The Glory of Love (song)

"The Glory of Love" is a song written by Billy Hill, recorded by Benny Goodman in 1936, whose version was a number one pop hit. In 1951, R&B vocal group, The Five Keys, had their biggest R&B hit with their version of the song, hitting number one on the R&B chart for four non-consecutive weeks.^[1] Although The Five keys recording sold a reported million copies pressed recordings are very rare.^[2]

Notable cover versions

• Henry Hall and his BBC Dance Orchestra 1935 vocal Dan Donovan
• Lew Stone and his Band 1935 vocal Alan Kane and Trio
• Billy Cotton and his Orchestra 1 May 1936^[3]
• Benny Goodman & his Orchestra, vocal by Helen Ward. May 1936^[4]
• Big Bill Broonzy in 1940s?
• The Platters in April 1956 ^[5]
• Peggy Lee in 1959
• Cathy Jean and the Roommates in 1961
• P.J. Proby in 1964 for his debut album I Am P. J. Proby
• Dean Martin in 1966
• Otis Redding in 1967, whose version made it to number nineteen on the R&B chart and number sixty on the Billboard Hot 100^[6]
• Tom Rush in 1968
• Eddy Arnold in 1969
• Jimmy Durante in 1969
• Al Hirt in 1970
• Wizz Jones in 1970
• John Martyn in 1973 (strongly influenced by Bill Broonzy's version)
• Werner Lämmerhirt in 1974
• Dutch Tilders 1979
• Bette Midler for the film Beaches in 1988 (Mayim Bialik lip-syncs an upbeat rendition during the audition scene, and Bette Midler performs it as a ballad for the penultimate scene)
• Keb' Mo' for the film One Fine Day in 1997^[7]
• Paul McCartney on his 2012 album, Kisses on the Bottom
• Chas and Dave on their 2013 album That's What Happens

The song is also used as a theme song for the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and as the basis for a musical number in the 1981 film Pennies from Heaven.

The song was also referenced in the film Orphan, sung by Isabelle Fuhrman (who played the main role of Esther Сolman/Leena Klammer) a few times during the film. Bette Midler sang it as the final song in her movie "Beaches," in 1989.

References