Ahh, Al Bowlly his talent still shines bright, great nostalgic stuff. No gimmicks just a great singer with a good band, singing a lovely Ray Noble song.
Love is the sweetest thing
What else on earth could ever bring
Such happiness to everything
As Love's old story.
Love is the strangest thing
No song of birds upon the wing
Shall in our hearts more sweetly sing
Than Love's old story.
Whatever heart may desire
Whatever life may send
This is the tale that never will tire.
This is the song without end.
Love is the strongest thing
The oldest yet, the latest thing
I only hope that fate may bring
Love's story to you.
One of the greatest songs ever, and the orchestration is marvelous: interesting, textured, and even sometimes surprising.
But always beautiful.
Bowlly is one of my absolute favorites, along with some of Harold Arlan.
This was played at my grandmother's funeral. We all love Al Bowlly and its true, Love is the Sweetest thing :-) Makes me happy to hear this song, never sad even though it was played as we waved goodbye, "this is the tale that will never tire, the story that will never end" so true .
It seems to me that Paul McCartney of the Beatles was influenced by this singer. Paul
chose this song to be included in the debut Lp of Mary Hopkin ( THOSE WERE THE DAYS) which Paul produced and directed.
This was a time of severe depression for a lot particularly in the coal areas rremember my mum saying that Bowly visited the coal fields and sympathies with their plight her mother ( my grandmother) invited him In to her kitchen, he broke down at the sight of the desperate poverty he had seen, my grandmother asked him if he would sing to her, she says he took his trilby off and sung love is the sweetest thing and tears were rolling down his cheeks
He left some money on the table and went out of the door absolutely beside himself
He was a highly strung and emotional guy but deeply caring about other people's plight a wonderful wondefu guy
I've heard this many times, and I will never, ever get tired of this.
The lyrics, Bowlley's voice, the timing, the tempo, and the instrumentation are all perfect.