PERRY COMO - AND I LOVE YOU SO

AND I LOVE YOU SO

PERRY COMO

SONGWRITER: DON MCLEAN

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: AND I LOVE YOU SO

LABEL: RCA RECORDS

GENRE: SOFT ROCK

YEAR: 1973

 

        Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como(/ˈkoʊmoʊ/; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing with the label in 1943.

     He recorded primarily vocal pop and was renowned for recordings in the intimate, easy-listening genre pioneered by multi-media star Bing Crosby.

     "Mr. C.", as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records and pioneered a weekly musical variety television show. His weekly television shows and seasonal specials were broadcast throughout the world. In the official RCA Records Billboard magazine memorial, his life was summed up in these few words: "50 years of music and a life well lived. An example to all."

        Como received five Emmys from 1955 to 1959, and a Christopher Award in 1956. He also shared a Peabody Award with good friend Jackie Gleason in 1956. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1987. Posthumously, Como received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio, television, and music

       And I Love You So was Perry Como's 21st 12" long-play album released by RCA Records.

       As with It's Impossible, this album was issued to feature a surprise hit single, Don McLean's "And I Love You So". Como brought the song to the national top 40 (Number One Easy Listening). Previous versions of the song by Bobby Goldsboro and Bobby Vinton had met with mild or no success. Como's version was so successful, RCA asked him to record the song in Spanish. When Como said he didn't speak the language, he received personal Spanish lessons from the head of RCA International to get the record made. As in recent Como LP's, this collection features selections from then contemporary recording artists such as Roberta Flack, The Carpenters, Ray Price, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Bread and Mac Davis. The album was among the last to be produced by Chet Atkins before he stepped down from his executive position at RCA's Nashville studios.

And I love you so

The people ask me how

How I've lived till now

I tell them I don't know

 

I guess they understand

How lonely life has been

But life began again

The day you took my hand

 

And yes, I know how lonely life can be

The shadows follow me 'n' the night won't set me free

But I don't let the evening get me down

Now that you're around me

 

And you love me, too

Your thoughts are just for me

You set my spirit free

I'm happy that you do

 

The book of life is brief

And once a page is read

All but life is dead

That is my belief

 

And yes, I know how lonely life can be

The shadows follow me and the night won't set me free

But I don't let the evening get me down

Now that you're around me.