THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

875-Love Affair-Everlasting Love.

1986-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.30. Everlasting Love is the only song to have been a UK top 40 hit in the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the 2000’s.

‘Everlasting Love’ is one of the most covered songs of all time. Other significant covers include the original version from Robert Knight, (1940-2017) (1967-American Billboard Number 13 & 1974-UK Number 40) The Town Criers, (1968-Australia Number 17) Carl Carlton, (1974-Billboard Number 6) Sandra, (1987-Switzerland & West Germany Number 5) and the ‘Cast of Casualty,’ as a ‘Children in Need’ charity single (1998-UK Number 5.)

‘Everlasting Love’ was co-written by James E. ‘Buzz’ Cason, who was born on November 27th, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, and McGavock Dickinson ‘Mac’ Gayden, who was born on June 5th, 1941, also in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Everlasting Love’ was written with Robert Knight in mind, with the writers aiming to produce it in the ‘Motown’ style reminiscent of the ‘Four Tops,’ and the ‘Temptations,’ of that period.

The Love Affair were formed in London, England, in 1966, and remained active through until 1971, in total there were seven members come and go during that time period. The Love Affair are best remembered for their ‘Pop’ hits, but several of their ‘B’ sides, and Album tracks leaned more towards ‘Soft Rock,’ and ‘Progressive Rock.’ They issued two Albums in 1968, and 1971, and 11 singles between 1967-1971, a further four singles were issued after the band split, between 1973-1988. There are also three official compilation Albums available. The Love Affair had great success in Europe, but failed to break into the North American market, which was one of the main reasons that they split. In the UK, five of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Everlasting Love’ making the Number 1 spot, the song was also a hit in other countries including Australia, where it reached Number 36, and South Africa, where it made Number 9.

The Love Affair had not been the first choice to record the first British cover version of ‘Everlasting Love,’ as Mike Smith (1935-2011) (one of the songs co-producers) had first offered the song to the Scottish band ‘Marmalade,’ who turned it down, saying it was too ‘poppy’ for them. Steve Ellis who was the 16 year old lead singer with the Love Affair has said,’We had two managers, David Wedgebury and John Cokell, who both worked at Decca, and had access to all the imports on the ‘Monument’ label. We rehearsed in a factory in Walthamstow, and one night they turned up with ‘Everlasting Love’ by Robert Knight. I loved it and so we set about putting it down on tape. The bands record label were in a rush to release the Love Affair’s version before ‘Monument’ records released the Robert Knight original in the UK, so in order to save time on rehearsals Steve Ellis sang the lead vocals, fronting session musicians, which comprised of the arranger/conductor Keith Mansfield’s 40-piece Orchestra, plus a rhythm section, the session musicians included, Peter Ahern (triangle percussion), Clem Cattini (drums), Alan Parker (guitar), Russ Stableford (bass), and the female backing singers, Madeline Bell, Kiki Dee, (see also best songs 481) Lesley Duncan, (1943-2010) and Kay Garner (1943-2007.)

It is possible that those in charge at the record label thought that the other members of the Love Affair were not up to the musical standards required that they were wanting to achieve, but Mike Smith has said,’There just wasn’t time for the group to learn the arrangement in time, so we used session musicians.’ Steve Ellis has spoken about recording the song,’The general opinion seemed to be that I should do it with an orchestra and then give it a Phil Spector-type production. Obviously I felt odd without the band being in the studio, but it was for the good of all involved. Two takes and it was done. The band were not too concerned about this approach to things.’

‘Where life’s river flows, no one really knows, ’til someone’s there to show the way to lasting love. Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine, you always will be mine. It’s everlasting love.’