"Time Alone Will Tell" is a song written by Eros Sciorilli, Alberto Testa, with English lyrics written by Norman Newell and was first released as a single by Connie Francis.Connie Francis, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023

Background In 1967, between the 26th and 28th of January, the "17th Italian Song Festival", (the 17th annual Sanremo Music Festival, held at the Sanremo Casino in Sanremo) was held. The winners of the festival were Iva Zanicchi and Claudio Villa with the song "Non pensare a me". The song would be recorded by many notable artists that year, with the winners releasing the song in multiple countries themselves.

Connie Francis version Background Francis returned to San Remo in 1967 to present "" with her team partner Bobby Solo."Key Tradesters Invade As Opening Bell Sounds at Festival", Billboard. January 28, 1967. p. 64. Retrieved July 7, 2020. The song would drop out, not appearing as a finalist song, but she would record the winning song, (Non pensare a me) with English lyrics.

Chart performance Soon after its release, the track reached No. 14 on the Billboard Easy Listening five weeks after its debut appearance and No. 94 on the Billboard Hot 100.Connie Francis, "Time Alone Will Tell" Chart Positions Retrieved May 6, 2023 On the Cashbox singles charts the single would stall at No. 114, and on the Record World charts the single would reach No. 112.Record World magazine, charts, April 22, 1967 Page 20, retrieved October 18, 2025, via worldradiohistory.com On the magazine's Top Non-Rock chart the single would debut at No. 35,as above, but page 39 peaking at No. 11 the next month.Record World magazine, Top Non-Rock, May 20, 1967 page 42, retrieved October 18, 2025

Reception

The single received a positive critical reception upon its release. Cashbox would write "'Time Alone Will Tell (Non Pensare A Mi)' gets English lyrics and a potent reading in the hands of Connie Francis. A perfect vehicle for the songstress, this one could bring her quickly back into the chart scene. Flip is a sweeping version of 'Born Free.'"Cashbox magazine, Record Reviews, March 25, 1967 page 14. Retrieved October 18, 2025. Record World would review the single, noting "The San Remo winner done with new English lyric by Connie. Will get mucho attention."Record World magazine, March 25, 1967 Page 6. Retrieved October 18, 2025. In Billboard it was said "And time alone will tell if this doesn’t prove to be Connie's biggest single ever! (After all, isn’t that just what you'd expect when the First Lady of Song sings the First Song of the San Remo Festival? And backs it with an Oscar nominee!)”

Other charting versions Italian releases

Claudio Villa, the winner of the festival, released "Non pensare a me" as a single soon after, with his version reaching No. 10 in Italy.For Iva Zanicchi's "Non pensare a me" and Claudio Villa's "Non pensare a me": Iva Zanicchi, also the winner, released the song as a single soon after too with the B-side "Vita", but her version only reached No. 21 on the Italian charts. In the US the single would be released under United Artists.

English releases

Malcolm Roberts released a version of the song as a single in 1967 under RCA Victor.Cashbox magazine, April 22, 1967 Page 48 for information and releases, page 14 for charts. Retrieved October 18, 2025 via worldraiohistory.comMalcolm Roberts, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023 It reached No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart.Malcolm Roberts, "Time Alone Will Tell" Chart Positions Retrieved May 6, 2023 Jerry Vale released a version of the song as a single in 1967 under Columbia.Jerry Vale, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023 It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.Jerry Vale, "Time Alone Will Tell" Chart Positions Retrieved May 6, 2023 His version also "bubled under" the Hot 100, reaching No. 26, and became his last song to be close to break into the Hot 100. On Record World's Top Non-Rock chart the song peaked at No. 7 in late May.Record World magazine, Top Non-Rock May 27, 1967 Page 33, retrieved October 18, 2025 via worldradiohistory.com On the magazine's pop singles charts it peaked at No. 117.Record World magazine, charts Page 20. Retrieved October 18, 2025 With the song's success he would record his second album of the year Time Alone Will Tell and Other Great Hits of Today.

Other single releases Ronnie Aldrich and Camarata and His Orchestra released a version of the song as a single in 1967,Ronnie Aldrich and Camarata and His Orchestra, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023 under London Records. Enzo Stuarti released a version of the song as a single in 1967,Enzo Stuarti, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023 under Epic Records. Sergio Franchi released a version of the song as a single in 1968,Sergio Franchi, "Time Alone Will Tell" Single Release Retrieved May 6, 2023 also under RCA.

Charts

Connie Francis Chart (1967) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 10098 US Billboard Easy Listening14 US Cashbox 100 Top Singles114 US Record World Top 100 Pops112 US Record World Top Non-Rock11

"Non Pensare e Me" Singer Chart (1967) Peakposition Claudio Villa Italian Top Singles (Musica e dischi)10 Iva Zanicchi21

Jerry Vale Chart (1967) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100126 US Billboard Easy Listening6 US Record World Top 100 Pops117 US Record World Top Non-Rock7

Malcolm Roberts Chart (1967) Peakposition UK Singles Chart45

See also Sanremo Music Festival winners discography

References