"Sea of Love" is a song written by Phil Phillips and George Khoury. It was the only top-40 chart-maker for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.

Background Phil Phillips (real name John Philip Baptiste) was working as a bellboy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, when he wrote "Sea of Love" for a love interest. He was introduced to local record producer George Khoury, who took Baptiste into his studio to record it. At Khoury's request, Baptiste took the stage name of Phil Phillips. The song, originally credited to Phil Phillips with The Twilights, was released on a small record label owned by Khoury, but due to its success it was eventually licensed to Mercury Records. Despite the success of "Sea of Love", Phillips claimed that he only ever received US$6,800 for recording it.

Chart performance Phil Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chartWhitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 491. and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Three Bells" by The Browns kept it from the No.1 spot. In 1959, it sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

Weekly charts Phil Phillips Chart (1959)PeakpositionCanada CHUM Chart 1US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 2US Billboard R&B1US Cash Box Top 1002

Marty Wilde Chart (1959)PeakpositionUK3

Del Shannon Chart (1981–1982)PeakpositionCanada RPM Adult Contemporary28US Billboard Hot 10033US Billboard Adult Contemporary36US Cash Box Top 10033

The Honeydrippers Chart (1984–1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)5Canada RPM Adult Contemporary1Canada RPM Top Singles1UK56US Billboard Hot 1003US Billboard Adult ContemporaryHyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 289.1US Cash Box Top 1003

Phil Phillips & the Twilights/Marty Wilde Chart (1991)PeakpositionUK100

Year-end charts The Honeydrippers Chart (1985)RankAustralia 62Canada58US Billboard Hot 10034US Cash Box 65

Notable cover versions

The song has been covered by a number of artists since the first 1959 recording. Among the most notable versions are the following: Later in 1959, in the UK, Marty Wilde covered the song which subsequently peaked at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart. The original Phil Phillips rendition failed to chart there. In 1969 Nino Tempo and April Stevens recorded 'Sea Of Love/(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' which played upon the similarity of the chords (And the subject matter) of the two songs. Bell Records – BLL 1087 B. J. Thomas recorded the song on his 1975 album Reunion. Iggy Pop recorded the song for his 1981 album Party. Del Shannon’s cover version went to number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and number 28 on the Canadian AC charts. Robert Plant's Honeydrippers included it on their 1984 album, The Honeydrippers: Volume One. This version went on to reach No. 1 in Canada in December 1984, No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1985 and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart in 1984. Katie Webster covered the song on her 1988 album, The Swamp Boogie Queen; she had played on the original. Tom Waits's version was first available on the 1989 soundtrack for the movie Sea of Love and later on his 2006 album Orphans Cat Power recorded it on her 2000 album, The Covers Record. The 2007 film Juno featured her version in its soundtrack. Power’s cover was certified gold in Canada and gold in United States. Stornoway during a live broadcast from Maida Vale Studios for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 debuted an arrangement of the song.

In popular culture

In the intro of the Guess Who song, "Hi Rockers!", the song is heard playing on the jukebox as Burton Cummings and engineer Brian Christian are heard talking. The song shares a title with, and features prominently in the plot-line of, the 1989 Harold Becker film Sea of Love starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin. "Sea of Love" was used in the 2000 film Frequency starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. "Sea of Love" was used to close out The Simpsons season 16 episode "Future-Drama". "Sea of Love" was used in the Futurama season 7 episode "Naturama" in 2012.

See also List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States List of number-one R&B singles of 1959 (U.S.) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1984 (U.S.) List of RPM number-one singles of 1984

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