Sea of Love (Phil Phillips song)

"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Philip Baptiste (better known as Phil Phillips) and George Khoury. It was the only top-40 chart-maker for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.^[3]

"Sea of Love"
"Sea of Love" sheet music
Single by Phil Phillips
from the album Sea of Love
Published	1959
Released	July 1959
Recorded	1959
Genre	Rhythm and blues swamp pop[1][2]
Length	2:30
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Phil Phillips, George Khoury

Background

Baptiste, who was working as a bellboy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, 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 leased to Mercury Records. Despite the success of "Sea of Love", Phillips claimed that he only ever received US$6,800 for recording it.^[3]

Chart performance

Phil Phillips' 1959 recording of the song peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart^[4] and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Three Bells" by The Browns kept it from the No.1 spot.^[5] In 1959, it sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.^[6]

Weekly charts Phil Phillips Chart (1959) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100[7] 2 US Billboard R&B[4] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[8] 2 Marty Wilde Chart (1959) Peak position UK[9] 3 Del Shannon Chart (1981–1982) Peak position Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[10] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 33 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 36 US Cash Box Top 100 33 The Honeydrippers Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 5 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[10] 1 Canada RPM Top Singles[12] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 29 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 6 UK[15] 56 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 3 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[16] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[17] 3 Phil Phillips & the Twilights/Marty Wilde Chart (1991) Peak position UK[18] 100

Year-end charts The Honeydrippers Chart (1985) Rank Australia [11] 62 Canada[19] 58 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 34 US Cash Box [21] 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.^[9] The original Phil Phillips rendition failed to chart there. This version is also featured in Chanel No. 5: La Star (1990)^[22] ad.

• 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. ^[23]

• B. J. Thomas recorded the song on his 1975 album Reunion.

• Iggy Pop recorded the song for his 1981 album Party.

• Robert Plant's Honeydrippers included it on their 1984 album, The Honeydrippers: Volume One. This version went on to reach No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1985^[24] and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart in 1984.^[16]
• 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.^[25] Power’s cover was certified gold in Canada^[26] and gold in United States.^[27]

In popular culture

• 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.^[28]
• "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
• Kraken Rum began using "Sea of Love" in commercials in 2014.^[29]

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

References

1. "What Is Swamp Pop Music?". ThoughtCo. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
2. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 470. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
3. Hamilton, Andrew. "Phil Phillips Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 491.
6. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 116–117. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
7. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
8. "Cash Box Top Singles 9/19/59". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
9. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. October 1, 1959. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
10. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 19, 1985. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
12. "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. December 22, 1984. Retrieved March 20, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sea of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
14. "The Honeydrippers – Sea of Love". Top 40 Singles.
15. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. January 26, 1985. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
16. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 289.
17. "Cash Box Top 100 1/12/85". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
18. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. March 2, 1991. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
19. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 28, 1985. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
20. "Top 100 Hits of 1985/Top 100 Songs of 1985". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
21. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1985". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
22. "Chanel No. 5: La Star (1990)". IMDB.
23. Bell Records – BLL 1087
24. "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. January 5, 1985. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
25. "Juno (2007)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
26. "Canadian single certifications – Cat Power". Music Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
27. "American single certifications – Cat Power". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
28. "Sea of Love (1989)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
29. The Kraken Rum: Black Ink on YouTube

External links

• Phil Phillips & The Twilights - Sea of Love on YouTube
• Marty Wilde - Sea of Love on YouTube
• Del Shannon - Sea of Love on YouTube
• Honeydrippers - Sea of Love on YouTube