"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by the words on his father's gravestone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him". It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958,Whitburn, Joel (1987). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 301. while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart.Teddy Bears – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 27, 2015 Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later each experienced chart success with the song (with its title and lyrics altered to the gender-neutral "To Know You Is to Love You"), in 1965 and 1968, respectively.
In 1987, the song was resurrected in a country style by the vocal group Trio—consisting of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris—and featured on their album Trio (1987), topping the US Hot Country Songs chart and the Canadian country music chart.
The song is written in 12/8 time and is performed at a steady tempo.
Chart performance
Chart (1958)PeakpositionU.S. Billboard Hot 1001UK (New Musical Express)2Canada CHUM Chart 1U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Sides"Hot R&B Sides", Billboard, December 8, 1958. p. 34. Accessed October 27, 201510
All-time charts Chart (1958–2018) PositionUS Billboard Hot 100168
Peter and Gordon version
In 1965, Peter and Gordon released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Peter and Gordon's version spent 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 5,Peter & Gordon – Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 27, 2015 while also reaching No. 5 on Canada's "RPM Play Sheet"."R.P.M. Play Sheet", RPM Weekly, Volume 3, Ed. 25, August 16, 1965. Accessed October 27, 2015 In the United States, the song spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 24.Peter & Gordon – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed October 27, 2015
Charts Chart (1965)PeakpositionUK Singles Chart5Canada – RPM Play Sheet 5US – Billboard Hot 10024
Bobby Vinton version
In 1969, Bobby Vinton released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Vinton's version spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 34,Bobby Vinton – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed October 25, 2015 while reaching No. 8 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Bobby Vinton – Chart History – Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed October 25, 2015 No. 16 on Canada's RPM 100,"The RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, Ed. 11, May 12, 1969. Accessed October 25, 2015 and No. 6 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart."Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, Ed. 11, May 12, 1969. Accessed October 25, 2015
Charts Chart (1969)PeakpositionUS – Billboard Hot 10034US – Billboard Easy Listening8Canada – RPM 10016Canada – RPM Adult Contemporary6Canada – CHUM 30 Collector's issue No. 41.14
Trio (Parton/Ronstadt/Harris) version
In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, collectively called Trio, recorded a cover of the song, including it on their Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album Trio. The group would go on to release it as the album's first single, topping both the Canadian and American country charts. The single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 16, 1987. The accompanying music video, directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas (Ronstadt's boyfriend at the time), aired regularly on CMT and GAC.
Charts Chart (1987)Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 54U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles1Canadian RPM Country Tracks1
Other versions The Beatles recorded two versions, both retitled "To Know Her Is to Love Her". One version was on their January 1962 audition tapes with Decca, not released during the band's existence and not included on Anthology 1. The second version was recorded on 16 July 1963 for the Pop Go the Beatles radio show and was not officially released until 1994, on their Live at the BBC compilation album. John Lennon recorded his own version of the song in 1973 ("To Know Her Is to Love Her"), but it would not see release until the 1986 posthumous compilation Menlove Ave. Cleo Sylvestre recorded a version for Andrew Loog Oldham in 1964. The Shirelles included a version on their album The Shirelles Sing the Golden Oldies (1964). In 1972, Jody Miller released her version as a single and on the album There's a Party Goin' On."Billboard Album Reviews", Billboard. September 2, 1972. p. 34. Retrieved February 14, 2021. Miller's version reached No. 18 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart,"Hot Country Singles", Billboard. December 23, 1972. p. 28. Retrieved February 14, 2021. No. 20 on Record Worlds Country Singles Chart,"The Country Singles Chart", Record World. December 16, 1972. p. 62. Retrieved February 14, 2021. and No. 21 on the Cash Box Country Top 75 chart."Cash Box Country Top 75", Cash Box. December 16, 1972. p. 38. Retrieved February 14, 2021. It also reached No. 12 on Canada's RPM Country Playlist."The Programmers Country Playlist", RPM. Volume 18, No. 19. December 23, 1972. Retrieved February 14, 2021. Gary Glitter did a cover, retitled "To Know You Is to Love You", on his album Touch Me (1973). Steeleye Span recorded a version on their album Now We Are Six in 1974. In 2006, English singer Amy Winehouse used her version of the song as a B-side on the UK edition of her hit single "You Know I'm No Good", off of her debut album Back to Black (2006). She also performed the song live on BBC Radio the same year, on Pete Mitchell's programme. In 2010, Roger Waters and David Gilmour, formerly of Pink Floyd, reunited to perform the song for the Hoping Foundation's annual fundraiser.
References
External links "To Know Him Is to Love Him" lyrics @ Dollyon-line.com