"That Ole Devil Called Love" is a song written in 1944 by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. It was first recorded by Billie Holiday, who released it as the B-side of her hit "Lover Man" in 1945.[1][2]

In 1985, the song was recorded by Alison Moyet, whose version, produced by Pete Wingfield, topped the chart in New Zealand for three weeks[3] and reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[2][4]

Alison Moyet version

"That Ole Devil Called Love"
Single by Alison Moyet
B-side"Don't Burn Down the Bridge"
Released8 March 1985[5]
GenrePop, jazz
Length3:05
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)Allan Roberts, Doris Fisher
Producer(s)Pete Wingfield
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"Invisible"
(1984) 		"That Ole Devil Called Love"
(1985) 		"For You Only"
(1985)

In 1985, Alison Moyet released her own version of the song as a non-album single. It reached No. 2 in the UK and remained in the charts for ten weeks.[6] A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.[7]

Moyet's version was recorded following the success of her debut album Alf. When CBS suggested releasing a fourth single from the album, Moyet spoke against the idea and suggested she record a cover of "That Ole Devil Called Love" in order to give fans something new.[8] Speaking to the BBC in 2004, Moyet commented on the song: "After my versions of "That Ole Devil Called Love" and "Love Letters" did well, there was definite pressure for me to become some sort of jazz diva."[9]

Reception

Upon release, Marshall O'Leary of Smash Hits did not consider the song to be "one of [her] favourites" but described it as a "smoochy number" and "one to play while you're with your loved one".[10] Peter Trollope of the Liverpool Echo commented: "[Moyet] gets the blues and coaxes it into another smash single that has the look of a number one about it!"[11]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "That Ole Devil Called Love"
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 46
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 10
Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[14] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 2
West Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 29

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "That Ole Devil Called Love"
Chart (1985) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 90
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 51
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 61
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 42

Other versions

Other artists who have recorded the song include Tony Bennett,[1] Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur,[27] Jeri Southern and Susannah McCorkle.

References

  1. ^ a b "That Ole Devil Called Love" at SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 6 May 2014
  2. ^ a b "Song of the Day: That Ole Devil Called Love", Music and Meaning: The RBHS Jukebox, 18 September 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2014
  3. ^ Charts.nz
  4. ^ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 538. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  5. ^ Cross, Diane (9 March 1985). "News". Record Mirror. p. 4.
  6. ^ "Alison Moyet; full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  7. ^ "Billboard - Google Books". 1985-04-06. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  8. ^ Alison Moyet - Alf - 2016 deluxe edition CD booklet liner notes
  9. ^ Bishop, Tom (2004-09-06). "Entertainment | Alison Moyet frees her voice". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  10. ^ O'Leary, Marshall (14 March 1985). "Singles". Smash Hits.
  11. ^ Trollope, Peter (9 March 1985). "Pop File: Singles". Liverpool Echo.
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
  13. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  14. ^ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 13. 1 April 1985. p. 10. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – That Ole Devil Called Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alison Moyet" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Alison Moyet: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Singles (January 5–December 28, 1985)" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "That Ole Devil Called Love" search at ASCAP. Retrieved 6 May 2014
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