This Guy's in Love with You
Encyclopedia
"This Guy's in Love with You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach
and Hal David
, and recorded by Herb Alpert
. Although known primarily for his trumpet
playing as the leader of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert sang lead vocals on this solo recording, arranged by Bacharach.
The recording's origin occurs, as documented in a "Biography" cable episode featuring Bacharach, when Alpert asked Bacharach, "Say, Burt, do you happen to have any old compositions lying around that you and Hal never recorded; maybe one I might use?" Alpert said he made it his practice to ask songwriters that particular question; often a lost "pearl" is revealed. As it happened, Bacharach recalled one, found the lyrics and score sheet, and offered it to Alpert: "Here, Herb . . . you might like this one."
The composition had an easy, recognizable Bacharach-David feel, a spot for a signature horn solo in the bridge and in the fadeout, and was an easy song to sing within Alpert's vocal range. Herb saw the possibilities for it for himself. Alpert originally sang "This Guy's in Love with You" on a 1968 television special, The Beat of the Brass
. In response to numerous viewer telephone calls following the broadcast, it was decided by Alpert that the song should be released as a single recording, and the charted hit reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
pop singles chart in June of that year, remaining in the top position for four weeks. It was not only Alpert's first #1 single, but it was also the first #1 single for his A&M record label. The song also spent ten weeks at #1 on the Easy Listening chart. For the single's B-side, Alpert chose "A Quiet Tear," an album track from his first album in 1962, The Lonely Bull.
It was eleven years later when Herb Alpert would become the first (and only) artist in a recording career to reach the prized #1 top position of the Billboard Hot 100
with both a vocal performance and an instrumental performance when his instrumental, "Rise", soared to the top of the hit chart.
Interstingly, Alpert's vocal was succeeded at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
by "Grazing In The Grass
", an instrumental by Hugh Masekela
. On the Billboard Easy Listening chart, Alpert's song was both preceded and succeeded at #1 by instrumental hits from Hugo Montenegro
("The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
") and Mason Williams
("Classical Gas"), respectively.
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
and Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
, and recorded by Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
. Although known primarily for his trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
playing as the leader of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert sang lead vocals on this solo recording, arranged by Bacharach.
The recording's origin occurs, as documented in a "Biography" cable episode featuring Bacharach, when Alpert asked Bacharach, "Say, Burt, do you happen to have any old compositions lying around that you and Hal never recorded; maybe one I might use?" Alpert said he made it his practice to ask songwriters that particular question; often a lost "pearl" is revealed. As it happened, Bacharach recalled one, found the lyrics and score sheet, and offered it to Alpert: "Here, Herb . . . you might like this one."
The composition had an easy, recognizable Bacharach-David feel, a spot for a signature horn solo in the bridge and in the fadeout, and was an easy song to sing within Alpert's vocal range. Herb saw the possibilities for it for himself. Alpert originally sang "This Guy's in Love with You" on a 1968 television special, The Beat of the Brass
The Beat of the Brass
The Beat of the Brass was the tenth album release by the popular 1960s instrumental group Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. The album was released on the heels of a television special by the same title . Tom Mankiewicz, who wrote the special, also provided two paragraphs of liner notes for the album...
. In response to numerous viewer telephone calls following the broadcast, it was decided by Alpert that the song should be released as a single recording, and the charted hit reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop singles chart in June of that year, remaining in the top position for four weeks. It was not only Alpert's first #1 single, but it was also the first #1 single for his A&M record label. The song also spent ten weeks at #1 on the Easy Listening chart. For the single's B-side, Alpert chose "A Quiet Tear," an album track from his first album in 1962, The Lonely Bull.
It was eleven years later when Herb Alpert would become the first (and only) artist in a recording career to reach the prized #1 top position of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
with both a vocal performance and an instrumental performance when his instrumental, "Rise", soared to the top of the hit chart.
Interstingly, Alpert's vocal was succeeded at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
by "Grazing In The Grass
Grazing in the Grass
"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. It is recognizable by its prominent cowbell part. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-Recording:"Grazing in...
", an instrumental by Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
. On the Billboard Easy Listening chart, Alpert's song was both preceded and succeeded at #1 by instrumental hits from Hugo Montenegro
Hugo Montenegro
Hugo Montenegro was an American orchestra leader and composer of film soundtracks. His best known work is derived from interpretations of the music from Spaghetti westerns, especially his cover version of the main theme from the 1966 film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
("The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (theme)
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is the theme to the 1966 film of the same name, which was directed by Sergio Leone. Included on the film soundtrack as "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ", the instrumental piece was composed by Ennio Morricone, with Bruno Nicolai conducting the orchestra. A cover...
") and Mason Williams
Mason Williams
Mason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
("Classical Gas"), respectively.
Cover versions
- Dusty SpringfieldDusty SpringfieldMary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
recorded the song for her 1968 album Dusty... DefinitelyDusty... DefinitelyDusty... Definitely is the ninth studio album by singer Dusty Springfield, recorded and released in the UK in 1968. Production credits go to both John Franz, and for the first time, Springfield herself. The songs on this album were chosen because Springfield "liked them", as stated in the liner notes...
. - B.J. Thomas released a version of the song on his 1969 album Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.
- Sacha DistelSacha DistelSacha Distel was a French singer and guitarist who had hits with a cover version of the Academy Award-winning "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" , "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was born in Paris.-Career:Sacha Distel, born Alexandre Distel, was a son of Russian White émigré Leonid Distel...
covered the song in 1970. - In ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the song has been sung by Fred BongustoFred BongustoAlfredo Bongusto , known by his stage name Fred Bongusto, is an Italian light music singer and songwriter who was very popular in the 1960s and 1970s.-Career history:...
in English and by Herb Alpert himself as well as Tony Renis in Italian with the title "Un ragazzo che ti ama" ("A guy who loves you"). - AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n group The ReelsThe ReelsThe Reels is an Australian rock/indie pop group which formed in Dubbo, New South Wales in 1976 and initially disbanded in 1991, they eventually reformed in 2007. Their 1981 song, "Quasimodo's Dream", was voted one of the Top 10 Australian songs of all time by a 100-member panel from Australasian...
released a version as a single and on the album Beautiful in 1982. It reached #7 in the Australian charts. - The Bad PlusThe Bad PlusThe Bad Plus are a jazz trio from the United States, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, originating from Minneapolis, MN.-History:...
perform this song on their 2007 release, Prog (album)Prog (album)Prog is the fifth studio album recorded by jazz trio The Bad Plus. Like previous Bad Plus recordings, Prog features several covers including "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie, and "Tom Sawyer" by Rush...
. - Faith No MoreFaith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
has performed the song live in 1997, 2009 and 2011. - Barry ManilowBarry ManilowBarry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
recorded a version of this song, which appears on his 2006 album, The Greatest Songs of the SixtiesThe Greatest Songs of the SixtiesThe Greatest Songs of the Sixties is Barry Manilow's sequel album for The Greatest Songs of the Fifties. The album was another major hit for Manilow in the United States, selling nearly 50% more than his previous album in its opening week. As with its predecessor, this album was produced by Clive...
. - Harry Connick, Jr.Harry Connick, Jr.Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
recorded it for the soundtrack of the film One Fine Day (1996). - Noel GallagherNoel GallagherNoel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
of OasisOasis (band)Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
sang the song live in 1996 at a Burt Bacharach concert at the London Festival HallRoyal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
while Bacharach accompanied him on piano and conducted the orchestra. - FastballFastball (band)Fastball is an American rock band that formed in Austin, Texas in the 1990s. The band originally called themselves "Magneto U.S.A." but changed their name after signing with Hollywood Records....
recorded the song and released it on the 1997 compilation "Lounge-A-Palooza", as well as on the soundtrack of the film Failure to LaunchFailure to LaunchFailure to Launch is a 2006 American romantic comedy film. In the movie a 35-year-old man lives in the home of his parents and shows no interest in leaving the comfortable life his parents, especially his mother, have made for him there.-Plot:...
(2006). - Dave KozDave KozDave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, smooth jazz saxophonist, has covered the song on his 2010 album, Hello TomorrowHello Tomorrow (Dave Koz album)-Personnel:* Dave Koz - Saxophones, Vocal* Herb Alpert - Trumpet* John Burk - Guitar* Jonathan Butler - Guitar, Vocal* Tim Carmon - Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer* Lenny Castro - Percussion* Brian Culbertson - Keyboards, Trombone* David Delhomme - Keyboards...
. Herb Alpert himself was featured on trumpet. - Several female vocalists have rendered the song as "This Girl's in Love with You", apparently beginning with Eydie GorméEydie GorméEydie Gormé is an American singer, specializing, with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in traditional pop music, in the form of ballads and breezy swing. She has earned numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Emmy...
for whom it was a Top 20 Easy ListeningHot Adult Contemporary TracksThe Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
hit. Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
's version was released as a single in 1969 reaching #7 and that same year Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
cut the song to serve as title cut for her This Girl's in Love with YouThis Girl's in Love with YouThis Girl's In Love With You is a 1970 album by Aretha Franklin. It reached Billboards Top 20 and was reissued on compact disc through Rhino Records in the 1990s....
released in 1970. The song's also been recorded by Barbara AcklinBarbara AcklinBarbara Jean Acklin was an American soul singer and songwriter who was most successful in the 1960s and 1970s. Her biggest hit as a singer was "Love Makes a Woman" in 1968...
, Petula ClarkPetula ClarkPetula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
, Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Anita HarrisAnita HarrisAnita Harris is an English actress, singer and entertainer....
, Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
, Dusty SpringfieldDusty SpringfieldMary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
, Marva WhitneyMarva WhitneyMarva Whitney is an African American funk singer. She is considered by many funk enthusiasts to be one of the "rawest" and "brassiest" music divas....
and (Hildegarde Knef). - Julio IglesiasJulio IglesiasJulio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
covered the song on his 2006 album 'Romantic Classics' - Eva BraunEva Braun (band)Eva Braun is a britpop/pop rock band from Bečej, Serbia, notable as one of the most important bands of the Vojvodina pop-rock scene of the 1990s...
covered the song in 2002, but the song had not been officially released until 2008 on the compilation album Off The Record. - Grenadine (band) covered the song on their 1994 album "Nopalitos", with Jenny ToomeyJenny ToomeyJenny Toomey is an American indie rock musician and arts activist from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later, Washington, D.C. She was a member of the bands Geek, Tsunami, Liquorice, Grenadine, So Low and Choke, among others, and has also recorded under her own name...
singing lead. - Guy KlucevsekGuy KlucevsekGuy Klucevsek is an American-born accordionist and composer.Klucevsek is one of relatively few accordion players active in jazz and free improvisation....
performed a dirge-like solo accordion version of the song, coupled with the Bacharach-David song "Who Gets the Guy?", on the 1997 Tzadik RecordsTzadik RecordsTzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
compilation Great Jewish Music: Burt Bacharach. - Denny McLainDenny McLainDennis Dale "Denny" McLain is a former American professional baseball player, and the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season —a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century....
, MLB baseball pitcher, on his album "Denny McLain At The Organ". - Regis PhilbinRegis PhilbinRegis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
, as a duet with wife Joy PhilbinJoy PhilbinBette Joy Senese Philbin is an American television personality and is the wife of television personality Regis Philbin.-Career:She hosted HGTV's At Home With... and the syndicated home show, Haven...
, 2010. - Freedy JohnstonFreedy JohnstonFreedy Johnston is a New York City-based singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas.Having scored several minor hits since the early 1990s, Johnston's songs are often about troubled loners, and cover topics like heartbreak, alienation and disappointment...
, on tour and as radio promos in 1994. - Till BrönnerTill BrönnerTill Brönner is a German jazz musician, trumpet player, singer, composer, arranger and producer. He has a unique jazz approach influenced by bebop and fusion jazz, but also modern pop music, movie soundtracks , country music and even German pop songs...
recorded a version of this song which appears on his album Oceana - 2007(US Version) - Jimmy RuffinJimmy RuffinJimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
covered it on his album Forever, Motown 1970. - Richard ClaydermanRichard ClaydermanRichard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
recorded it for his 2005 compilation album "The Anniversary Collection" - David T. Walker recorded a cover version as part of the Medley on "Going Up".
- Donny OsmondDonny OsmondDonald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
recorded it for his 1972 album "Portrait Of Donny"