Tune Tuesday: Charlie Rich 1974
Forty-five years ago, today, the #1 song on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart was A Very Special Love Song by Charlie Rich. It was, also, the #1 song on the Billboard Hot Country chart, simultaneously. Written by Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, it was released as a single in January 1974 from the album Very Special Love Songs. Inspiration for the song came from the soundtrack of the movie The Summer of ’42, composed by French pianist Michel LeGrand. Track listing #8, The Summer Knows, was the lyrics version of the movie’s main theme. Rich was quoted by Tom Roland of Billboard:
“I don’t think I stole from them [at] all but, that’s my favorite theme of all time. There’s not a similarity, and yet, you can understand what I was thinking about and where I was coming from.”
The song garnered a Best Country Song Grammy for songwriters Sherrill & Wilson. Rich won an AMA for Favorite Country Male Artist of 1975 (for 1974) and the album was nominated for Favorite Country Album. He also won a CMA for Entertainer of the Year (1974) and the album won Album of the Year (1974).
Lyrics:
Babe, somewhere I know I’m gonna find it, babe
It’ll have my love behind it
And it will be a symphony of all you mean to me
A Very Special Love Song
And babe, if there’s a way you know I’m gonna say it babe
If there’s a melody I’ll play it
I’ll play it through especially for you and all the words are true
A Very Special Love Song
So don’t be surprised if you’re sittin’ alone and you hear it
‘Cause I’m goin’ to sing it to the whole big lonely world
So turn your radio way down low and get near it
And I’ll tell the world I love you, girl
Babe, if there’s an ounce of love I’m gonna give it to you
Babe, if there’s a breath of life I’m gonna live it every day for you
And all the whole night through, singin’ just for you
April 10, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Always enjoyed his voice
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April 10, 2019 at 4:22 PM
My mom loved him. I grew up listening to him.
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April 10, 2019 at 7:25 PM
So many great songs! I remember they used to call him “The Silver Fox”
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April 10, 2019 at 10:56 AM
I have always liked his music!
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April 10, 2019 at 4:22 PM
My mom had so many of his albums.
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April 10, 2019 at 6:14 PM
I remember the Summer of 42 and Michel LeGrand but I don’t remember this song. Hummm….. senility moving in.
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April 10, 2019 at 6:15 PM
He’s got a great voice
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April 10, 2019 at 11:51 PM
YEAH, he does!
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April 11, 2019 at 5:24 PM
He was always different than some of the other country artists…He was more crossover than some.
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April 12, 2019 at 12:39 AM
Yeah. I can even remember his music playing on easy listening stations back in the 70s when “AM Gold” was popular.
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April 12, 2019 at 12:39 AM
Yes he wasn’t as southern as the others. He was more of a pop singer really…I liked him
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April 12, 2019 at 8:36 PM
I’ve included a few of his songs on playlists that I’ve created over the years for my mom.🙂
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April 12, 2019 at 9:10 PM
He had a great voice. My mom loved him.
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