The melody came from an 1856 ballad, "Darling Nelly Gray", which John Wills knew as a fiddle tune.[2][3][4] "Faded Love" is a sentimental song about lost love. The name comes from the refrain that follows each verse: "I remember our faded love".
The song was a major hit for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (MGM 10786) reaching number eight on the Country charts in 1950.[5] It became one of his signature songs.
Other versions
Leon McAuliffe had two Top 40 hits with "Faded Love", both reaching number 22 (Cimarron 4057, 1962, and MGM 14249, 1971). The former was an instrumental version, and the latter rendition was a collaboration with Tompall & the Glaser Brothers.[6] Also in 1962, it was a modest hit for Jackie DeShannon, reaching number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song had greater success when Patsy Cline covered it in 1963. Her version became a hit, reaching number seven on the U.S. Country charts and number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100. Due to the airplane crash that ended Cline's life, her version was never released on a studio album. Instead, it was belatedly released on Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits, a compilation album in 1967. Cline's version was originally intended to be the title cut for a planned album, and was made at what turned out to be the last recording session before her death.
A recording made by Ray Price and Willie Nelson was the biggest hit version from a chart standpoint. Their duet version — which featured Crystal Gayle singing harmony on the chorus — reached number three on the BillboardHot Country Singles chart in October 1980. The song, which came out at a time when Nelson was country music's biggest superstar, gave Price his first top 10 hit in more than five years and biggest hit in seven years.
References
^San Antonio Rose - The Life and Music of Bob Wills. Charles R. Townsend. 1976. University of Illinois. p. 11. ISBN0-252-00470-1
^Wolff, Country Music, p. 112: "It ['Faded Love'] originated with western swing pioneer Bob Wills, who grew up in the 1910s and 1920s fiddling in rural Texas with his father, John Wills. They wrote the melody together when Bob was very young; it wasn't until 1950 that the song gained lyrics, courtesy of Bob's younger brother, Billy Jack."
^McWhorter, Cowboy Fiddler, p. 61: "And he [Boyd Rogers] played a tune called 'Forsaken Lover.' It's note-for-note the same as 'Faded Love.' Bob took that old tune and slowed it down and put in that long Bob Wills bow, and it became 'Faded Love'."
^Michael Corcoran's Texas Top 50", Lonestar Music Magazine, 29 July 2016 Note: user must type "Corcoran's top 50 into website search line.
^Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits, p. 393: "Rusty McDonald and The Playboy Trio (vocals)".
^Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits, p. 218.
Bibliography
McWhorter, Frankie. Cowboy Fiddler in Bob Wills' Band. University of North Texas Press, 1997. ISBN1-57441-025-3
Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Billboard Books, 2006. ISBN0-8230-8291-1
January 20, 2023
faded, love, other, uses, disambiguation, western, swing, song, written, wills, father, john, wills, brother, billy, jack, wills, tune, considered, exemplar, western, swing, fiddle, component, american, fiddle, citation, needed, single, wills, texas, playboysb. For other uses see Faded Love disambiguation Faded Love is a Western swing song written by Bob Wills his father John Wills 1 and his brother Billy Jack Wills The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle component of American fiddle citation needed Faded Love Single by Bob Wills and His Texas PlayboysB side Boot Heel Drag Released1950 1950 GenreWestern swingLabelMGMSongwriter s Bob Wills John Wills Billy Jack WillsThe melody came from an 1856 ballad Darling Nelly Gray which John Wills knew as a fiddle tune 2 3 4 Faded Love is a sentimental song about lost love The name comes from the refrain that follows each verse I remember our faded love The song was a major hit for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys MGM 10786 reaching number eight on the Country charts in 1950 5 It became one of his signature songs Other versions EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Faded Love news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Leon McAuliffe had two Top 40 hits with Faded Love both reaching number 22 Cimarron 4057 1962 and MGM 14249 1971 The former was an instrumental version and the latter rendition was a collaboration with Tompall amp the Glaser Brothers 6 Also in 1962 it was a modest hit for Jackie DeShannon reaching number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 The song had greater success when Patsy Cline covered it in 1963 Her version became a hit reaching number seven on the U S Country charts and number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 Due to the airplane crash that ended Cline s life her version was never released on a studio album Instead it was belatedly released on Patsy Cline s Greatest Hits a compilation album in 1967 Cline s version was originally intended to be the title cut for a planned album and was made at what turned out to be the last recording session before her death A recording made by Ray Price and Willie Nelson was the biggest hit version from a chart standpoint Their duet version which featured Crystal Gayle singing harmony on the chorus reached number three on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in October 1980 The song which came out at a time when Nelson was country music s biggest superstar gave Price his first top 10 hit in more than five years and biggest hit in seven years References Edit San Antonio Rose The Life and Music of Bob Wills Charles R Townsend 1976 University of Illinois p 11 ISBN 0 252 00470 1 Wolff Country Music p 112 It Faded Love originated with western swing pioneer Bob Wills who grew up in the 1910s and 1920s fiddling in rural Texas with his father John Wills They wrote the melody together when Bob was very young it wasn t until 1950 that the song gained lyrics courtesy of Bob s younger brother Billy Jack McWhorter Cowboy Fiddler p 61 And he Boyd Rogers played a tune called Forsaken Lover It s note for note the same as Faded Love Bob took that old tune and slowed it down and put in that long Bob Wills bow and it became Faded Love Michael Corcoran s Texas Top 50 Lonestar Music Magazine 29 July 2016 Note user must type Corcoran s top 50 into website search line Whitburn The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits p 393 Rusty McDonald and The Playboy Trio vocals Whitburn The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits p 218 Bibliography EditMcWhorter Frankie Cowboy Fiddler in Bob Wills Band University of North Texas Press 1997 ISBN 1 57441 025 3 Whitburn Joel The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits Billboard Books 2006 ISBN 0 8230 8291 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Faded Love amp oldid 1132602573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
