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"Words of Love"
45-rpm record released by Coral Records, 1957
Single by Buddy Holly
B-side	"Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues"
Released	June 20, 1957
Recorded	April 8, 1957
Genre	Jangle pop folk rock
Length	1:56
Label	Coral 61852
Songwriter(s)	Buddy Holly
Producer(s)	Norman Petty
Buddy Holly singles chronology
"Modern Don Juan" (1956) "Words of Love" (1957) "That'll Be the Day" (1957)

"Words of Love" is a song written by Buddy Holly and released as a single in 1957.

Original version

Holly recorded the song on April 8, 1957. Holly harmonized with himself, by combining tape recordings of each part. The song was not a notable hit for Holly, although it is regarded as one of his important recordings and is available in most standard Holly collections.

A compilation album, Words of Love, released by PolyGram in the UK in 1993, reached number 1 and was certified as a gold record.

The Diamonds version

A doo-wop version by the Diamonds, released by Mercury Records on May 20, 1957, reached number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1957, making the song Holly's first hit, though as a composer not performer. The Diamonds also performed the song live on the ABC television show Circus Time on June 27, 1957, and included it on the 1962 Mercury LP album Pop Hits (MGW 12178).

The Beatles' version

"Words of Love"
B-side label of 1965 Indian single
Song by the Beatles
from the album Beatles for Sale
Released	December 4, 1964
Recorded	October 18, 1964
Studio	EMI, London
Genre	Pop
Length	2:12 (mono) 2:02 (stereo)
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Buddy Holly
Producer(s)	George Martin
Music video
"Words of Love" on YouTube

The Beatles recorded a cover version of the song on October 18, 1964 for the UK album Beatles for Sale. It first appeared in the U.S. on the album Beatles VI. It was also on a 7-inch extended play, Beatles for Sale No. 2, released by Parlophone/EMI in 1965. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were fans of Holly, sang in harmony with George Harrison, holding to the vocal and instrumental sound of Holly's original as well as they could. Before their big break, the group had performed the song live between 1958 and 1962, with Lennon and Harrison singing. For the official release, though, Lennon and McCartney shared vocal duties. The song only took two takes, along with a vocal overdub. The mono mix is longer than the stereo mix.

Personnel

• John Lennon – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Paul McCartney – lead vocals, bass
• George Harrison – lead vocals, double-tracked lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums, packing case

Personnel according to Ian MacDonald

Other recordings and Solo Recordings by the Former Beatles

A 1963 Beatles performance of "Words of Love" recorded for BBC broadcast is included on the 2013 compilation album On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2. The recording was also included on a five-song promotional EP from the album, and on a DVD or Blu-ray included with the 2015 album 1+, The Beatles also jammed a version of the song during the Get Back/Let it Be session in 1969

Paul McCartney performed the song in 1985 on acoustic guitar for the documentary The Real Buddy Holly Story.

Pete Best, a former drummer for The Beatles during August 1960 to August 1962 recorded a version of the song with his group The Pete Best Band in 1999.

Other cover versions

• Jessica Lea Mayfield recorded a cover version of the song for the Starbucks compilation Sweetheart: Our Favorite Artists Sing Their Favorite Love Songs.
• Pat DiNizio covered the song for his tribute CD, Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly, in 2009.
• The power pop band Shoes covered the song for the 1989 Buddy Holly tribute album Everyday Is a Holly Day.
• Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs released a recording of the song in 1964 on the album Buddy's Buddy.
• Mike Berry recorded the song in 1999 for the tribute album Buddy—A Life in Music, released on the Hallmark label.
• The Pete Best Band recorded the song in 1999.
• Jeremy Jay recorded the song in 2009.
• Patti Smith's cover of the song is featured on the 2011 release Rave on Buddy Holly, a tribute album featuring performances of Holly's music by various artists.
• Jeff Lynne contributed a cover version to the tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, released in 2011.

References

1. Sergio Ariza. "A Legacy That Won't Fade Away". Retrieved February 11, 2022.
2. Don McLean. "Buddy Holly, Rock Music Genius". CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
3. Segretto, Mike (2022). "Rock and Roll: The First Eight Years". 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999. Backbeat. pp. 13–14. ISBN 9781493064601.
4. "Song artist 253 - Buddy Holly". Tsort.info. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
5. "Album artist 488 - Buddy Holly". Tsort.info. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
6. ""Words Of Love" by The Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History. Song Structure and Style". Beatlesebooks.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
7. "Words Of Love". The Beatles Bible. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
8. MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (2nd rev. ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). pp. 140–141. ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
9. Words of love (acoustic), retrieved 2023-09-08
10. "Various - Sweetheart '09 (Our Favorite Artists Sing Their Favorite Love Songs)". Discogs.com. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
11. "Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly - Pat DiNizio". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
12. "Various - Everyday is a Holly-Day". Discogs.com. 1989. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
13. "Jimmy Gilmer - Buddy's Buddy (Buddy Holly Songs by Jimmy Gilmer)". Discogs.com. 1965. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
14. "Cover versions of Words of Love by Buddy Holly". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
15. "Rave on Buddy Holly - Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
16. "Various - Listen to Me: Buddy Holly". Discogs.com. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

• 1957 songs
• 1957 singles
• Buddy Holly songs
• The Beatles songs
• The Diamonds songs
• Jangle pop songs
• Music published by MPL Music Publishing
• Song recordings produced by George Martin
• Songs written by Buddy Holly
• 1950s ballads