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"Prisoner of Love" is a 1931 popular song, with music by Russ Columbo and Clarence Gaskill and lyrics by Leo Robin.

Background

Written in 1931, Leo Robin has related how publisher Con Conrad walked into his hotel room with Russ Columbo and asked him to write words within the hour for a tune he had. Robin, who was on vacation, at first refused, but Conrad explained that he wanted Columbo to demonstrate it to Flo Ziegfeld who needed a song for Helen Morgan in one of his shows. Robin then wrote the lyric, which he afterwards said he disliked, and the song was duly performed for Ziegfeld, but he did not accept it. Russ Columbo, however, sang it on his radio show and recorded it on October 9, 1931, for Victor Records, and it was very popular in 1932. Columbo also sang it in the 1933 short film That Goes Double. In 1946, the song became a major hit for Billy Eckstine, Perry Como, and the Ink Spots.

Billy Eckstine version

African-American crooner Billy Eckstine recorded his version with Duke Ellington on piano and Art Blakey on drums, on September 4, 1945. The record became a million seller and a No. 10 hit.

Perry Como versions

Perry Como's first recording was made on December 18, 1945 and released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-1814-B. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 30, 1946 and lasted 21 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 1. The flip side was "All Through the Day". This recording was re-released in 1949, by RCA Victor, as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3298-A) and a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-2886), with the flip side "Temptation". Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song of the year for 1946.

Como made two further recordings of the song: one in February 1946 for a V-Disc, number CS-656-B, and another in July 1970 in a live performance in Las Vegas, issued as a long-playing album (titled Perry Como in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas in its United States and United Kingdom releases, Perry Como in Person in its Japanese release, and Perry Como in Concert in its Dutch release).

The Como version was used on the soundtrack of the 1980 film, Raging Bull.

The Ink Spots version

This was recorded on March 18, 1946 for Decca Records (catalogue No. 18864), and it spent 11 weeks in the USA charts, peaking at No. 9.

James Brown version

James Brown revived "Prisoner of Love" in 1963. It charted at No. 6 R&B and at No. 18 Pop. The studio recording was arranged by Sammy Lowe. Brown performed the song live with his vocal group, The Famous Flames, in the concert film T.A.M.I. Show and on a mid-1960s telecast of The Ed Sullivan Show. It also appears on many of his live albums.

Other notable recordings

• 1932 Roy Fox and His Band - vocal by Al Bowlly.
• 1939 Mildred Bailey recorded for Vocalion Records (catalogue No. 5268) on March 16, 1939.
• 1941 Teddy Wilson - Lena Horne (vocal) NYC, September 16, 1941.
• 1956 Bing Crosby recorded the song for his album Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around.
• 1957 Les Paul and Mary Ford - for their album Time to Dream.
• 1957 Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, with Oscar Peterson - (instrumental) for their album Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster.
• 1958 Jerry Vale - for the album I Remember Russ.
• 1958 Matt Monro issued as a single for Fontana Records.
• 1960 The Platters on their EP Pick Of The Platters No.6.
• 1962 Frank Sinatra - recorded for his album Sinatra and Strings.
• 1962 Keely Smith - for her album Because You're Mine.
• 1962 Pat Boone - recorded for his album I'll See You in My Dreams.
• 1962 Etta James - recorded for her album Etta James Sings for Lovers.
• 1981 Flo & Eddie from their album Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie.
• 1994 Tiny Tim on his album Prisoner of love (A Tribute To Russ Columbo).

References

1. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1931). Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1931 Musical Compositions For the Year 1931 New Series Vol 26 Part 3. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
2. ^ "Prisoner of Love". www.kokomo.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
3. Reynolds, Fred (1986). The Crosby Collection 1926-1977 (Part 4 - 1951-1960 ed.). Gateshead, UK: John Joyce. p. 164.
4. "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
5. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 97. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
6. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
7. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 569. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
8. Billy Eckstine, 'Mr B', ASV Mono, Living Era, 2001
9. Gilliland, John (197X). "Show 16" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
10. "Perry Como Discography". kokomo.ca. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
11. "Number One Song of the Year: 1946-2015". Bobborst.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
12. "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
13. "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
14. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 223. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
15. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 84.
16. Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) . New York: PolyGram Records.
17. Bhamra, Chunny. "Prisoner Of Love by Roy Fox and his Band". Albowlly.club. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
18. "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
19. "Teddy Wilson Catalog". jazzdisco.org. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
20. "Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around... - Bing Crosby | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
21. "Les Paul & Mary Ford - Time To Dream". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
22. "Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster - Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
23. "I Remember Russ - Jerry Vale | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
24. "Matt Monro - Prisoner Of Love". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
25. "The Platters - My Secret". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
26. "Sinatra & Strings - Frank Sinatra | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
27. "Keely Smith - Because You're Mine". Discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
28. "Pat Boone - I'll See You In My Dreams". Discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
29. "Etta James Sings for Lovers". Discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
30. "Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie - Flo & Eddie | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
31. "Tiny Tim - Prisoner of Love (A Tribute To Russ Columbo)". Discogs. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.

External links

• AllMusic review of the James Brown recording

v t e Perry Como
Albums	Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music (1946) So Smooth (1955) We Get Letters (1957) Saturday Night with Mr. C (1958) When You Come to the End of the Day (1958) Como Swings (1959) Season's Greetings from Perry Como (1959) For the Young at Heart (1960) Sing to Me Mr. C (1961) By Request (1962) The Best of Irving Berlin's Songs from Mr. President (1962) The Songs I Love (1963) The Scene Changes (1965) Lightly Latin (1966) Perry Como in Italy (1966) The Perry Como Christmas Album (1968) Look to Your Heart (1968) Seattle (1969) Perry Como in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas (1970) It's Impossible (1970) I Think of You (1971) And I Love You So (1973) Perry (1974) Just Out of Reach (1975) 40 Greatest Hits (1975) The Best of British (UK and Canada) (1977) Where You're Concerned (US) (1978) Perry Como (1980) Perry Como Live on Tour (1981) So It Goes / Goodbye for Now (1983) Today (1987) Perry Como's Christmas Concert (1994) On the Radio – The Perry Como Shows 1943 (2009) At the Supper Club (2010) At the Supper Club Part II (2011) At the Supper Club Part III (2011)
Songs	"'A' You're Adorable" "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" "And I Love You So" "As Time Goes By" "Bali Ha'i" "Because" "Beyond Tomorrow" "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" "Blue Room" "A Bushel and a Peck" "Can't Help Falling in Love" "Caterina" "Catch a Falling Star" "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)" "Confessin'" "Days of Wine and Roses" "Deep in the Heart of Texas" "Delaware" "Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba)" "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" "Dream Along with Me (I'm on My Way to a Star)" "A Dreamer's Holiday" "El Cóndor Pasa" "Far Away Places" "Feelings" "Fly Me to the Moon" "For the Good Times" "Forever and Ever" "Forget Domani" "Give Me Your Hand" "Glendora" "The Gypsy in My Soul" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" "Hello, Young Lovers" "Here, There and Everywhere" "Home for the Holidays" "Hoop-Dee-Doo" "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" "A House Is Not a Home" "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore" "I Dream of You (More Than You Dream I Do)" "I May Never Pass This Way Again" "I Think I Love You" "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" "I'll Be Home for Christmas" "If (They Made Me a King)" "It's a Good Day" "It's Been a Long, Long Time" "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" "Juke Box Baby" "Kewpie Doll" "Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)" "Long Ago (and Far Away)" "The Lord's Prayer" "Magic Moments" "Mandolins in the Moonlight" "Maria" "Moon River" "More" "No Other Love" "Papa Loves Mambo" "Please Mr. Sun" "Prisoner of Love" "Round and Round" "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" "Say You're Mine Again" "Seattle" "The Shadow of Your Smile" "Some Enchanted Evening" "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" "The Songs I Love" "Stop! And Think It Over" "Surrender" "Till the End of Time" "They Say It's Wonderful" "Unchained Melody" "Wanted" "The Way You Look Tonight" "What'll I Do" "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" "Young at Heart"
Related	Perry Como discography Perry Como television and radio shows Beat the Band The Chesterfield Supper Club List of songs recorded by Perry Como Goodman Ace Mitchell Ayres Ray Charles Frank Gallop Nick Perito
Category

• Perry Como songs
• James Brown songs
• Lena Horne songs
• Al Bowlly songs
• Songs with lyrics by Leo Robin
• 1931 songs
• 1946 singles
• 1963 singles
• Mildred Bailey songs
• Etta James songs
• Songs written by Clarence Gaskill