THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

419-Percy Faith-Theme from A Summer Place.

1960-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.01. You say it better when you say nothing at all.

‘Theme from A Summer Place was written for the 1959 American romantic drama film ‘A Summer Place.’ Originally called the ‘Molly and Johnny Theme,’ it was performed for the movie by the American ‘Easy Listening’ music arranger Hugo Winterhalter (1909-1973.) The music was not the films main title music, and was only played intermittently during the film, it only came to be immediately associated with the movie after this recording by Percy Faith.

‘Theme from A Summer Place’ was written by Max Steiner (melody) and Mack Discant (lyrics.) Although the lyrics were not used in the film, or in the Percy Faith version, there have been dozens, or maybe even hundreds of vocal versions recorded. Max Steiner was born Maximilian Raoul Steiner on May 10th, 1888 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, he died from congestive heart failure in 1971 at the age of 83. Steiner composed over 300 film scores, including ‘Casablanca’ (1942) ‘Gone With the Wind’ (1939) and ‘King Kong’ (1933.) He is referred to as the ‘Father of film music,’ or the ‘Dean of film music.

In 1959 prior to the film ‘A Summer Place’ being released, Percy Faith had already recorded and released ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ as a single. At first it only charted moderately, but it eventually took off in February 1960, spending nine consecutive weeks at Number 1 on Billboard, which at that time set a new record, which would stand until 1977. The song remains the longest running Number 1 instrumental in the history of the Billboard singles chart.

Percy Faith was born on April 7th, 1908, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he died from cancer in 1976 at the age of 67. Percy Faith recorded around 100 studio Albums between 1951-1976, 21 of which made the Billboard Hot 200 chart. He also had great success as a music producer for himself, and others. His production can be heard on 16 Billboard hit singles, including both of his Number 1’s, this song in 1960, and the ‘Moulin Rouge Theme’ in 1953. Faith is credited with popularising the genre of ‘Easy Listening’ or ‘Mood Music,’ although at times he has been ridiculed for inventing ‘elevator music.’ Percy Faith re-recorded ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ twice. In 1969, as a female choral version, and then in 1976 as a ‘Disco’ version titled ‘Summer Place 76,’ which was released posthumously.