"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written byPhil Spector, inspired by the words on his father'sgravestone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him".[3] It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member,[2]the Teddy Bears. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on theBillboard Hot 100chart in 1958,[4] while reaching No. 2 on the UK'sNew Musical Express chart.[5]Peter & Gordon andBobby Vinton later each experienced chart success with the song (with its title and lyrics altered to thegender-neutral "To Know You Is to Love You"), in 1965 and 1968, respectively.
In 1965,Peter and Gordon released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Peter and Gordon's version spent 10 weeks on theUK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 5,[9] while also reaching No. 5 on Canada's "RPM Play Sheet".[10] In the United States, the song spent seven weeks on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 24.[11]
In 1969,Bobby Vinton released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Vinton's version spent seven weeks on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 34,[14] while reaching No. 8 onBillboard'sEasy Listening chart,[15] No. 16 on Canada'sRPM 100,[16] and No. 6 onRPM's Adult Contemporary chart.[17]
In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, collectively called Trio, recorded a cover of the song, including it on theirGrammy Award-winning, multi-platinum albumTrio. The group would go on to release it as the album's first single, topping both the Canadian and American country charts. The single peaked at No. 1 on theBillboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 16, 1987. The accompanying music video, directed byStar Wars creatorGeorge Lucas (Ronstadt's boyfriend at the time), aired regularly onCMT andGAC.[19][20]
The Beatles recorded two versions, both retitled "To Know Her Is to Love Her". One version was on their January 1962 audition tapes with Decca, not released during the band's existence and not included onAnthology 1. The second version was recorded on 16 July 1963 for thePop Go the Beatles radio show and was not officially released until 1994, on theirLive at the BBC compilation album.John Lennon recorded his own version of the song in 1973 ("To Know Her Is to Love Her"), but it would not see release until the 1986posthumous compilationMenlove Ave.[22]
The Shirelles included a version on their albumThe Shirelles Sing the Golden Oldies (1964).
In 1972,Jody Miller released her version as a single and on the albumThere's a Party Goin' On.[23] Miller's version reached No. 18 onBillboard'sHot Country Singles chart,[24] No. 20 onRecord World's Country Singles Chart,[25] and No. 21 on theCash Box Country Top 75 chart.[26] It also reached No. 12 on Canada'sRPM Country Playlist.[27]
Gary Glitter did a cover, retitled "To Know You Is to Love You", on his albumTouch Me (1973).
