"That Ole Devil Called Love" is a song written in 1944 by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. It was first recorded by Billie Holiday, who released it as the B-side of her hit "Lover Man" in 1945.[1][2]

In 1985, the song was recorded by Alison Moyet, whose version, produced by Pete Wingfield, topped the chart in New Zealand for three weeks[3] and reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[2][4]

Alison Moyet version

In 1985, Alison Moyet released her own version of the song as a non-album single. It reached No. 2 in the UK and remained in the charts for ten weeks.[6] A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.[7]

Moyet's version was recorded following the success of her debut album Alf. When CBS suggested releasing a fourth single from the album, Moyet spoke against the idea and suggested she record a cover of "That Ole Devil Called Love" in order to give fans something new.[8] Speaking to the BBC in 2004, Moyet commented on the song: "After my versions of "That Ole Devil Called Love" and "Love Letters" did well, there was definite pressure for me to become some sort of jazz diva."[9]

Reception

Upon release, Marshall O'Leary of Smash Hits did not consider the song to be "one of [her] favourites" but described it as a "smoochy number" and "one to play while you're with your loved one".[10] Peter Trollope of the Liverpool Echo commented: "[Moyet] gets the blues and coaxes it into another smash single that has the look of a number one about it!"[11]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "That Ole Devil Called Love"
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 46
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 10
Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[14] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 2
West Germany (GfK)[21] 29

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "That Ole Devil Called Love"
Chart (1985) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 90
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 51
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 61
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 42

Other versions

Other artists who have recorded the song include Tony Bennett,[1] Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur,[27] Jeri Southern and Susannah McCorkle.

References

  1. ^ a b "That Ole Devil Called Love" at SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 6 May 2014
  2. ^ a b "Song of the Day: That Ole Devil Called Love", Music and Meaning: The RBHS Jukebox, 18 September 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2014
  3. ^ Charts.nz
  4. ^ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 538. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  5. ^ Cross, Diane (9 March 1985). "News". Record Mirror. p. 4.
  6. ^ "Alison Moyet; full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  7. ^ "Billboard - Google Books". 1985-04-06. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  8. ^ Alison Moyet - Alf - 2016 deluxe edition CD booklet liner notes
  9. ^ Bishop, Tom (2004-09-06). "Entertainment | Alison Moyet frees her voice". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  10. ^ O'Leary, Marshall (14 March 1985). "Singles". Smash Hits.
  11. ^ Trollope, Peter (9 March 1985). "Pop File: Singles". Liverpool Echo.
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
  13. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  14. ^ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 13. 1 April 1985. p. 10. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – That Ole Devil Called Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alison Moyet" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Alison Moyet: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Singles (January 5–December 28, 1985)" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "That Ole Devil Called Love" search at ASCAP. Retrieved 6 May 2014
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Ole_Devil_Called_Love
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