Sea of Love (Phil Phillips song)

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For the National song, see Sea of Love (The National song).
"Sea of Love"
Sea of Love sheet music cover.jpg
"Sea of Love" sheet music
Song by Phil Phillips
from the album Sea Of Love
Published1959
ReleasedJuly 1959
Recorded1959
Genre
Length2:30
LabelMercury Records
Songwriter(s)Phil Phillips, George Khoury

"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Philip Baptiste (better known as Phil Phillips) and George Khoury. It was the only top-40 chart-maker for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.[2]

Background[]

Baptiste, who was working as a bellboy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, wrote "Sea of Love" for a love interest. He was introduced to local record producer George Khoury, who brought Baptiste into his studio to record it. At Khoury's request, Baptiste took the stage name of Phil Phillips. The song, originally credited to Phil Phillips with The Twilights, was released on a small record label owned by Khoury, but due to its success was eventually leased to Mercury Records. Despite the success of "Sea of Love", Phillips claims that he has only ever received US$6,800 for recording it.[2]

Chart performance[]

Phil Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart[3] and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Three Bells" by The Browns kept it from the No.1 spot.[4] In 1959 it sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5]

Weekly charts[]

Phil Phillips
Chart (1959) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 2
US Billboard R&B[3] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[7] 2
Marty Wilde
Chart (1959) Peak
position
UK[8] 3
Del Shannon
Chart (1981–82) Peak
position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[9] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 33
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 36
US Cash Box Top 100 33
The Honeydrippers

Notable cover versions[]

The song has been covered by a number of artists since the first 1959 recording. Among the most notable versions are the following:

  • Later in 1959, in the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song which subsequently peaked at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.[8] The original Phil Phillips' rendition failed to chart there. This version is also featured in Chanel No. 5: La Star (1990)[20] ad.
  • Robert Plant's Honeydrippers included it on their 1984 album, The Honeydrippers: Volume One. This version went on to reach No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1985[21] and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart in 1984.[14]
  • Cat Power recorded it in 2000 on her album, The Covers Record. The 2007 film Juno featured her version in its soundtrack.[22]

In popular culture[]

  • The song shares a title with, and features prominently in the plot-line of, the 1989 Harold Becker film Sea of Love starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin.[23]
  • Kraken Rum began using Sea of Love in commercials in 2014[24]
  • "Sea of Love" was used to close out The Simpsons season 16 episode "Future Drama".

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "What Is Swamp Pop Music?". ThoughtCo. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Hamilton, Andrew. "Phil Phillips Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 491.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 116–117. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  7. ^ "Cash Box Top Singles 9/19/59". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1959-10-01. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1985-01-19. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1985-01-19. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sea of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1985-01-26. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 289.
  15. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 1/12/85". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1991-03-02. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  17. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43 no. 16. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1985/Top 100 Songs of 1985". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1985". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Chanel No. 5: La Star (1990)". IMDB.
  21. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1985-01-05. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  22. ^ "Juno (2007)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  23. ^ "Sea of Love (1989)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  24. ^ The Kraken Rum: Black Ink on YouTube

External links[]

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