THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

815-Herb Alpert-This Guy’s in Love with You.

1968-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.16. Even my musically uneducated ears can tell that he is a lot better trumpeter than a singer.

Herb Alpert was born on March 31st, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, to date he has sold in excess of 72 million records worldwide, he was also the co-founder of ‘A&M Records’ in 1962, with Jerry Moss. As a songwriter, Herb Alpert achieved his first hit as the co-writer of ‘Baby Talk,’ with Lou Adler, which reached Number 10 in America on the Billboard Hot 100, when recorded by Jan and Dean in 1959. In 1962, he teamed up with Jerry Moss to form ‘Carnival Records,’ but after the labels first two single releases, they found out that another label was already using that name, and so they changed to ‘A&M,’ taking the first initial from each of their surnames, among the dozens of household names who have recorded on ‘A&M’ are, ‘The Carpenters,’ The Police,’ and ‘Supertramp.’ In 1989, Herb Alpert, and Jerry Moss, sold the record label to ‘Polygram’ for $500 million, and then they received a further $200 million in 1998.

The discography of Herb Alpert includes 44 studio Albums released between 1962-2022, and 88 singles issued between 1958-1997. In America on Billboard, five of his Albums have reached the Number 1 position, and 19 of his singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, with two of those tracks,’This Guy’s in Love with You,’ (1968) and ‘Rise, (1979) both making the Number 1 spot. Herb Alpert is one of only two artists in Billboard history to have had a Number 1 vocal, and Number 1 instrumental hit, on the Hot 100 singles chart, the other artist is Barry White (1944-2003) (see also best songs 560-476 and 153.) In the UK, Herb Alpert has charted within the top 40 singles chart on eight occasions, with ‘Spanish Flea,’ (1966) and ‘This Guy’s in Love with You,’ (1968) both peaking the highest at Number 3.

‘This Guy’s in Love with You,’ was the only single released from Herb Alpert’s 10th studio Album ‘The Beat of the Brass,’ from May 1968. The song was written by the legendary song writing team of Burt Bacharach, (1928-2023) who wrote the music, and Hal David, (1921-2012) who wrote the lyrics, (see also best songs 902-832-740-644 and 224) the song was produced by Herb Alpert, and Jerry Moss.

Hal David was born Harold David Lane on May 25th, 1921, in New York City, United States, he died on September 1st, 2012, from a stroke at the age of 91. Hal David who was the younger brother of the lyricist and songwriter Mack David, (1912-1993) first tasted success in the 1940’s, writing material for the bandleaders Sammy Kaye, (1910-1987) and Guy Lombardo (1902-1977.) Hal David first began working with Burt Bacharach in 1956, and together they composed their first Number 1 single in the UK in 1958, when the Michael Holliday (1924-1963) recording of ‘The Story of My Life’ topped the chart. That song was then replaced at Number 1 by ‘Magic Moments,’ sung by Perry Como, (1912-2001) making Burt Bacharach and Hal David the first song writing duo to have back to back Number 1 singles in the UK. Hal David has also had great success working with other composers, including Albert Hammond, and Sherman Edwards, (1919-1981) and he has also provided the lyrics to three ‘James Bond’ film themes.

Prior to the release of ‘This Guy’s in Love with You,’ Herb Alpert’s previous output had consisted of instrumental songs recorded with ‘The Tijuana Brass Band.’ In 1968 Herb Alpert was asked to perform on a ‘CBS’ television special to be called ‘The Beat of the Brass,’ and in order to get some new material, he approached Burt Bacharach, and asked him if he happened to have any old compositions lying around that he and Hal David had never recorded. Herb Alpert had no intention of releasing ‘This Guy’s in Love with You’ as a single, but after numerous viewers telephoned the network following the broadcast with positive remarks, Herb Alpert decided to release the song as a single. ‘This Guy’s in Love with You’ went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 in America for weeks, giving ‘A&M’ Records their first Number 1 single, and also giving Bacharach and David their first Billboard chart topper as well.

‘Tell me now, is it so, don’t let me be the last to know. My hands are shakin,’ don’t let my heart keep breaking, ’cause, I need your love, I want your love, say you’re in love, in love with this guy, if not I’ll just die.’