Gift of Love is the first English-language album and fourth studio album overall by Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø, also known under the mononym Sissel. It was originally released in 1992 by Mercury Records.
Album content An album of cover versions, the original release of Gift of Love contains 12 tracks, including a duet with American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka on "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", originally sung as a solo by Sedaka and released as a single in 1962, his own version reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Two other tracks co-written by Sedaka are included. According to Sedaka's personal writing in the liner notes of the album, when he first heard Sissel, he was "speechless", having not been so excited with a female voice since performing with Barbra Streisand thirty years prior.
Reissues Gift of Love was first reissued in 1994 with 13 tracks, adding original composition "Fire in Your Heart" as the opening track. This was the official song of the 1994 Winter Olympics, which were held in and around Lillehammer in Norway, and it was also released as a single, reaching number one on the Norwegian singles chart.
A second, 15-track reissue of the album was released in 1994, including the 13 tracks of the previous release plus two bonus tracks—a new version of "Fire in Your Heart", featuring Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo, and "Hymne Olympique (1896)", the Olympic Anthem, sung by Sissel.
Track listing Original 1992 version
First 1994 reissue
Second 1994 reissue, with bonus tracks
Bonus tracks
Personnel Original release
Credits adapted from the liner notes for the original 1992 release of the album.
Musicians Sissel Kyrkjebø – vocals Neil Sedaka – featured vocals on "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" Bill Champlin – backing vocals Stanton Endicott – strings conductor Pavel Farkus – concertmaster Michael Fisher – percussion Dave Koz – saxophones Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar Jeff Lorber – additional piano on "More Like You" Oslo Gospel Choir – choir; conducted by Tore Aas Lou Pardini – backing vocals Dean Parks – guitars Oli Poulsen – rhythm arrangements, string arrangements John "JR" Robinson – drums John Schreiner – keyboards, charts preparation, string arrangements Joseph Williams – backing vocals
Technical Oli Poulsen – producer, engineer, mixing Arne Svare – executive producer Jens Hofman – executive producer Bob Loftus – engineer Jim Champagne – assistant engineer Peter Mark – mixing assistant Rob Barret – copyist Jolie Levine – production coordination in Los Angeles Recorded at Schnee Studios (Los Angeles, California) Strings recorded at Ocean Way Studios (Los Angeles, California); engineered by Bill Schnee Oslo Gospel Choir recorded at Rainbow Studio (Oslo, Norway); engineered by Erik Aunskog Cover design by Cucumber Jaqueline Fluri – cover photos Harrison Funk – session photos Doody Bache – hair & styling
1994 additional tracks
Adapted from the liner notes for the second 1994 reissue of the album.
"Fire in Your Heart" Oslo Gospel Choir – choir Svein Dag Hauge – guitars, percussion programming Knut Reiersrud – Fender Hallingkaster, electric sitar Annbjørg Lien – fiddle Bjørgulv Straume – mouth harp Per Kolstad – keyboards Rolf Graf – bass guitar Per Hillestad – drums
Svein Gundersen – producer; recording on duet version Ingar Helgesen – engineer; mixing on duet version Solo version recorded at Oslo Lydstudio (Oslo, Norway) Duet version recorded at "Banken" (Lillehammer, Norway) Duet version mixed at Oslo Lydstudio (Oslo, Norway)
"Hymne Olympique (1896)" Norwegian Armed Forces Representative Orchestra – military band orchestra, consisting of: Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces Norwegian Armed Forces Eastern Norway District Band Royal Norwegian Navy Band Oberstløytnant Christer Johannesen – conductor Children's choir from Gudbrandsdalen Recorded by Hans Christian Roaas
Frode Thingnæs – producer, arranger Egil Monn-Iversen – producer Svein Dag Hauge – producer, mixing Robert Opsahl Engen – mixing Halldis Moren Vesaas – translation & interpretation Svein Selvik – translation & interpretation Kari Stokke – translation & interpretation Recorded at Store Studio, NRK & MajorStudio (Oslo, Norway) Mixed at Studio Nova (Spydeberg, Norway)
Charts + Chart performance for Gift of LoveChart (1992)Peakposition
References
External links Gift of Love (Original 1992 version) at Discogs Gift of Love (First 1994 reissue) at Discogs Gift of Love (Second 1994 reissue) at Discogs