Roses Are Red (My Love)

Bobby Vinton found the song in a reject pile at Epic Records.^[3] He first recorded it as an R&B number, but was allowed to re-record it in a slower more dramatic arrangement, with strings and a vocal choir (from Robert Mersey and his Orchestra) added.^[4][3][1]

The song was released in April 1962.^[4] It reached No. 1 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States, and was a major hit in many other countries as well. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on July 14, 1962, and remained there for four weeks.^[2][5] The single was also the first number-one hit for Epic Records.^[3]

Billboard ranked the record No. 4 in their year end ranking "Top 100 Singles of 1962"^[6] and No. 36 in their year end ranking of the top Rhythm and Blues records of 1962.^[7] The song was also ranked No. 17 on Cash Box's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1962".^[8]

In the UK, a cover version by Northern Irish singer Ronnie Carroll reached No. 3 on the Record Retailer chart on August 8, 1962, the same week that the Bobby Vinton record peaked at No. 15.^[29][20] It peaked at No. 7 in the very first Irish Singles Chart published in September 1962.