The Way of Love

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"The Way of Love" is a song written by Jacques ("Jack") Dieval, with English lyrics by Al Stillman. It was originally a 1960 French song titled "J'ai le mal de toi", and it was first recorded in English by Kathy Kirby in 1965. The best-known English version was by Cher whose recording reached No. 7 in the US. Other variations of the song include "Parlez-moi de lui" and "It's Impossible".

First versions

"Parlez-moi de lui"
Single by Dalida
Released1966 (1966)
Genrechanson, pop
LabelBarclay
Songwriter(s)Jack Diéval, Michel Rivgauche
"Parlez-moi de lui"
Françoise Hardy
Released1968 (1968)
Genrechanson, pop
Producer(s)Arthur Greenslade

Originally written by Jack Diéval with French lyrics by Michel Rivgauche the song was introduced as 'J'ai le mal de toi'. It was written for the singer Frédérica in 1960, who took part that year in the national elimination rounds of France for the Eurovision Song Contest. This song was not selected and was evidently not recorded by Frédérica.[1] Subsequently, the song was performed on Belgium's BRT radio station by vocalist Lily Castel, singing it in the "Musik Ohne Grenzen" competition; Castel was backed by Fernand Terby's orchestra with Jacques Dieval providing piano accompaniment. The first evident recording of "J'ai le mal de toi" was made in 1964 by Colette Deréal.[2]

In June 1965 the English rendering entitled "The Way of Love" was issued in the UK as a single by Kathy Kirby; lyricist Al Stillman had previously provided the lyrics for Kirby's English language hit version of "Malagueña" entitled "You're the One". Recorded by Kirby with her regular collaborators: musical director Ivor Raymonde and producer Peter Sullivan, "The Way of Love" failed to reach the UK Top 50 but became a regional hit in the United States reaching No. 88 nationally.

In 1966 a new French version, also by lyricist Michel Rivgauche, was recorded by

Françoise Hardy (commonly known as Comment te dire adieu).[3]

Track listings

Colette Deréal version

7-inch EP Ma chance c'est toi / Le Tyrolien / J'ai le mal de toi / Toi et ton sourire (1965, Polydor 27 190)

A1. "Ma chance c'est toi"
A2. "Le Tyrolien"
B1. "J'ai le mal de toi"
B2. "Toi et ton sourire"[4]

Dalida version

7-inch EP Je t'appelle encore / Modesty / Parlez-moi de lui / Baisse un peu la radio (1966, Barclay 70 997)

A1. "Je t'appelle encore" (2:48)
A2. "Modesty" (2:19)
B1. "Parlez-moi de lui" (2:48)
B2. "Baisse un peu la radio" (2:40)[5]

7-inch jukebox promo single (1966, Barclay 60718)

A. "Parlez-moi de lui" (2:48)
B. "Modesty" (2:19)[6]

Chart performance

"Parlez-moi de lui" / "Baisse un peu la radio" by Dalida[7][8]

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 45

Cher version

"The Way Of Love"
MCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Snuff Garrett
Cher singles chronology
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"
(1971) 		"The Way Of Love"
(1972) 		"Living in a House Divided"
(1972)

Produced by

Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, perhaps the most well-known version of "The Way of Love" was recorded by Cher. Her version spent three weeks within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching a peak of number 7 and ultimately selling almost one million copies. Billboard ranked it as the No. 62 song for 1972
.

Allmusic wrote a favorable retrospective review: "some great moments, among them a career highlight in the two-and-a-half-minute opening track, "The Way of Love." The Stillman/Dieval tune was originally a British hit for Kathy Kirby, and both Cher and Kirby drove the song right by the censors. The song is either about a woman expressing her love for another woman, or a woman saying au revoir to a gay male she loved—in either case this is not a mother to daughter heart-to-heart: "What will you do/When he sets you free/Just the way that you/Said good-bye to me." and also added this to the end of review "her solo material could soar to heights not possible in a partnership -- "The Way of Love" being one example."[9] Rhapsody highlighted the song and called it "sexually ambiguous."[10]

Live performances

Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:

  • Take Me Home Tour
  • Do You Believe? Tour
  • The Farewell Tour (sung on the first leg, the second leg, the third leg and the final two shows of the tour)
  • Cher at the Colosseum (removed during the third leg, and replaced with "Love Hurts
    ")

Charts and sales

Other versions

References

  1. ^ "Elvis Presley: Original Version Recordings of Songs He Sang". Davidneale.eu. 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  2. ^ "Colette Deréal - J'ai le mal de toi". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  3. ^ "ultratop.be - Françoise Hardy - Parlez-moi de lui". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  4. ^ "ultratop.be - Colette Deréal - Ma chance c'est toi". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  5. ^ "Dalida - Je T'Appelle Encore at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  6. ^ "Dalida - Parlez-Moi De Lui (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  7. ^ a b "Dalida – Parlez-moi de lui" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  8. ^ "Dalida - Baisse un peu la radio". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  9. ^ Joe Viglione. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  10. ^ "Music: Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves by Cher - Rhapsody Online". Archived from the original on 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  11. ISBN 0-646-11917-6
    .
  12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  13. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  14. ISBN 84-8048-639-2
    .
  15. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 3/25/72". Billboard.com. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary Top 100 2/26/72". Billboard.com. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 3/25/72". Archive.today. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Best of 1972 songs and music, on MusicAndYears.com!". Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1972". Longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  20. ^ "Billboard Year-End Charts 1972" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com.
  21. ^ "Cher: Still Riding the Hit Train" (PDF). Record World. 1974-06-07.
  22. ^ "The Originals © by Arnold Rypens". Originals.be. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

External links

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