Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)

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"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing"
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing by Four Aces featuring Al Alberts US vinyl 10-inch 78-RPM.png
Single by The Four Aces
from the album Hits From Hollywood
B-side"Shine On, Harvest Moon"
ReleasedAugust 1, 1955
Recorded1955
GenreTraditional pop
Length2:20
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster
The Four Aces singles chronology
"Sluefoot"
(1955) 		"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing"
(1955) 		"A Woman in Love"
(1955)

"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.[1] The song was publicized first in the movie, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song.[1] From 1967 to 1973, it was used as the theme song to Love is a Many Splendored Thing, the soap opera based on the movie. The song's refrain is based on the aria Un bel dì vedremo from Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madama Butterfly.

The music was commissioned for the movie Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing and initially included in the film's Oscar-winning score, composed and conducted by Alfred Newman. Lyrics were subsequently added to make it eligible for the Best Original Song category of the Academy Awards. The original lyrics were rejected by the studio so new ones were written.[2]

Before the Four Aces recorded their hit version, several artists, including Doris Day, disliked the song, until the result of the Four Aces hit version caused several vocalists to record their versions of the song.

This song is noted for its memorable lines: "In the morning mist, two lovers kissed, and the world stood still".

The best-selling version of the song was recorded by The Four Aces backed by the Jack Pleis Orchestra and issued by Decca Records as catalog number 29625. It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart,[1] and number one on both Billboard and Cash Box in 1955.[3] The recording by The Four Aces is featured in the film Cookie (1989). It became a gold record.[citation needed]

This song has been a staple of Engelbert Humperdinck's live show since 1995.

One of sheet music releases (1955)

Other covers[]

A version by Don Cornell was recorded approximately at the same time. It was issued by Coral Records as catalog number 61467. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955[4] 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.[5] The song has also been recorded by Ringo Starr (on his album Sentimental Journey),[6] 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. The song was about that time also performed by Fairuz in Arabian language ("Zar Bisukun Al Lail"). A Disco version was recorded by Tina Charles in 1980. Jeff Lynne recorded his version for his nostalgic cover album Long Wave in 2012.

In popular culture[]

This song can be heard in the movies Grease, Private Parts, St. Trinian's, St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, and The Nutty Professor 2.[citation needed] The song, among others, was referenced in Moulin Rouge! when Christian says, "Love is like oxygen - love is a many splendored thing - love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!."[citation needed]

It has been also heard in the series Bones, in the 14th episode of the third season sung by Dr. Zack Addy (Eric Millegan).[7]

See also[]

  • List of number-one singles of 1955 (U.S.)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 135. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ Epstein, Edward Z. (1995). Portrait of Jennifer Jones. Simon & Schuster.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  4. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  5. ^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  6. ^ Miles, Barry (1998). The Beatles a Diary: An Intimate Day by Day History. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780711963153.
  7. ^ West, Abby (13 May 2008). "'Bones' recap: Swan Song?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
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