What I Did for Love (A Chorus Line)
"What I Did for Love" is a song from the musical A Chorus Line (music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban). It was quickly recognized for its show-business potential outside Broadway and was picked up by popular singers to include in their performances in their club and television appearances. Both female and male singers have made it an inclusion in their recorded albums to great effect.[1] The Daily Telegraph described it as a "big anthem".[2]
Synopsis within A Chorus Line
In the penultimate scene of the production, one of the dancers has suffered a career-ending injury. The remaining dancers, gathered together onstage, are asked what they would do if they are told they can no longer dance. Diana Morales, in reply, sings this anthem, which considers loss philosophically, with an undefeated optimism; all the dancers concur. Whatever happens, they will be free of regret. What they did in their careers, they did for love, and their talent, no matter how great, was only theirs "to borrow", was to be only temporary and would someday be gone. But the love of performing is never gone. They are all pointed toward tomorrow.
Marcia Hines' version
| "What I Did for Love" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| A-side | "What I Did for Love" |
| B-side | "A Love Story” |
Marcia Hines recorded and released a version as the lead single from her third studio album, Ladies and Gentlemen (1977). The song peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report, becoming Hines' third top 10 single in Australia.
Track listing
- 7" Single (MS-507)
- Side A "What I Did for Love" - 3:15
- Side B "A Love Story" (Robie Porter) - 3:31
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1977) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report[3] | 6 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1977) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report[3] | 41 |
| Australian Artist Kent Music Report[3] | 5 |
Other versions
- Beverly Bremers released a version of the song as a single in 1975.[4]
- Petula Clark (1975)[5]
- Jack Jones included the song in his album What I Did for Love (1975)[6]
- Johnny Mathis recorded the song for his album Feelings (1975)
- Shirley Bassey recorded this song for her album Love, Life and Feelings (1976)
- Eydie Gormé (1976)[7]
- Bing Crosby for his album Beautiful Memories (1977)
- Aretha Franklin in "Sweet Passion" (1977)
- Grace Jones on her first album Portfolio (1977)
- The Three Degrees in Standing Up for Love (1977)
- Peggy Lee sang it in her album Peggy (1977)
- Engelbert Humperdinck included the song in his album Miracles by Engelbert Humperdinck (1977)[8]
- Elaine Paige included the song in her album Stages (1983)
- Howard Keel for his album Just for You (1988) [9]
- Robert Goulet for his album If Ever I Would Leave You (1993) [10]
- Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on Are a Drag (1999)
- Christine Ebersole in a 2009 episode of The Colbert Report
- Lea Michele in the first episode of the second season of the television series Glee.
- Josh Groban in Stages (2015).[11]
References
- ^ "Song Search for "what i did for love"". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ Charles Spencer, "A Chorus Line, London Palladium, review", The Telegraph, 20 February 2013.
- ^ a b c David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1970-1992"
- ^ "Beverly Bremers - What I Did For Love / You're Precious To Me - Columbia - USA - 3-10180". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Robbie Daw (2015-03-13). "Josh Groban's "What I Did For Love" Video: Watch The Handsome Crooner Belt Out The 'A Chorus Line' Classic". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.