Reaches No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks

• 1959 – Peaks at No. 10 on Billboard R&B chart

• 1976 – Disco remake released; reaches No. 46 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Adult Contemporary chart