Dionne Warwick (Theme From) Valley of the Dolls 1968 Million Seller

"Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls'" was recorded for the film of the same name. The song was written by Andre Previn and Dory Previn, and had initially been intended for Judy Garland before she was fired from the film. At the urging of Barbara Parkins, the song was given to Warwick. Dionne's John Williams' arranged original version is heard throughout the film. Due to contractual restrictions, Warwick's voice was substituted on the LP album recording of the soundtrack and Warwick was contractually permitted to appear only on the film's actual soundtrack and not the recording released on the 20th Century label. Record buyers of the 20th Century Soundtrack LP were sorely disappointed to find Warwick's voice absent from the LP, although no mention was made that the LP did not not contain the actual Warwick soundtrack. Warwick recut the tune for her home Scepter label with an arrangement by Pat Williams and conducted by Bacharach with Bacharach on piano, and this version hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in February 1968, and #4 on the Canadian Chart, #28 in the UK, #2 on the Billboard AC Chart and #13 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues Singles chart. The tune hit #1 on the Record World Chart in March 1968. "Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls', the "B" side of Dionne's million selling "I Say a Little Prayer", also became another million seller for Dionne.

Dionne Warwick's twelfth album for the Scepter label "Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls" featured the single along with another Top Ten hit "Do You Know the Way to San Jose". The album was smartly marketed as "The only album in which you will hear Dionne Warwick singing the "Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls'". The album hit #6 on the Billboard Album Chart and #2 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues Album Chart and would remain on the Hot 100 Album Chart for over a year. It was recorded during the summer and fall of 1967 and was released early the next year. The album was awarded an RIAA gold award.