"The Way of Love" is a song written by
Jacques ("Jack") Dieval, with English lyrics by
Al Stillman
Al Stillman ''(né'' Albert Irving Silverman; 26 June 1901 Manhattan, New York – 17 February 1979 Manhattan, New York) was an American lyricist.
Biography
Stillman was born to Jewish parents Herman Silverman and Gertrude Rubin ''(maiden).'' He a ...
. It was originally a 1960 French song titled "J'ai le mal de toi", and it was first recorded in English by
Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby (born Catherine Ethel O'Rourke; 20 October 1938 – 19 May 2011) was an English singer, reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's " Secret Love" and for re ...
in 1965. The best-known English version was by
Cher
Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...
whose recording reached No. 7 in the US. Other variations of the song include "Parlez-moi de lui" and "
It's Impossible".
First versions
Originally written by
Jack Diéval
Jacques "Jack" Diéval (born December 21, 1920, Douai) was a French jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader.
Diéval's parents were also jazz musicians, who led an ensemble known as the DéDé Jazz Band. He studied music at the Douai Conservatory w ...
with French lyrics by
Michel Rivgauche the song was introduced as 'J'ai le mal de toi'. It was written for the singer Frédérica in 1960, who took part that year in the national elimination rounds of France for the Eurovision Song Contest. This song was not selected and was evidently not recorded by Frédérica. Subsequently, the song was performed on Belgium's BRT radio station by vocalist
Lily Castel
Lily Castel (born Alice van Acker on 10 April 1937) is a Belgian singer, best known for her participation with Jacques Raymond in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest.
Early career
Castel started out as a dancer before auditioning for television ...
, singing it in the "Musik Ohne Grenzen" competition; Castel was backed by
Fernand Terby's orchestra with Jacques Dieval providing piano accompaniment. The first evident recording of "J'ai le mal de toi" was made in 1964 by
Colette Deréal
Colette Deréal (; born Colette Denise de Glarélial; 22 September 1927 – 12 April 1988) was a French actress and singer.
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
Deréal was born in Saint-Cyr-l'École, Seine-et-Oise (now Yvelines), France. In 1961, D ...
.
In June 1965 the English rendering entitled "The Way of Love" was issued in the UK as a single by
Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby (born Catherine Ethel O'Rourke; 20 October 1938 – 19 May 2011) was an English singer, reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's " Secret Love" and for re ...
; lyricist Al Stillman had previously provided the lyrics for Kirby's English language hit version of "
Malagueña" entitled "You're the One". Recorded by Kirby with her regular collaborators: musical director
Ivor Raymonde
Ivor Raymonde (born Ivor Pomerance; 22 October 1926 – 4 June 1990) was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s.
Life and care ...
and producer Peter Sullivan, "The Way of Love" failed to reach the UK Top 50 but became a regional hit in the United States reaching No. 88 nationally.
In 1966 a new French version, also by lyricist Michel Rivgauche, was recorded by
Dalida
Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti (; 17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987), professionally known as Dalida, was an Italian-French singer and actress born in Egypt. She sang in eleven languages and sold millions of records internationally. Her best known son ...
as "Parlez-moi de lui" ("Tell me about him"). This rendition slightly alters the original melody. This adaptation was covered by
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy (; born 17 January 1944) is a French former singer and songwriter. Mainly known for singing melancholic sentimental ballads, Hardy has been an important figure in French pop music since her debut, spanning a career of ...
on her 1968 album ''
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy (; born 17 January 1944) is a French former singer and songwriter. Mainly known for singing melancholic sentimental ballads, Hardy has been an important figure in French pop music since her debut, spanning a career of ...
'' (commonly known as ''Comment te dire adieu'').
Track listings
Colette Deréal version
7" EP ''Ma chance c'est toi / Le Tyrolien / J'ai le mal de toi / Toi et ton sourire'' (1965, Polydor 27 190)
:A1. "Ma chance c'est toi"
:A2. "Le Tyrolien"
:B1. "J'ai le mal de toi"
:B2. "Toi et ton sourire"
Dalida version
7" EP ''Je t'appelle encore / Modesty / Parlez-moi de lui / Baisse un peu la radio'' (1966, Barclay 70 997)
:A1. "Je t'appelle encore" (2:48)
:A2. "Modesty" (2:19)
:B1. "Parlez-moi de lui" (2:48)
:B2. "Baisse un peu la radio" (2:40)
7" jukebox promo single (1966, Barclay 60718)
:A. "Parlez-moi de lui" (2:48)
:B. "Modesty" (2:19)
Chart performance
"Parlez-moi de lui" / "Baisse un peu la radio" by Dalida
Cher version
Produced by
Snuff Garrett
Thomas Lesslie Garrett (July 5, 1938 – December 16, 2015) known as Snuff Garrett or Tommy Garrett, was an American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s.
Early years
Garrett was born in Dallas, Texas, United ...
and released in February 1972 as the second single from ''
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 1971 seventh studio album '' Chér'' (eventually reissued under the title ''Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves''). Kapp Records, a division of MCA Records, released it as th ...
'', perhaps the most well-known version of "The Way of Love" was recorded by
Cher
Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...
. Her version spent three weeks within the top ten of the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching a peak of number 7 and ultimately selling almost one million copies. ''Billboard'' ranked it as the
No. 62 song for 1972.
Allmusic editor wrote a favorable review: "some great moments, among them a career highlight in the two-and-a-half-minute opening track, "The Way of Love." The Stillman/Dieval tune was originally a British hit for Kathy Kirby, and both Cher and Kirby drove the song right by the censors. The song is either about a woman expressing her love for another woman, or a woman saying au revoir to a gay male she loved—in either case this is not a mother to daughter heart-to-heart: "What will you do/When he sets you free/Just the way that you/Said good-bye to me." and also added this to the end of review "her solo material could soar to heights not possible in a partnership -- "The Way of Love" being one example." Rhapsody highlighted the song and called it "sexually ambiguous."
Live performances
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:
*
Take Me Home Tour
*
Do You Believe? Tour
Do You Believe?, also known as the Believe Tour, Cher Live in Concert DVD was the fourth solo concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. The tour, which took place in 1999 and 2000, promoted her album, ''Believe.''
History
The tour began on ...
*
The Farewell Tour (sung on the first leg, the second leg, the third leg and the final two shows of the tour)
*
Cher at the Colosseum
Cher was the second concert residency by American singer-actress Cher at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. For the three-year engagement, Cher received $60 million. Performing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the first sho ...
(removed during the third leg, and replaced with "
Love Hurts
"Love Hurts" is a song written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is most well known from the 1974 international hit version by Scottish hard rock band Nazaret ...
")
Charts and sales
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Other versions
*Johnny Mathis Released this song before Cher in 1969 on the Album “Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet”
*Famous heavy metal vocalist
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and H ...
recorded what is thought to be one of the earliest English covers of the song in a 1964 single with his band
Ronnie Dio and the Prophets
Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and H ...
.
*A Dutch-language version of the song entitled "Je doet me pijn" - lyrics by Ernst van Altena - was recorded in 1965 by
Conny Vandenbos
Jacoba Adriana Hollestelle (16 January 1937 – 7 April 2002), known professionally as Conny Vandenbos, was a popular Dutch singer. She had her first radio hit in 1966 and continued to make hit recordings throughout the 1970s. She represented the ...
.
*Another Dutch-language version "Ik verlang naar jou" - lyrics by Will Ferdy - was recorded by Belgian singer Will Ferdy in 1967.
*
Roslyn Kind
Roslyn Kind (born January 9, 1951) is an American actress and songwriter. She is the maternal half-sister of Barbra Streisand. She has been performing on Broadway and other venues since her teenage years.
Early life
Kind was born in 1951. Her p ...
recorded an English version with completely different lyrics - also by Al Stillman - entitled "Can I Stop the Rain?" on her 1968 album ''Give Me You''.
*
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalists ...
featured "The Way of Love" on 1972's ''
And I Love You So''.
*Also in 1972,
Vikki Carr
Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martínez Cardona (born July 19, 1940), known by her stage name Vikki Carr, is an American vocalist. She has a singing career that spans more than four decades. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican parents, she has pe ...
included the song on her ''
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who later became his wife. At the time, the couple were lovers, although MacColl was still married to his ...
'' album which was produced by Snuff Garrett.
*The song "
It's Impossible" is sometimes identified as a being an alternate translation of "The Way of Love" but officially the two songs are distinct - although it is claimed that "Somos Novios" is a plagiarism of the original version of the song, "J'ai le mal de toi".
References
External links
Dalida – ''Je t'appelle encore / Modesty / Parlez-moi de lui / Baisse un peu la radio'' (EP)at
Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Way Of Love, The
1960s ballads
1965 singles
1972 singles
Cher songs
Françoise Hardy songs
Shirley Bassey songs
Songs with lyrics by Al Stillman
LGBT-related songs
Song recordings produced by Snuff Garrett
Pop ballads
1960 songs
MCA Records singles
Articles containing video clips