Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)
"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.[1]
The song appeared first in the movie
Many versions of the song have been released. The best-selling version was recorded by
Background
The music was commissioned by 20th Century Fox for the movie
The song has been noted for its similarity to the
The song was initially only used as background music in the film, later the words were subsequently sung to make it eligible for the Best Original Song category of the Academy Awards.[5] An orchestral version of "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is played at the title sequence of the film, with a vocal version performed by a chorus at the end. Don Cornell and The Four Aces quickly recorded the song before the film was released.[6] Before the Four Aces had a hit with their version, many major artists, including Nat King Cole, Eddie Fisher and Doris Day, contacted to record the song disliked it and refused to record it, although they recorded the song after it became a hit.[7][3]
Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 28th Academy Awards, their second Oscar after winning the award for "Secret Love" in 1953.[8] The background score for the film that was built in parts around the melody of the song also won an Oscar for Best Original Score for Alfred Newman.[9]
This song is noted for its memorable lines: "In the morning mist, two lovers kissed, and the world stood still".
Four Aces version
"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Four Aces | ||||
from the album Hits From Hollywood | ||||
B-side | "Shine On, Harvest Moon" | |||
Released | July 22, 1955 | |||
Recorded | 1955 | |||
Genre | Traditional pop | |||
Length | 2:56 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster | |||
The Four Aces singles chronology | ||||
|
The song was covered by
The recording by The Four Aces is featured in the film
Charts
Chart (1955) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia ( AMR)[15]
|
3 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] | 6 |
2 | |
US The Top 100 (Billboard)[12] | 1 |
US Cash Box[18] | 1 |
Other versions
Don Cornell recorded a version around at the same time as the Four Aces. It was issued by Coral Records (catalog number 61467) backed with "The Bible Tells Me So". The song reached No. 26 on Billboard' Top 100 chart.[19] A number of orchestral versions were also released in the same year and reached the Top 100 chart; David Rose and His Orchestra reached No 54,[20] while Woody Herman and His Orchestra reached No. 79.[21]
Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955[22] for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56) issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.[23] The song has also been recorded by Ringo Starr (on his album Sentimental Journey),[24] Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Nat King Cole and Barry Manilow. Neil Sedaka recorded the song in Italian as "L'Amore E' Una Cosa Meravigliosa".
Connie Francis recorded the song in Italian in 1960 during the work for her album More Italian Favorites, although this version remains unreleased to this day. Francis also recorded the original English lyrics in 1961 for her album Connie Francis Sings 'Never on Sunday' and Other Title Songs from Motion Pictures. The instrumental playback of this 1961 recording was also used when Francis cut a German-language version, "Sag, weißt du denn, was Liebe ist", in 1966.[citation needed]
The song was also performed by
Barry Manilow recorded a version which reached No. 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 2006.[27]
This song has been a staple of Engelbert Humperdinck's live show since 1995.
In popular culture
The song is played in the opening scene of
In an episode of the American sitcom Family Ties, an overjoyed Alex sings the song as he comes home after falling for a girl at his college. His father, Steve, joins in.[28]
It has been also heard in the series Bones, in the 14th episode of the third season sung by Dr. Zack Addy (Eric Millegan).[29]
See also
- List of number-one singles of 1955 (U.S.)
References
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
- ^ ISBN 9780823076413.
- ISBN 9780786429462.
- ISBN 9780671740566.
- ^ "Cover Activities High on New Tune Crop". Billboard. July 16, 1955. p. 12.
- ^ a b Druxman, Michael B. Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Hollywood: More of My Wacky Adventures in Tinseltown.
- ISBN 9780313341915.
- ISBN 9780810883987.
- ^ "Review Spotlight on..." Billboard. July 16, 1955. p. 34.
- ^ "The Billboard's Music Popularity Charts: Best Sellers in Stores". Billboard. October 8, 1955. p. 32.
- ^ a b "The Top 100". Billboard. November 12, 1955.
- ^ "The Chart in Evolution: A Chronicle". Billboard. May 21, 1977. p. RS-110.
- ^ "1955's Top Tune". Billboard. December 31, 1955. p. 29.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles".
- ^ "The Four Aces – Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Four Aces: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "The Cash Box Best-Selling Singles: Week ending October 22, 1955". Tropicalglen.com.
- ^ "The Top 100". Billboard. November 17, 1955. p. 32.
- ^ "The Top 100". Billboard. November 19, 1955. p. 36.
- ^ "The Top 100". Billboard. November 12, 1955. p. 86.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ISBN 9780711963153.
- ^ Youtube - Shake - Rien n'est plus beau que l'amour(1977)
- ^ "Paket Spesial Menyambut Hari Ibu". Suara Pembaruan. December 15, 1996. Archived from the original on January 31, 1997.
- ^ "Barry Manilow > Adult Contemporary". Billboard.
- ^ "The Real Thing: Part 1". IMDB.
- ^ West, Abby (13 May 2008). "'Bones' recap: Swan Song?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 May 2017.