50 years ago: Pat Boone hit #1 with “Love Letters in the Sand”

Love Letters in the Sand Pat Boone

Writer(s): Nick Kenny, Charles Kenny, J. Fred Coots (see lyrics here) First Charted: May 4, 1957 Peak: 17 US, 110 HP, 16 CB, 17 HR, 12 RB, 2 UK, 12 CN, 15 AU (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, -- UK, 5.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.35 video, 19.03 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Pat Boone made a name for himself in the 1950s recording sanitized versions of R&B hits. While it made him second only to Elvis Presley as the most successful artist of the early part of the rock era, it garnered criticism from people who saw a white artist taking black artists’ songs. Boone saw it differently, saying “There was a definite ceiling on how far they could go. When a white artist came along and sang their songs, they were introduced to audiences they couldn’t get to themselves.” FB It was inevitable that with his good looks and popularity, he would eventually be in movies. He was cast as the lead of Bernadine, a movie originally without any songs. Producers, however, realized it would be silly to have Pat Boone in a movie with no music, though, and added Johnny Mercer’s title tune and “Love Letters in the Sand,” a song which Boone had already recorded. FB It was Randy Wood, who owned a record store in Gallatin, Tennessee, who was instrumental in getting Boone’s version of the song into the movie and onto the radio. According to Boone, Wood got requests for the song over what Boone says was a ten-year period. Boone’s version sat on the shelf while other songs he’d recorded at the same time were released and became hits. When it was decided to add “Love Letters” to the movie, Wood had Boone record a new version for the soundtrack. Yet another version was recorded for the single release, but Wood decided the original was the best and it was released as the single. FB The song dates back as far as 1881. A composition by William D. Hendrickson called “The Spanish Cavalier” served as inspiration for what became “Love Letters in the Sand.” WK The singer reminisces about “an unfaithful girlfriend as he remembers how they used to write each other love letters in the sand.” SF The song was written by J. Fred Coots, who wrote the melody for “Santa Claus Is Coming Town,” with lyricist brothers Nick and Charles Kenny. Ted Black and His Orchestra had the first chart version in 1931. That same year, Gene Austin and Lee Morse also recorded versions. SF Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee also tackled it. FB After Boone’s version became popular, Bob Eberly, Bill Haley & His Comets, Leroy Van Dyke, and Andy Williams recorded versions. IN 1967, Vince Hill had a #23 hit with it in the UK. SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Pat Boone FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 22. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 3/12/2021; last updated 10/21/2022.

“You Light Up My Life” spent 10th week at #1

You Light Up My Life Debby Boone

Writer(s): Joe Brooks (see lyrics here) Released: August 16, 1977 First Charted: August 27, 1977 Peak: 110 US, 18 CB, 17 GR, 113 HR, 16 RR, 11 AC, 4 CW, 48 UK, 15 CN, 7 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 6.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 10.0 video, 37.26 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Despite the sentimental nature of this romantic love ballad, the story of how it ended up with Debby Boone isn’t quite so sweet. Joe Brooks wrote the song for the 1977 movie You Light Up My Life, which he wrote and directed. SF The story was about a girl, played by Didi Conn, who is trying to make it in show business. In the movie, she is seen singing the song in the studio. SF Conn lip synched it in the movie, but Kasey Cisyk, best known for singing jingles, actually sang it and her version was featured on the soundtrack. While Brooks was initially pleased with Cisyk’s version, her second husband, Ed Rakowicz, said Brooks retaliated against her for rebuffing improper advances. He wouldn’t speak to her and avoided making payments, eventually recouped in a lawsuit. WK Meanwhile, for more than a year the movie sat unreleased, as did the song. RC When it finally saw release, record exec Mike Cub thought the song could launch the solo career of Debby Boone, SJ the daughter of legendary singer Pat Boone, to sing a new version of the song. The same orchestra track and piano was used for Boone’s version. She said Brooks allowed her no freedom in how to sing the song; she was directed how to sing every inflection so it matched the original recording. WK She has said in interviews that Brooks was so mean to her, that she was reduced to tears. SF In her hands, the song became “a little tale of Christian fundamentalism that sneaked onto the pop charts.” SJ Her parents were “outspoken religious zealots” SJ and so, as she said, “I knew it was probably written about a male-female relationship, but…as far as I’m concerned, it’s my love song to God.” SJ Her version of “You Light Up My Life” was released as the first single to her debut solo album of the same name. It became the biggest #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit of the 1970s. Its 10 weeks on top of the chart made it the biggest #1 since Elvis Presley topped the charts for 11 weeks in 1956 with his double A-side hit “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog.” It scooped up a number of year-end awards, including a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, an American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It even garnered Boone a Grammy for Best New Artist. She never had another top 40 hit on the Billboard pop charts, but she did crossover to the country charts. Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Debby Boone FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 475. RC Rod Couch (2015). The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era: 1955-2015. Pages 140-1. SJ Bob Shannon and John Javna (1986). Behind the Hits: Inside Stories of Classic Pop and Rock and Roll. Warner Books, Inc.: New York, NY. Page 74. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 10/30/2019; last updated 4/29/2024.