Love Is Blue

Album: Blooming Hits (1967)
Charted: 23 1
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Songfacts®:

  • Written by the French composers André Popp and Pierre Cour, this song was originally Luxembourg's entry in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest sung by the Greek singer Vicky Leandros. It finished in fourth place.

    In 1968, French orchestral leader Paul Mauriat's instrumental version went to #1 in the US, making it the biggest ever seller of a Eurovision Song Contest song in America, and the first US chart topper by a French artist. In the UK it peaked at #12.
  • This colorful tune is a song of heartbreak, as the singer is blue since she's lost her love, and also green with jealousy. The French version as performed by Vicky Leandros is called "L'amour Est Bleu."
  • Many other artists have recorded this, including a version by country and western artist Marty Robbins in 1968. That same year, it hit the Hot 100 for three different artists: Al Martino (#57), Claudine Longet (#71) and Manny Kellem (#96).

    In 1969, a version by The Dells in a medley with "I Can Sing A Rainbow" reached #22.
  • Jeff Beck covered this song after he left the Yardbirds, but before he formed the Jeff Beck Group. According to Rolling Stone biography on Beck, he deliberately played it out of tune because he hated the song. His version reached #23 in the UK.

Comments: 12

  • Graham from AustraliaI see there is version by an artist named Heather. Does anyone know this artist is/was?
  • Marti from Menomonee Falls, WiI first heard Paul Mauriat's Love is Blue while walking to class at Marquette University in March 1968. Someone had placed a speaker in their dorm window and blasted out the song. Everyone was smiling, as was I. A favorite of mine ever since.
  • Randall from Severn, Maryland, UsaGreat comments about this beautiful song, especially the Paul Mauriat version. One of my all-time favorite songs. I was about 11 years old when it was on the radio. I listen to it frequently on my 60s playlist. I'd like to know where it was recorded and the credits, such as drummer, bassist, etc.
  • Mark from Lancaster, Ohio UsaPerhaps the last instrumental to make #1. Apparently this song was a genuine sleeper, and I don't know how it first got airplay in the US. It was buried in the album "Blooming Hits," a collection of French easy-listening versions of American hit songs, and it must have been thrown in as filler. When the record label people realized what they had, they hastily printed up a sticker ("Contains 'Love is Blue'" or some such) and stuck it right over the shrink wrap of what must have been thousands of copies of that album.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyFifty years ago today on February 4th, 1968 "Love Is Blue" by Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, it remained in the top spot for five weeks...
    The rest of the Top 10 were:
    #2. Green Tambourine by the Lemon Pipers {last week's #1 record}...
    #3. Spooky by the Classics IV
    #4. Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) by John Fred and His Playboy Band
    #5. Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin
    #6. I Wish It Would Rain by the Temptations
    #7. Goin' Oot of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Medley) by the Lettermen
    #8 Nobody But Me by the Human Beinz
    #9. Woman, Woman by the Union Gap Featuring Gary Puckett
    #10. Bend Me, Shape Me by the American Breed
    And on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, 'Magical Mystery Tour' by the Beatles was in it's sixth of eighth weeks at #1.
  • Henry from Sanford, Florida, UsaThere are actually English lyrics written by Brian Blackburn for this instrumental smash by composer Paul Mauriat that topped the pop charts for 6 consecutive weeks in 1968. And there's at least one cover of the song with the lyrics performed by Greek singer "Vicky" (Vicky Leandros). I prefer the instrumental. Here is a link to her cover for "Love is Blue." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HtCpjJg1U
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 18th 1968, Paul Mauriat performed "Love Is Blue" on the CBS-TV program 'The ed Sullivan Show"...
    Two weeks earlier on February 4th it peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart (See next post below)...
    R.I.P. Mr. Sullivan (1901 - 1974).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 30st 1967, "Love Is Blue" by Paul Mauriat & his Orchestra entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 4th, 1968 it peaked at #1 (for 5 weeks) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    And a week later on February 11th it reached #1 (for 11 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Also in 1968 three other covered versions charted on the Top 100; Al Martino (at #57), Claudine Longet (at #71), and Manny Kellem & his Orch. & Voices (at #96)...
    R.I.P Mr. Mauriat (1925 - 2006), Mr. Martino (1927 - 2009), and Ms. Longet turns 72 next month on January 29th...
    (Couldn't find any vitals on Mr. Kellem).
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnI have heard Paul Mauriat's version many times since it was released in 1967 and became Number One in early 1968. It's a very pretty song and my all-time favorite instrumental.
  • Dougee from San Bernardino, CaThis song (Mauriat's version) is the first song I can remember knowing as a three-year-old. It played in my then-new mental jukebox while I rode my tricycle.
  • Farrah from Elon, NcI have to agree with you Mary. It is beautiful. It's one of the most beautiful instrumentals ever made.
  • Mary from LondonI can't believe there are no comments for this song already! I think "Love Is Blue" is the most amazing, beautiful song ever. The orchestral arangement on Paul Mauriat's part is absolutely beautiful. I have not heard Jeff Beck's original version, but I love Paul Mauriat's version. I think everyone has heard "Love Is Blue" before, even if you did not know it, because it is such a famous song. The best instrumental ever, in my opinion.
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