Love Is the Sweetest Thing

For other songs with the terms "sweetest thing" in the song title, see Sweetest Thing (disambiguation).
"Love Is the Sweetest Thing"
Single by Ray Noble and His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, vocal Al Bowlly
B-sideI'll Do My Best to Make You Happy[1]
PublishedNovember 9, 1932 (1932-11-09) by Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd., London, UK[2]
ReleasedJune 30, 1933 (1933-06-30)[1]
RecordedSeptember 8, 1932 (1932-09-08)[3]
StudioAbbey Road Studios 2, London, UK[3]
GenrePopular Music, British dance band
Length3:18
LabelVictor 24333[1]
Songwriter(s)Ray Noble[2]
Official Audio
"Love Is the Sweetest Thing" on YouTube

"Love Is the Sweetest Thing" is a popular song written in 1932 by British band leader and singer Ray Noble. Using guest vocalist Al Bowlly, Noble's recording was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing Noble his first American success.[4] It was published by Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd.[2] Like most compositions published in the period (commonly called Tin Pan Alley songs), its main refrain (in thirty-two bar A-A-B-A form) is preceded with what were then called "sectional verses" or "introductory verses" which are usually omitted from early recordings and modern performances.

  1. ^ a b c "Victor 24333 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  2. ^ a b "Gramophone matrix 0B3196. Love is the sweetest thing / New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  3. ^ "A Century of Song: Part One". www.m-magazine.co.uk. PRS for Music. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2018. Love is the Sweetest Thing was a massive hit for Ray on both sides of the Atlantic, earning him his first US number one. Its success brought him a few Hollywood acting roles, where he played alongside Fred Astaire and Joan Fontaine in the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress.