Faded Love
Encyclopedia
"Faded Love" is a Western swing song written by Bob Wills
, his father John Wills, and his brother, Billy Jack Wills. The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle
component of American fiddle
.The melody came from an old fiddle tune Bob learned from his father, John Wills. "Faded Love" is a sentimental song about lost love. The name comes from the refrain that follows each verse:
The song was a major hit for Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys (MGM K10786) reaching #8 on the charts in 1950. It became one of his signature songs.
Leon McAuliffe
had two Top 40 hits with "Faded Love", both reaching #22 (Cimarron 4057, 1962, and MGM 14249, 1971). The former was an instrumental version, and the latter rendition was a collaboration with Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
. Also in 1962, it was a modest hit for Jackie DeShannon
, reaching #97 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The song had even greater success when Patsy Cline
covered the song in 1963. Her version became a hit, reaching #7 on the U.S. Country charts and it reached #96 on the Pop charts. Due to the plane crash that ended Cline's life, it was never released on an album. Instead, it was released on Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits, a compilation album in 1967. Cline's version was originally intended to be the title cut yielded from what turned out to be the last recording sessions before her death.
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
, his father John Wills, and his brother, Billy Jack Wills. The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle
Western swing fiddle
Westerns swing originated in 1920s and 1930s; small towns in the US Southwest. Although sometimes subject to the term "Texas swing" it is widely associated with Tulsa,others contend that "Western Swing music finds deep roots in the dust bowl of Oklahoma", and its influences include jazz from the...
component of American fiddle
American fiddle
This page is about fiddle music in the USA. For other North American styles, see Fiddle#Fiddling_styles.American fiddle playing began with the early settlers who found that the small viol family instruments were portable and rugged. According to Ron Yule, "John Utie, a 1620 immigrant, settled in...
.The melody came from an old fiddle tune Bob learned from his father, John Wills. "Faded Love" is a sentimental song about lost love. The name comes from the refrain that follows each verse:
- I remember our faded love.
The song was a major hit for Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys (MGM K10786) reaching #8 on the charts in 1950. It became one of his signature songs.
Leon McAuliffe
Leon McAuliffe
Leon McAuliffe , born William Leon McAuliffe, was an American Western swing musician from Houston, Texas...
had two Top 40 hits with "Faded Love", both reaching #22 (Cimarron 4057, 1962, and MGM 14249, 1971). The former was an instrumental version, and the latter rendition was a collaboration with Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
Tompall & The Glaser Brothers was an American country music group composed of three brothers: Chuck, Jim, and Tompall Glaser, all of whom also had success in the 1970s as solo artists. Between 1960 and 1975, the trio recorded ten studio albums, and charted nine singles on the Billboard Hot Country...
. Also in 1962, it was a modest hit for Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
, reaching #97 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The song had even greater success when Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
covered the song in 1963. Her version became a hit, reaching #7 on the U.S. Country charts and it reached #96 on the Pop charts. Due to the plane crash that ended Cline's life, it was never released on an album. Instead, it was released on Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits, a compilation album in 1967. Cline's version was originally intended to be the title cut yielded from what turned out to be the last recording sessions before her death.
Other versions
- 1968: Country music singer (Cline's friend), Dottie WestDottie WestDottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
recorded "Faded Love" for her album Country Girl. - 1970: Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
recorded in Nashville and released on the album Elvis Country. A live version was released on the live album Takin' Tahoe Tonite. - 1980: The song became popular again as a duet recording by Ray PriceRay Price (musician)Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
and Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
. Their duet version — which features Crystal GayleCrystal GayleCrystal Gayle is an American country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, she accumulated 18 number one country hits during the 1970s and 1980s...
singing harmony on the chorus — was the biggest hit version of "Faded Love," reaching No. 3 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country SinglesHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in October 1980.