Every now and then, I like to take you waaaaaay back in time … some of you weren’t even born yet in 1951 when this song was released by Tommy Edwards, but I remember it well … remember hearing it long after the year 1951, the year of my birth! This song has a unique history, for it is the only #1 single to have been written by a man who would become a U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate!
Charles Dawes
Charles Dawes composed the music, titled “Melody in A Major”, back in 1911 before becoming Vice President in 1925 under President Calvin Coolidge! But in 1911 Dawes, then a Chicago bank president and amateur pianist and flautist, composed the tune in a single sitting at his lakeshore home in Evanston, Illinois. He played it for a friend, the violinist Francis MacMillen, who took Dawes’s sheet music to a publisher. Dawes, known for his federal appointments and a United States Senate candidacy, was surprised to find a portrait of himself in a State Street shop window with copies of the tune for sale. Dawes quipped, “I know that I will be the target of my punster friends. They will say that if all the notes in my bank are as bad as my musical ones, they are not worth the paper they were written on.” The tune, often dubbed “Dawes’s Melody”, followed him into politics, and he grew to detest hearing it wherever he appeared. It was a favorite of violinist Fritz Kreisler, who used it as his closing number, and in the 1940s it was picked up by musicians such as Tommy Dorsey.
Then in 1951, songwriter Carl Sigman had an idea for a song, and Dawes’s “Melody” struck him as suitable for his sentimental lyrics. Dawes had died in April of that year, but the song was recorded in 1951 by such notables as Dinah Shore, Sammy Kaye, and Carmen Cavallaro. But, it was Tommy Edwards’ version in 1958 that soared to #1 in both the UK and the U.S. At the time he recorded it, his MGM contract was coming to an end, without Edwards having achieved any great success, but this song helped him revive his musical career for another two years.
It’s All in the Game was also a #24 hit for the Four Tops in 1970, six months after the death of Tommy Edwards. As much as I adore the Four Tops, I have to admit I prefer Edwards’ version of this one, but I will offer both for your listening pleasure!
It’s All in the Game
Tommy Edwards
Many a tear has to fall but it’s all in the game
All in the wonderful game that we know as love
You have words with him and your future’s looking dim
But these things your hearts can rise above
Once in a while he won’t call but it’s all in the game
Soon he’ll be there at your side with a sweet bouquet
And he’ll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
with a sweet bouquet
Then he’ll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Carl Sigman / Charles Gates Dawes
It’s All in the Game lyrics © BMG Rights Management
As much as I love the Four Tops, Tommy Edwards has this song nailed. Why do I remember this as clear as a bell? It must have been playing long after he wrote it. I’m a year younger than you are!
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I agree … I do love the Four Tops, but for this song, it’s got to be Tommy Edwards. I remember it just as clearly … I think it is one of those timeless classics!
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I think so, too!
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Unknown by me, but you are always choosing great songs, Jill! Thank you, and enjoy your evening! Michael
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Both versions are wonderful, thanks much for the heartfelt share. This song sounds vaguely familiar as i’m sure my grandmother played it for me. I’m partial to TE’s elegant rendition, hypnotic as a lullaby.
A joyous weekend to all ❤
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Jill, what a back story! I like the Tommy Edwards version the best, as well. Keith
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I thought so too! Glad you enjoyed this one, Keith!
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Remembering when… Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure!!! Glad to have brought back (hopefully) good memories!
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I always liked this song. Thanks for the backstory. I never knew Dawes wrote the melody.
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I thought the backstory was worth the air time, even if I hadn’t liked the song! Luckily, I liked the song, too!
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Win-Win
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Tommy Edwards had a superb voice and I enjoyed that version. But, even though this wasn’t the best Four Tops version, it was still the one for me. Levi Stubbs Jnr put so much emotion into his voice you can’t help but feel it with him, well I couldn’t anyway. I shall try to get round to forgiving Clive for his blasphemy. I am very grateful not to have heard a Cliff Richard version.
Cwtch
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I thought you might prefer the Four Tops’ version, which is partly why I included it. I love the ‘Tops’, but for this one, I preferred Edwards’ version. Heh heh … I do hope you can forgive Clive … and I, too, am happy that until yesterday I had never heard of Cliff Richards. I have now put him out of my mind … forever!
Cwtch
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I just loved the Tommy Edwards version that was popular in 1958 when I was a Junior in high school. Thanks for including that version. It brings back good memories. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’m so glad it brought good memories and that you liked it! Quite an interesting backstory, too!
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Now there’s a ‘standard’!.
Thanks for the history Jill
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My pleasure! Glad you liked it!
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Loved this record then, still over it now. But have you ever played the flip side. I wasn’t even nine yet when this was released, but I had this quirk that since a record had two sides I had to hear both sides. Please Love Me Forever, though a hit by at least one someone else (Bobby Vinton? Bobby Vee, maybe?) was a big hit for me. I knew nothing about love yet, but the lyrics enthalled me, and Tommy’s voice sent shivers up my spine. He was probably one of the first black recording artists I ever heard, along with Harry Belafonte. Then Motown happened, and my love of soul was secured forever.
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No, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the flip side, but I’ll check it out in a bit. It is not at all a surprise to know you always listened to both sides of a record! I rarely did, though perhaps I should have, for I might have missed some good music. I’m happy you liked this one!
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Thank you for giving us the original, which I agree is better than the Four Tops. And it’s way ahead of the version I knew as a kid, by the dreaded Cliff Richard!
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I never heard of Cliff Richard … from the tone of your voice here, I’d say that’s something to be thankful for! Glad you liked this!
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Cliff Richard started in the late 50s as some kind of U.K. wannabe Elvis, but quickly moved into mainstream pop and incredibly boring rubbish. Much loved by grans, who grew up with him, and he still hasn’t had the decency to retire. To be avoided like the pandemic!
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Then I shan’t even waste time going to check him out and listen to his music! 😊
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Oh, go on, you might like him!
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