"I Only Have Eyes for You" is a romantic love song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the film Dames (1934) when Dick Powell introduced it.[1] Several successful recordings of the song were made in 1934; later, there were charted versions by The Flamingos (1959) and Art Garfunkel (1975).
"I Only Have Eyes for You" | |
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Song | |
Published | 1934 by Remick Music Corp. |
Songwriter(s) | Al Dubin |
Composer(s) | Harry Warren |
Ben Selvin (vocal by Howard Phillips), Eddy Duchin (vocal by Lew Sherwood), and Jane Froman.[2]
"I Only Have Eyes for You" | ||||
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Single by the Flamingos | ||||
from the album Flamingo Serenade | ||||
B-side |
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Released | April 1959 | |||
Recorded | October 31, 1958 | |||
Studio | Bell Sound (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:20 | |||
Label | End | |||
Songwriter(s) | Harry Warren, Al Dubin | |||
Producer(s) | George Goldner | |||
The Flamingos singles chronology | ||||
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The Flamingos recorded a doo-wop adaptation of "I Only Have Eyes for You" at Bell Sound Studios in New York City in 1958.[3] Their version was commercially successful, peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart[6] and number 3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[7] This recording has become recognised as a genre-defining work and has been frequently included in numerous lists; it was ranked as the 73rd biggest hit of 1959 by Billboard,[8] while Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 158 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[9]
This version was used in a commercial for Amazon Alexa and was featured in The Crown (season 2).
A 1964 recording by Cliff Richard and the Norrie Paramor Orchestra peaked at number 31 on the Australian chart.[10]
A 1966 recording by The Lettermen went to number 4 on the US Easy Listening chart and number 72 on Hot 100.[11]
In 1972, Jerry Butler's version on Mercury records spent eight weeks on the Billboard R&B chart, reaching a positional high of number 20. It also charted in the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 85.[12]
"I Only Have Eyes for You" | ||||
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Single by Art Garfunkel | ||||
from the album Breakaway | ||||
B-side | "Looking for the Right One" | |||
Released | August 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 3:30 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Harry Warren, Al Dubin | |||
Producer(s) | Richard Perry | |||
Art Garfunkel singles chronology | ||||
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A recording of the song by Art Garfunkel was a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart in October 1975 for two weeks.[13] In the US, the song reached number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[14] and No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[15] Garfunkel performed "I Only Have Eyes for You" on the second episode of Saturday Night Live.[16]
The song has been recorded by many artists, including Billie Holiday (1952), Frank Sinatra (1962), Sunny Ozuna (1968), Robert Knight (1970), David Porter (1970), Carmen McRae (1972), Jermaine Jackson (1972), The Escorts (1973), Erroll Garner (1974), Eddie Floyd (1977), The Main Ingredient (1981), Billy Paul (1985), Zapp (1985), Etta James (1999), George Benson (2000), Carly Simon (2005), Summer Camp (2009), Tashaki Miyaki (2015), and Boyz II Men (2017).
Notes
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Other songs |
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Related articles |
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