It's Only Love (B. J. Thomas song) explained

It's Only Love
Cover:It's_Only_Love_-_B._J._Thomas.jpg
Type:single
Artist:B. J. Thomas
Album:Young and In Love
B-Side:"You Don't Love Me Anymore ("The Train Song")"
Released:March 1969
Genre:Pop, Easy Listening
Label:Scepter
Prev Title:Hooked on a Feeling
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Pass the Apple Eve
Next Year:1969

"It's Only Love'" is a 1969 song by B. J. Thomas from his LP Young and In Love. Elvis Presley made the song a top hit in the UK, reaching No. 3 in 1980.

Thomas' original of "It's Only Love" was released in the spring of 1969. It became a modest hit in the United States: Billboard No. 45, Cash Box No. 28 and AC No. 19,[1] while peaking at No. 24 in Canada.[2]

Elvis Presley cover

It's Only Love
Cover:Elvis_Presley_It's_Only_Love_PS.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Elvis Presley
B-Side:"The Sound of Your Cry" (U.S.)
"Beyond the Reef" (UK)
Released:September 21, 1971
Recorded:May 20, 1971
Studio:RCA Studio B, Nashville
Genre:Rock, easy listening
Label:RCA Victor
Prev Title:I'm Leavin'
Prev Title2:Heart of Rome
Prev Year:1971
Title2:The Sound of Your Cry
Next Title:Merry Christmas Baby
Next Title2:O Come, All Ye Faithful
Next Year:1971

"It's Only Love" was covered two and a half years later by Elvis Presley in the fall of 1971, and released as a single along with "The Sound of Your Cry" on the B-side.[3] Accompanying vocals were provided by the Imperials.

According to the Elvis Presley official website: "Another double-ballad selection, another Elvis pick, another sales dud. 'It's Only Love' was a legitimate listener-friendly stab at the pop market (by Mark James, author of 'Suspicious Minds'), and Elvis put real effort into it. But it sold no more than 1968’s 'A Little Less Conversation', the previous low for a regular-issue Elvis single."[4]

In the United States, "It's Only Love" reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of November 6, 1971. It also charted on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.

In 1980, it was released in some countries as a single with "Beyond the Reef" on the B-side. In the UK Singles Chart the single charted as "It's Only Love / Beyond the Reef" (double-A-sided), peaking at No. 3 on the week of August 30, 1980. As of August 2017, the single "It's Only Love" / "Beyond The Reef" is Presley's nineteenth most selling single in the UK.[5]

Also the song "It's Only Love" was included in the 1980 box set Elvis Aron Presley (on the record 8 titled "Lost Singles").[6]

Charts

B. J. Thomas
Chart (1969)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles24
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] 45
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening37
U.S. Cash Box Top 10028
Elvis Presley
Chart (1971)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[8] 46
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] 51
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[10] 19
U.S. Cash Box Top 10051
Chart (1980)Peak
position
UK (Official Charts Company)[11] 3

Certifications

Elvis Presley version

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690426.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 26, 1969
  2. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 1969-04-28 . 2018-12-11.
  3. Web site: Elvis Presley - It's Only Love / The Sound Of Your Cry at Discogs. . 1971 . 2016-12-15.
  4. Web site: It's Only Love. Elvis Presley official website "Elvis the Music". 2020-02-15.
  5. Web site: Elvis Presley's Top 50 bestselling songs. Official Charts Company. 2017-08-16. 2021-02-11.
  6. Web site: Elvis Presley - Elvis Aron Presley (1955-1980 - 25 Anniversary) at Discogs. . 1980 . 2016-12-15.
  7. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 -
  8. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 1971-11-13 . 2018-12-11.
  9. Web site: Elvis Presley - Chart history (Hot 100). Billboard. 2016-12-14.
  10. Web site: Elvis Presley - Chart history (Adult Contemporary). Billboard. 2016-12-14.
  11. Web site: Elvis Presley - full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 2016-12-14.