Sea of Love (song)

Infobox Song
Name = Sea of Love


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Caption = "Sea of Love" sheet music
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Artist = Phil Phillips
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Published = 1959
Released = 1959
track_no =
Recorded = 1959
Genre = rock and roll, pop, rhythm and blues
Length = 2:30
Writer = Phil Phillips, George Khoury
Composer = Phil Phillips, George Khoury
Label = Mercury Records
Producer =
Tracks =
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Audio sample? ="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. In the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song, and Phillips' version failed to chart there. It was the first and only top 40 chart song for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:4uaqoaeaiijz~T1|title=Phil Phillips Biography|last=Hamilton|first=Andrew|date=undated|publisher=allmusic/Macrovision Corporation|accessdate=2008-04-13]

The song has been covered by a number of artists since then, most notably by The Honeydrippers, whose version (from the album ') reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the adult contemporary chart in 1984. 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 Tom Waits included it on his 2006 collection '.

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.

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 song was featured at the end of an episode of "The Simpsons" entitled "Future-Drama" in 2005. A skipping record of the song is played during a scene in the 2000 film Frequency.

Cover versions

* Marty Wilde (1959); reached No 3 in the UK charts. This version was engineered by British record producer Joe Meek.
* 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 "" (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)
* The Fire Ants; available on the "Stripped" EP (Dekema, 1993)
* Horace Andy; available on "Wicked Dem a Burn: Best of Horace Andy" (2001)
* Cat Power (2:19); available on "The Covers Record" (2000)
* Robert Plant (3:04); available on "Sixty Six to Timbuktu" (2003)
* Tom Waits (3:43); available on "" (2006)
* Cat Power (2:23); available on "Music from the Motion Picture Juno" (2007)

U.S. chart succession

s-ttl|title=Billboard Hot R&B Singles
number one single by Phil Phillips with the Twilights
years=October 12-October 18, 1959 s-aft|after="You Better Know It"
by Jackie Wilson end

References

ee also

*One-hit wonders in the United States