Lonely Avenue

This song was written by Doc Pomus, who at the time was trying to make a living as a singer, but having better luck as a songwriter, composing tunes for Joe Turner, Ray Charles and other blues singers. "Lonely Avenue" was one of his early success stories, recorded by Charles and released as a single in 1956 (credited to "Ray Charles His Orchestra And Chorus"). Pomus soon narrowed his focus and concentrated on songwriting, teaming up with Mort Shuman to write some of the biggest hits of the next eight years, including "Save the Last Dance for Me" (The Drifters), "Little Sister" (Elvis Presley), and "A Teenager In Love" (Dion & The Belmonts).

The same year Elvis was wallowing on Lonely Street ("Heartbreak Hotel"), Ray Charles was taking up residence on "Lonely Avenue," a dreary place where the brokenhearted bide their time thinking about the love they've lost. The song's writer, Doc Pomus, was no stranger to loneliness: he suffered from polio which limited his mobility, and often found himself isolated. Heartbreak is a common theme in his work.

Doc Pomus would often tell a story about meeting John Lennon at a BMI dinner. According to Pomus, Lennon told him that "Lonely Avenue" was one of the first songs The Beatles rehearsed when they started the group.