Love Is the Sweetest Thing: Rate & Compare Lanza's Two Versions of This Song
#1: The Unreleased Broadcast Version
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Mario Lanza - Love is the Sweetest Thing
About this recording:
On April 15, 1952, Mario Lanza recorded two takes of composer-conductor Ray Noble (1903-1978)'s 1932 song for his Coca-Cola-sponsored weekly radio show. The conductor was Ray Sinatra.
This particular take was subsequently broadcast on NBC's The Mario Lanza Show on May 9, 1952. Unlike the take below, it has never been commercially released on LP or CD.
Note: Lanza had worked with Ray Noble four years earlier, when the latter conducted his performance on Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy radio show in February 1948.
Members and non-members alike are cordially invited to rate this recording. After you've done so, we hope you will participate in our forum discussion about the two Lanza versions of "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" here.
On April 15, 1952, Mario Lanza recorded two takes of composer-conductor Ray Noble (1903-1978)'s 1932 song for his Coca-Cola-sponsored weekly radio show. The conductor was Ray Sinatra.
This particular take was subsequently broadcast on NBC's The Mario Lanza Show on May 9, 1952. Unlike the take below, it has never been commercially released on LP or CD.
Note: Lanza had worked with Ray Noble four years earlier, when the latter conducted his performance on Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy radio show in February 1948.
Members and non-members alike are cordially invited to rate this recording. After you've done so, we hope you will participate in our forum discussion about the two Lanza versions of "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" here.
#2: The Released LP Version
About this recording:
Lanza's alternate recording of "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" was first heard on the 1955 LP The Touch of Your Hand. (It was never broadcast on his radio show.) Its first appearance on CD was on the 1991 three-disc compilation The Mario Lanza Collection and is probably best heard on the 2019 Sepia Records CD Mario Lanza: All the Things You Are.
Side note: Lanza fluffs the line "Whatever fate may send" the first time round on this version, singing "bring" instead of "send."
Lanza's alternate recording of "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" was first heard on the 1955 LP The Touch of Your Hand. (It was never broadcast on his radio show.) Its first appearance on CD was on the 1991 three-disc compilation The Mario Lanza Collection and is probably best heard on the 2019 Sepia Records CD Mario Lanza: All the Things You Are.
Side note: Lanza fluffs the line "Whatever fate may send" the first time round on this version, singing "bring" instead of "send."
Love is the sweetest thing
What else on earth could ever bring
Such happiness to ev'rything
As Love's old story.
Love is the strangest thing
No song of birds upon the wing
Shall in our hearts more sweetly sing
Than Love's old story.
Whatever heart may desire
Whatever fate may send
This is the tale that never will tire.
This is the song without end.
Love is the greatest thing
The oldest yet, the latest thing
I only hope that fate may bring
Love's story to you.
What else on earth could ever bring
Such happiness to ev'rything
As Love's old story.
Love is the strangest thing
No song of birds upon the wing
Shall in our hearts more sweetly sing
Than Love's old story.
Whatever heart may desire
Whatever fate may send
This is the tale that never will tire.
This is the song without end.
Love is the greatest thing
The oldest yet, the latest thing
I only hope that fate may bring
Love's story to you.