Prisoner of Love (1931 song)
Encyclopedia
"Prisoner Of Love" is a 1931 popular
song
with music by Russ Columbo
and Clarence Gaskill and lyrics
by Leo Robin
. The song was popularized by Columbo and later became a major hit for Perry Como
. It was also recorded by Billy Eckstine
.
20-1814-B. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 30, 1946 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. The flip side was "All Through the Day". This recording was re-released in 1949
, by RCA Victor, as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3298-A) and a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-2886), with the flip side "Temptation
."
Como made two further recordings of the song: one in February, 1946
for a V-Disc
, number CS-656-B, and another in July 1970
in a live performance in Las Vegas
, issued as a long-playing album (titled In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas in its United States
and United Kingdom
releases, Perry Como In Person in its Japan
ese release, and Perry Como In Concert in its Dutch
release).
, on the Chess Records label. It is the last song on Side Two. It was not released as a single.
revived "Prisoner of Love" in 1963
. It was his first recording to enter the pop Top 20, reaching #18. The studio recording was arranged by Sammy Lowe
. He performed the song live with his vocal group, The Famous Flames
on the concert film The T.A.M.I. Show
, and on a mid-sixties telecast of The Ed Sullivan Show
. The Flames, however, were not used on the studio recording, having been replaced, in this instance, by a female chorus.
recorded a version of "Prisoner of Love" during the sessions for Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
, although the track was not released until the album's 2004 reissue by Geffen Records
.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
with music by Russ Columbo
Russ Columbo
Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo , known as Russ Columbo, was an American singer, violinist and actor, most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love", his compositions "Prisoner of Love" and "Too Beautiful For Words", and the legend surrounding his early...
and Clarence Gaskill and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
by Leo Robin
Leo Robin
Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.-Biography:Robin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and...
. The song was popularized by Columbo and later became a major hit for Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
. It was also recorded by Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
.
Perry Como versions
Como's first recording was made on December 18, 1945 and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
20-1814-B. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 30, 1946 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. The flip side was "All Through the Day". This recording was re-released in 1949
1949 in music
-Events:*February 4 – Ljuba Welitsch makes her Metropolitan Opera début in Salome.*September 5 - Wagnerian tenor Walter Widdop appears at The Proms, singing "Lohengrin's Farewell", the day before his sudden death at the age of 51....
, by RCA Victor, as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3298-A) and a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-2886), with the flip side "Temptation
Temptation (1933 song)
"Temptation" is a popular song, published in 1933, with music written by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed. The song was used in the film Singin' in the Rain and later in the 1983 musical based on the film, and is prominently featured in Valerio Zurlini's Violent Summer .The song was...
."
Como made two further recordings of the song: one in February, 1946
1946 in music
- Events :*January 6 – A somewhat revised and streamlined revival of Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat opens on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre, the same theatre at which the original production played back in 1927. This production features newly designed sets and costumes, new, more extended...
for a V-Disc
V-Disc
V-Disc was a morale-boosting initiative involving the production of several series of recordings during the World War II era by special arrangement between the United States government and various private U.S. record companies. The records were produced for the use of United States military...
, number CS-656-B, and another in July 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
in a live performance in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, issued as a long-playing album (titled In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas in its United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
releases, Perry Como In Person in its Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese release, and Perry Como In Concert in its Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
release).
Etta James version
Etta James recorded "Prisoner of Love" in 1962 on her third LP, Etta James Sings for LoversEtta James Sings for Lovers
Etta James Sings for Lovers is the third studio album by American Blues artist, Etta James. The album was released on Argo Records in 1962 and was produced by Phil and Leonard Chess.-Background:...
, on the Chess Records label. It is the last song on Side Two. It was not released as a single.
James Brown version
James BrownJames Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
revived "Prisoner of Love" in 1963
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
. It was his first recording to enter the pop Top 20, reaching #18. The studio recording was arranged by Sammy Lowe
Sammy Lowe
Sammy Lowe was an American trumpeter, arranger, and conductor.Lowe was active both in jazz and in R&B music, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. From...
. He performed the song live with his vocal group, The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames was an R&B vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd that recorded and performed with James Brown during the early years of his career...
on the concert film The T.A.M.I. Show
The T.A.M.I. Show
T.A.M.I. Show is a 1964 concert film, released by American International Pictures. It includes performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and England...
, and on a mid-sixties telecast of The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. The Flames, however, were not used on the studio recording, having been replaced, in this instance, by a female chorus.
Bo Diddley version
Rock and roll icon Bo DiddleyBo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
recorded a version of "Prisoner of Love" during the sessions for Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger
Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth album by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley released in December 1960 by Checker Records. The album title comes from the album's first track called "Gunslinger" and the cover art has Bo Diddley dressed in Western-style clothing. The songs for Bo...
, although the track was not released until the album's 2004 reissue by Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
.