I went away just when you needed me so
November 12, 2024 9:56 AM   Subscribe

"Everlasting Love" is one of two songs to become a Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s* and the only song to become a UK top 40 hit in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, “Everlasting Love” was a hit for Robert Knight in 1967.

Love Affair’s 1967 cover, the most successful version in the UK, knocked The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" off the number one spot on British charts. Singer Steve Ellis was 17 and recorded the song with session musicians after the record label rejected the band’s version.

Carl Carlton’s 1973 cover, the most successful version in the US, was originally the B-side of a single but was made into the A-side.

The video for Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet’s 1981 cover features them as a couple getting married. Their version includes an additional verse of uncredited authorship that was approved by the song's composers.

The video for Sandra’s 1987 cover has her and "Austrian model Rupert Weber as lovers in different periods of world history" Eve to 1987.

U2 did an acoustic/electric cover in 1989 as the B-side to "All I Want Is You."

Gloria Estefan was pregnant when the video for her 1995 cover was filmed, so three male and two female drag performers appeared as Estefan at different stages of her career.

Jamie Callum’s 2005 cover was featured on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Other covers of note include Joe Dassin’s "Plus Je Te Vois, Plus Je Te Veux" "(The More I See You, The More I Want You)" (1968), Patricia Paay (1977), and Willy Sommer’s “Liefde Voor Altijd” (2011).

The song was featured in an episode of the BBC One TV series Casualty and the cast later performed it live.

Jamie Dornan performed the song in the 1998 movie Belfast.

Buzz Cason performing "Everlasting Love" in 2013.

The writers of 'Everlasting Love' tell their story:
Mac Gayden started writing "Everlasting Love" when he was 5 years old. Those "oooh" vocals that float in the background of the chorus? It's a melody he came up with at that age. "I just kind of drew it out of the air," he says.
* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" was also a Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
posted by kirkaracha (13 comments total) 17 users marked this as a favorite
 
Eponysterical!
posted by chavenet at 10:01 AM on November 12


Dump, 1997
posted by anazgnos at 10:17 AM on November 12


The Carl Carlton version is a top three song for me. I just love it so much. Thank you for this post.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:21 AM on November 12 [1 favorite]


This is doing a great job of getting the OTHER "Everlasting Love" (which was playing at gas station this morning) out of my head. Thank you. Sincerely.
posted by thivaia at 10:31 AM on November 12


Jamie Dornan performed the song in the 1998 movie Belfast.

2021 just seems a long time ago.
posted by biffa at 10:50 AM on November 12 [2 favorites]


Tell me you grew up in the 80s without telling me you grew up in the 80s:

TIL there's a song called "Everlasting Love" by someone other than Howard Jones.
posted by gurple at 12:14 PM on November 12 [4 favorites]


And here I was thinking of This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)!
posted by rivenwanderer at 12:49 PM on November 12




I can sing a song for Old Poopy Juan.
posted by dr_dank at 3:58 PM on November 12 [1 favorite]


TIL that Patricia Paay was married to MTV VJ Adam Curry for 20 years.
posted by jonp72 at 6:33 PM on November 12




TIL there's a song called "Everlasting Love" by someone other than Howard Jones.

TIL there were any versions other than Carl Carlton’s!
posted by billsaysthis at 8:56 PM on November 12


Robert Knight or nobody at all! "The original is still the greatest" - Dobie Gray, The 'In' Crowd
posted by Rash at 5:45 AM on November 13


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