I am a fan of Latin music, and a big fan of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, and this is one of my favourites of theirs. I did not even know that Dusty Springfield had recorded it at all, let alone that hers is the more well-known.
According to Burt Bacharach, who wrote this song …
“I had Dusty sing that very sexy. Dusty was very open to suggestions. To listen to the vocal back with her she’d have to go into a control room to hear it. She wanted to hear it alone. She was very tough on herself. But she did a great job.”
The Look Of Love was written by Bacharach for the movie Casino Royale. It was nominated for an Oscar but didn’t win, and Springfield’s version reached only the #22 slot in the U.S. The cover by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, however, did become a #4 hit in the US in 1968 after Mendes performed this on the Academy Awards telecast.
Now, since my favourite version hands down is Sergio’s, I shall play it first, but I will also include Dusty Springfield’s for those who prefer it.
The Look Of Love
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66/Dusty Springfield
The look of love
Is in your eyes
A look your smile can’t
disguise
The look of love
Is saying so much more than
Just words could every say
And what my heart has heard
Well it takes my breath away
I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you
You’ve got the look of love
It’s on your face
A look that time can’t erase
Baby be mine, tonight
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lovers vow
And seal it with a kiss
I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you
Don’t ever go
Don’t ever go
I love you so
The look of love
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lover’s vow
And baby we’ll seal it with a kiss
I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David
The Look Of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Thanks for the wonderful share, both versions are excellent! Luvin’ ur tune selections ❤
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They both have their own merits. It would depend on the day which version I would prefer. Having said that, if Dusty could have been convinced to sing for Sergio, the record may have hit No. 1 all over the world, or it may equally have bombed. Good digging, Jill.
And now for a little bit of “Love is Blue” by Paul Mariat and his Orchestra. (Can you believe country music star Marty Robbins covered Love is Blue once it was given lyrics. Jill, you will never know the magical musical mystery tours you take me on just by bringing forgotten songs back to my attention. I still have one more song to go on this present tour, The Ballad of El Paso, but I figured I best finish this comment before I am forcibly removed from this mellowsweet mood. Just by reason of nothing, The Ballad of El Paso was the inspiration for my first one-panel cartoon: Imagine a posse of deputies chasing Marty Robbins through the desert, bullets flying all around, when the horse has a flash of realization and throws on his brakes, causing Marty Robbins to fly ass-over-teakettle over his head. The caption reads, “Why in the hell am I dodging bullets? I didn’t kill nobody!)
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I’m like you in that … it depends sometimes on my ‘mood of the moment’ which version of any given song, or which song, even, I might prefer. Dusty has done a number of songs I really like, but for this one, it’s always Sergio for me. Dusty tries just a little too hard for the sexy, sultry sound here.
I am so happy knowing that my music posts take you on ‘magical musical mystery tours’. I find that they do the same for me … I am rediscovering old favourites, songs I’ve long forgotten about.
I love the cartoon image!
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Ah, restorative retribution 50 years late. Playboy turned the cartoon down. Glad you liked it.
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If you had made the characters in the cartoon nude and … um … overhung … then Playboy would likely have snapped it up in a heartbeat!
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Damn, where were you then? My whole life coulda been changed. But, I prefer me the way I am today. I have no real regrets, except failing to live up to the way certain people hoped I could be, like my first ever fiance. If she is still alive I would “owe her an amends” despite never having been an alcoholic or a drug addict. I was certainly a “Linda-aholic, ” and that turned out a bad thing to be.
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I guess I was otherwise occupied! Raising children, trying to get an education, juggling! Sorry … but you did okay anyway! Fame and fortune might have changed you. Yes, being too reliant on any one person is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve both learned.
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I respectfully disagree, Dusty sounds perfectly Dusty. She’s adapting her voice with the jazzy element of this song. Lead singer Janis Hansen from Sergio Mendes group sounds sexier IMHO. 🙂
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I have to agree in listening to the two, Sergio had the more uptempo version. Dusty seemed to be all about Dusty.
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Thanks, John! Both versions are good, but I agree with your take, that Sergio’s was smoother, more upbeat. I think Dusty’s sultry voice captures many songs well, but not this one.
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😁
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Did ‘Our Dusty’ ever produce a ‘bad’ song…No!
I loved that smooth sound from Sergio Mendes though…..’Mas Que Nada’…..sigh. (Only good version of ‘Fool On A Hill’)
So they are both…… Great!!
Excellent choices Jill
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Awesome! I’m glad you found both versions to your liking! Oh, and I do agree that they did a good version of “Fool on a Hill”, but I also loved McCartney’s.
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I didn’t dig the lyrics man….
I mean, like this guy’s on a hill and no one likes him. Like that’s harsh man.
Bring on the Velvet Underground, Steppenwolf and Steve Miller Band 😉
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🤣 Um … we’ll see, but don’t hold your breath 😉
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So no Captain Beefheart then Jill? 😉
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Jill, I echo Roger on Steppenwolf and Steve Miller. Great songs and lyrics. Miller has a huge body of work that includes and precedes when he hit it big for a few years. John Kay of Steppenwolf has a terrific rock-n-roll voice that is deeper than others, making it grittier. He wore sunglasses because the stage lights made his eyes water, but it added to his mystique. You can find some gems to write about. Here are two – Jet Airliner by Miller and Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. Roger has a few to add, I am sure. Keith
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Quite right Keith!
I will restrain myself to one each:
Steve Miller Band – The magnificently atmospheric opening track on ‘Sailor’- ‘Song for Our Ancestors’.
Steppenwolf – Album ‘At Your Birthday Party’ The gritty rock and roll of ‘Jupiter’s Child’
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You guys are determined to pull me out of my comfort zone, aren’t you? 🤣🤣
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Worry not dear Lady, we were just strolling back down memory lane 😄
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😊 Stroll along then … sooner or later, you will hit on something I like well enough to play!
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(Sneaky subversive interlude)
Check out Captain Beefheart ‘The Day That Love Came To Stay’ an honest to goodness uncomplicated love song 😉
(as opposed to ‘Ice Cream for Crow’ or ‘On The My Oh My’- even these being examples of the more comprehensible)
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Quite often, you and Roger both like my selections, and I like your suggestions. However, I listened to some of Roger’s recommendations and … oh my head! Here, our paths diverge, I fear! Okay, I did like Magic Carpet Ride, so maybe you’ll hear that one! 😉
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Jill, OK let’s try a softer one, Steve Miller’s “Fly like an eagle.” It was used in the movie “Space Jam” with Michael Jordan and cartoon characters, even thought it was written before. Steppenwolf is a grittier sound, so I can see why you might not fancy them. Keith
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I tried that one … I’m sorry … just can’t love that one. Got anything else?
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Hmmmm … I’ll take a look, but … probably not. So sorry!
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Very wise
Not the most universally acceptable music….
🙃
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Both are good versions, but I Dusty has that voice.
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True … and some of her songs I love … but I didn’t care for her on this one, for some reason.
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