Sea of Love (song)
| "Sea of Love" | |
|---|---|
 "Sea of Love" sheet music |
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| Song by Phil Phillips | |
| Published | 1959 |
| Released | 1959 |
| Recorded | 1959 |
| Genre | Oldies |
| Length | 2:30 |
| Label | Mercury Records |
| Writer | Phil Phillips, George Khoury |
| Composer | Phil Phillips, George Khoury |
"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Phillip Baptiste (aka Phil Phillips) and George Khoury. Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] In the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song, and Phillips' version failed to chart there. It was the only top 40 chart song for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.[2]
The song has been covered by a number of artists since then, most notably by The Honeydrippers, whose version (from the album The Honeydrippers: Volume One) reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1985[3] and #1 on the adult contemporary chart in 1984.[4] Tom Waits gave the song a darker twist for the soundtrack to the 1989 Harold Becker film Sea of Love starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin, and Waits included it on his 2006 collection Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards. "Sea of Love" had made the Top 40 just one other time, when Del Shannon took it to #33 in 1981.
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[edit] Background
Baptiste, who was working as a bellboy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA, 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 the song. 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 song's success, Phillips claims that he has only ever received US$6,800 for recording it.[2]
[edit] Usage in film and television
The song was the subject of the 1989 Harold Becker film Sea of Love starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin. The 2007 film Juno features a cover version of the song by Cat Power in its soundtrack. The Cat Power version was also featured in an episode of the television show, Pretty Little Liars. It was also used in the 1989 TV movie Sweet Bird Of Youth, which starred Elizabeth Taylor. The song was featured at the end of an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Future-Drama" in 2005. It also can be heard in the 2008 episode "The Burns and the Bees", put on by Moe while the queen bee is making out with all the little drones. In "Rumba" (2008), Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon sing this song. In American Dad!, Stan plays the song at the bottom of the ocean for Francine in Stan Time (2009).
A skipping record of the song is played during a scene in the 2000 film Frequency. It's also heard in Look Who's Talking Too (1990), Striking Distance (1993), Mr. Wrong (1996), De Zeemeerman (1996), Brooklyn's Finest (2009), and Private Practice (2010).
[edit] Cover versions
- Marty Wilde (1959); reached No 3 in the UK charts. This version was engineered by British record producer Joe Meek.
- Jimmy Velvit recorded a version of "Sea Of Love" for his 2001, Grammy nominated, album Sun Sea & Sand (Seduction Records SCD-103). (2:57)
- The Heptones; available on On Top (Studio One, 1968)
- Kevin Coyne; available on re-release of "Marjory Razorblade" (1973)
- The Persuasions (2:27); available on Live In The Whispering Gallery (1976)
- Iggy Pop (3:37); available on Party (1981)
- Del Shannon (2:36); available on Drop Down And Get Me (1982)
- The Honeydrippers (3:03); available on Volume One (1984)
- Shakin' Stevens (3:12) ; Available on A Whole Lotta Shaky (1988)
- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (3:05); available on Ka 'Ano'i (1990)
- John Fahey (2:08); available on Old Girlfriends and Other Horrible Memories (1992)
- Arvingarna (2:28); available on Eloise (1993)
- The Fire Ants; available on the Stripped EP (Dekema, 1993)
- Iggy Pop - from Pop Music (1996)
- Horace Andy; available on "Wicked Dem a Burn: Best of Horace Andy" (2001)
- Marcia Griffiths; released in 1999 on her album "Truly"
- Cat Power (2:20); available on The Covers Record (2000) and Music from the Motion Picture Juno (2007)
- Robert Plant (3:04); available on Sixty Six to Timbuktu (2003)
- Tom Waits (3:43); available on Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards (2006)
- Tony Hadley (3:35); available on Passing Strangers (2006)
- Jim & Shirley (3:07); Tareco 1001, B-side of 45 rpm single, Country Girl, I Miss You
- Australian singer Jason Donovan recorded the song for his album "Let It Be Me" (2008).
- German chanteuse Judith "Ribbons" Sofia records a ukelele and vocal cover to critical acclaim (2009)
- Raiatea Helm - from Sea of Love released in 2011
[edit] See also
- List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1959 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1984 (U.S.)
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1984
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 491.
- ^ a b Hamilton, Andrew (undated). "Phil Phillips Biography". allmusic/Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p365574/biography. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1985-01-05
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 289.
- American songs
- 1959 singles
- 1984 singles
- Robert Plant songs
- Jimmy Velvit songs
- Del Shannon songs
- Iggy Pop songs
- Tom Waits songs
- Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles
- Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Swamp pop music
- Rock ballads
- Rhythm and blues songs
