"Love Letters" is a 1945popular song with lyrics byEdward Heyman and music byVictor Young.[1] The song appeared, without lyrics, in thefilm of the same name released in October 1945. A vocal version byDick Haymes, arranged and conducted by Young, was recorded in March 1945 and peaked in popularity in September.[2][3] "Love Letters" was subsequently nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Song in 1945, but lost to "It Might as Well Be Spring" fromState Fair.
The song has been covered by a number of artists, most notably byNat King Cole (1957),Ketty Lester (1962),Elvis Presley (1966), andAlison Moyet (1987).
| "Love Letters" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byKetty Lester | ||||
| from the album Love Letters | ||||
| B-side | "I'm a Fool to Want You"[4] | |||
| Released | 1962 | |||
| Recorded | 1962[5] | |||
| Length | 2:27 | |||
| Label | Era,London | |||
| Composer | Victor Young | |||
| Lyricist | Edward Heyman | |||
| Ketty Lester singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1962,Era Records releasedKetty Lester's version of "Love Letters" as a single, backed by her version of "I'm a Fool to Want You". Lester's recording of "Love Letters", which featuredLincoln Mayorga's sparse piano and organ arrangement andEarl Palmer on drums, reached No. 5 on theBillboard Hot 100 in early 1962.[6] The single also reached No. 2 on theR&B chart and No. 4 on theUK Singles Chart, selling over 1 million copies, and was awarded agold disc by theRIAA.[7] In 1991, it was ranked 176th on the RIAA's list of theSongs of the Century.
Lester's version appeared inDavid Lynch's 1986 filmBlue Velvet, playing during a police raid onFrank Booth (Dennis Hopper)'s apartment, and on its accompanyingsoundtrack album.[8]
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| AustraliaKent Music Report[9] | 10 |
| IrelandIRMA[10] | 8 |
| New ZealandRIANZ[11] | 6 |
| UK Singles Chart[12] | 4 |
| U.S.Billboard Hot 100[13] | 5 |
| U.S.BillboardHot R&B[14] | 2 |
| "Love Letters" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byElvis Presley | ||||
| from the albumElvis' Gold Records Volume 4 | ||||
| A-side | "Come What May" | |||
| Released | June 8, 1966 | |||
| Recorded | May 26, 1966 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B,Nashville | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Composer | Victor Young | |||
| Lyricist | Edward Heyman | |||
| Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Elvis Presley recorded a version of "Love Letters" on May 26, 1966.[15] Just over a week later, on June 8, 1966, RCA released the song as a single, with "Come What May" as the B-side.[15][16] "Love Letters" peaked at No. 19 on theBillboard Hot 100 on July 22, 1966, staying on the chart for only seven weeks.[17] Musicians on this recording includedScotty Moore andChip Young on guitar,Floyd Cramer on piano,David Briggs on organ,Bob Moore on bass,D. J. Fontana on drums,Buddy Harman on percussion,Boots Randolph and Rufus Long on saxophone, andPete Drake onpedal steel guitar, with background vocals bythe Jordanaires andthe Imperials.[18]Presley re-recorded the song in 1970; this later version appears on the 1971 albumLove Letters from Elvis.[19]
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] | 20 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] | 49 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] | 29 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[23] | 7 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[24] | 7 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[25] | 6 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[26] | 19 |
| USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)[27] | 38 |
| "Love Letters" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byAlison Moyet | ||||
| B-side | "This House" | |||
| Released | November 1987[28] | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Composer | Victor Young | |||
| Lyricist | Edward Heyman | |||
| Producers | Alison Moyet Steve Brown | |||
| Alison Moyet singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1987,Alison Moyet released her own version of the song as a non-album single. It reached No. 4 in the UK and remained in the charts for twelve weeks.[29] A music video was filmed to promote the single and featuredDawn French andJennifer Saunders.[30]
Speaking toThe Quietus in 2013, Moyet revealed she recorded "Love Letters" as she knew it would be a hit: "'Love Letters' and 'Weak in the Presence of Beauty' – neither song I enjoy now – they're both my fault. I found them. That was when I was feeling smart, thinking that I knew what a hit was."[31] She also told theBBC in 2004: "After my versions of 'Love Letters' and 'That Ole Devil Called Love' did well, there was definite pressure for me to become some sort of jazz diva."[32]
Upon release,Music & Media described Moyet's version as "moody" and "sparsely-backed".[33]Zodiac Mindwarp, as guest reviewer forSmash Hits, felt the song was "very well done" but reminiscent ofSimply Red.[34] Carole Linfield ofRecord Mirror criticised Moyet's rendition as "dreary" and a "slow and dopey cover".[35]
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Singles Chart (V)[36] | 24 |
| Dutch Singles Chart[37] | 40 |
| IrelandIRMA[38] | 6 |
| New ZealandRIANZ[39] | 39 |
| South African Charts[40] | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart[29] | 4 |
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