I Only Have Eyes for You

For other uses, see I Only Have Eyes for You (disambiguation).

"I Only Have Eyes for You"
Single by The Flamingos
Released	1959
Format	7" single
Genre	Doo-Wop
Length	3:20
Label	Decca
Writer(s)	Harry Warren, Al Dubin

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is a popular song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written in 1934 for the film Dames where it was introduced by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler.

According to Billboard magazine, the song was a #2 hit for Ben Selvin in 1934. The orchestras of Peter Duchin and Anson Weeks also figured in the song's 1934 popularity. This song was recorded in 1950 by Peggy Lee, and most notably by The Flamingos in 1959, becoming one of their most popular hits. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the Flamingos' version #157 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This version peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is a jazz standard, and has been covered by thousands of musicians.

A remake of the song by Art Garfunkel was a number one song on the UK Singles Chart in October 1975 for two weeks. The song was his first hit as a solo artist in the UK. In the US, the song reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the adult contemporary chart. Garfunkel performed the song on the second episode of Saturday Night Live.

In popular culture

The Flamingos' version was included on the soundtracks for the 1973 film American Graffiti and the 1983 films The Right Stuff and Heart Like a Wheel. It is also used as a recurring theme in a Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies cartoon of the same title, released 3 years after the original song, and directed by Tex Avery. Disney featured a music video of the song in the special DTV Doggone Valentine set to clips from Lady and the Tramp. This song also makes an appearance twice in the game The Darkness 2 when Jackie Estacado dances with his love Jenny.

Covers

In addition to the above artists, these artists have also covered this song:

• Al Jolson, featured in the 1946 Columbia movie The Jolson Story.
• Frank Sinatra - It All Depends on You" / "I Only Have Eyes for You" (with The Ken Lane Singers) (1949)
• Frank Sinatra - Sinatra–Basie (1962)
• Doris Day: "I Only Have Eyes for You" appears on the album Golden Girl: Columbia Recordings 1944-1966.
• Ella Fitzgerald recorded this with Nelson Riddle's orchestra on her 1966 Grammy Award Winning Verve release Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson.
• Hi-NRG producer/songwriter Bobby Orlando did a dance version with Bonnie Forman in 1984.
• Trumpeter Lester Bowie recorded the tune with his Brass Fantasy band as the title track on their 1986 debut album I Only Have Eyes for You (1986).
• The Temptations, produced by Bill Conti, and featured in the 1987 film Happy New Year.
• Marilyn Scott, whose version was released in the soundtrack album for the 1988 film Twins.
• Elaine Paige recorded a version for her 1991 album Love Can Do That.
• Toni Tennille: On her album Never Let Me Go (1991).
• Grenadine covered this song on their debut album Goya (1992), with Jenny Toomey singing lead.
• An acappella version by The Complexions was mixed with The Flamingos version for the 1993 film A Bronx Tale.
• Gitane Demone: On albums Love for Sale (1993) and With Love and Dementia - Live in Cannes 1994
• Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge On their 1994 CD "Acappella (album)"
• Kenny Rogers: On album Vote for Love (1996).
• Though not a cover, The Fugees sampled vocals from The Flamingos' version for their song "Zealots" off of their landmark 1996 album The Score.
• Mercury Rev released a cover version in 1998 as an extra track on the "Goddess on a Hiway" CD single.
• Mark Eitzel of American Music Club released a version in 2002 on his solo CD of covers, Music for Courage and Confidence.
• Liane Carroll on the album Standard Issue 2004.
• Yonderboi released a track, named "Eyes for you", using just the line "I have only eyes for you", on his 2005 album Splendid Isolation.
• Lyn Paul recorded it on her 2006 album Late Night.
• Alex Willner, with his techno project The Field (musician), used samples of the song in the track "From Here We Go Sublime", from the acclaimed album with the same name, released in 2007.
• Kalil Wilson: On the album Easy to Love (2009).
• North Atlantic Oscillation: On the album Call Signs EP (2009).
• Bette Midler
• Martina Topley-Bird
• Jamie Cullum
• Rachael Price
• Carly Simon
• Rosemary Clooney, featured on commercial for Lipitor.
• Rod Stewart
• The Swallows, in 1952
• Zapp
• Carmen McRae on the album Diva
• The Southland, on their debut album Influence of Geography.
• Timothy B. Schmit as featured in the film Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
• Billie Holiday
• Dinah Shore
• Rahsaan Patterson from the album "Bleuphoria"
• Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers

References

• The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996

Preceded by "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" by Helen Reddy	Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Art Garfunkel version) October 11, 1975	Succeeded by "Something Better to Do" by Olivia Newton-John
Preceded by "Hold Me Close" by David Essex	UK number-one single (Art Garfunkel version) 25 October 1975 (2 weeks)	Succeeded by "Space Oddity" by David Bowie