"Where is Love?" is a song from the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

-winning British musical ''

Oliver! ''Oliver!'' is a stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. It premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre, southwest London in 1960 before opening in the W ...

'' and the 1968 film of the same name, based on the 1838 novel ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839 and as a three-volume book in 1838. The story follows the titular orphan, who, ...

'' by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

. The musical was written by

Lionel Bart Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) was an English writer and composer of pop music and musicals. He wrote Tommy Steele's "Rock with the Caveman" and was the sole creator of the musical ''Oliver!'' (1960). With ''Oliver!'' and his work ...

and was first staged in London's West End in 1960. Oliver is a young boy on the search for his mother, and comes across many people, friends and criminals alike.

Background

, the leading character, sings the song after being thrown into the cellar of a funeral parlour for getting into a fight with Noah Claypole, another servant of the

undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker or mortician (American English), is a professional who has licenses in funeral arranging and embalming (or preparation of the deceased) involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks o ...

. Later in the show, a reprise is sung by Mr. Brownlow's housekeeper, Mrs Bedwin. In the 1968 Columbia Pictures musical film version of ''Oliver!'', "Where is Love?" was performed onscreen by Mark Lester, whose singing voice was reportedly dubbed by

Kathe Green Kathe Jennifer Green (born September 22, 1944) is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of composer and conductor Johnny Green and Bunny Waters. She has a younger sister, Kim Meglio. Early years Born in Los Angeles, Ca ...

(the daughter of the film's conductor and musical arranger,

Johnny Green John Waldo Green (October 10, 1908 – May 15, 1989) was an American songwriter, composer, musical arranger, conductor and pianist. He was given the nickname "Beulah" by colleague Conrad Salinger. His most famous song was one of his ear ...

), though Lester was actually given credit on the

soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...

Cover versions

* Sammy Davis Jr. on his 1966 album, '' Sammy Davis Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays''. * Oliver on his 1969 album, '' Good Morning Starshine''Oliver, ''Good Morning Starshine''
Retrieved March 16, 2012. *

Irene Kral Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978) was an American jazz singer. Life She was born to Czechoslovak parents in Chicago and settled in Los Angeles, California, in the early 1960s. She died from breast cancer in Encino, Los Angeles. ...

on her album '' Where Is Love?'' *

Leonard Nimoy Leonard Simon Nimoy ( ; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor and director, famous for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes Development of Spock, originating Spock in Star Trek: T ...

on his album '' Star Trek: Songs From Outer Space

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Where Is Love? 1960 songs Songs written by Lionel Bart Songs from Oliver! Oliver (singer) songs Shirley Bassey songs