Love Is a Beautiful Thing

Album: Your Heart's in Good Hands (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was originally recorded by the duo Charles & Eddie, who released the song on their 1992 debut album Duophonic, which contained the hit "Would I Lie To You." Al Green recorded the most popular version of the song in 1994 with Arthur Baker producing. His version was used in the movies Two Weeks Notice (2002), Sorority Boys (2002), and The Pallbearer (1996). Krystal Harris recorded the song for the 2000 movie Legally Blond (2000).
  • This was written by Seth Swirsky, who wrote the song "on a gorgeous downtown New York City afternoon in the May of 1991." As a staff songwriter at Chappell Music, Swirsky also wrote Taylor Dayne's hits "Tell It To My Heart" and "Prove Your Love." In the '90s, he wrote letters to many legendary baseball players, who often wrote him back. These handwritten letters provided material for his books Baseball Letters, Every Pitcher Tells a Story, and Something to Write Home About.

    Seth says of this song: "Al's version is my favorite. A real thrill for me is at the end of the song when Al sings the titles of all of his greatest hits over the music. He sings: 'Let's Stay Together cause I'm Still in Love With You. Call Me, For the Good Times and Tired of Being Alone.' To hear him sing those songs at the end of 'Love is a Beautiful Thing' is a was one of the biggest honors I've had as a songwriter."
  • After Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997, Tina Turner recorded this song as part of the tribute album Diana, Princess of Wales, which contains 36 songs, including cuts by Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Sting and the Bee Gees.
  • In 2004, this was featured in commercials for the cosmetics company Almay.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.