plot based on the Pete Hamill story. Chart and sales performance In April 1973, the recording by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando reached No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 (chart date 21 April 1973) in the US, and stayed at No. 1 for four weeks. "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" sold 3 million records in the US in three weeks. It also reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and BMI calculated that radio stations had played it 3 million times from seventeen continuous years of airplay. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1973. It also reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia, and has sold one million copies in the UK. In New Zealand, the song spent 10 weeks at number one. Weekly charts Year-end charts All-time charts Cover versions The song enjoyed duplicate success on country radio, as a cover version by Johnny Carver. Carver's rendition - simply titled "Yellow Ribbon" - was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in June 1973. Carver's version also reached Number One on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. Musically similar, the only difference in the song is the substitution of the minor expletive "damn" (in the lyric, "Now the whole damn bus is cheering") with "darn". Bing Crosby recorded the song on 8 June 1973 with an orchestra conducted by Billy Byers for Daybreak Records. Also in 1973, Jim Nabors covered the song on his album The Twelfth of Never (Columbia KC 32377). Also in 1973, Italian singer Domenico Modugno had a minor hit in Italy with a cover in his language: "Appendi un nastro giallo". The lyrics are a very faithful translation of the original, the only difference is that instead of watching the tree from a bus, the Italian singer watches it from a tram. Also in 1973, Los Mismos covered the song as "Pon Una Cinta En El Viejo Roble" (Belter 08-263). Perry Como included the song in his album And I Love You So (1973). Dean Martin included the song in his album You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me (1973). In Chile, Roberto Inglez achieved great success with his version, which was number one on the national radio for the 11 September 1973. Lou Sino covered the song on his Now album (1973). It was also the B side of his single, "She's Got