“Endless Love” is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and fellow R&B singer Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their “endless love” for one another. It was covered by R&B singer Luther Vandross with fellow R&B singer Mariah Carey and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie’s friend (and sometimes co-worker) Kenny Rogers has also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all-time.
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie recorded the song for Motown, and it was used as the theme for the Franco Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel Endless Love. (Jamie Bernstein, as the character Susan, sings the song during the course of the movie.) Produced by Richie and arranged by Gene Page, it was released as a single from the film’s soundtrack in 1981.
While the film Endless Love was a modest box-office success, the song became the second biggest-selling single of the year (first was “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes) in the U.S. and reached number 1 on the Hot 100, where it stayed for nine weeks from August 15 to October 10, 1981. It also topped the Billboard R&B chart and the Adult Contemporary chart, and reached number 7 in the UK. It also became the most successful duet of the rock era, surpassing the Everly Brothers’ 1957 hit “Wake Up Little Susie,” which spent four weeks at number one. Both songs spent six months on the chart, with “Endless Love” eclipsing the Everly’s hit by one week.
The soulful composition became the biggest-selling single of Ross’ career, and her 18th and final career number-one single (including her work with The Supremes). It was also Richie’s biggest charting single, and the first of several hits for Richie during the 1980s. Ross recorded a solo version of the song for her first RCA Records album, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, the duet version being her last hit on Motown. Richie solo version was released as track ten on the ‘2003 remaster bonus’ edition Richie’s 1982 album. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Richie, and was the second song with which Ross was involved that was nominated for an Oscar. It also won a 1982 American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single.
Endless Love (1981)
My love, there’s only you in my life
The only thing that’s bright
My first love,
You’re every breath that I take
You’re every step I make
And I, I want to share
All my love with you
No one else will do
And your eyes, your eyes, your eyes
They tell me how much you care
Ooh yes,
You will always be
My endless love
Two hearts,
Two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun
Forever (Oh)
I’ll hold you close in my arms
I can’t resist your charms
And love, oh love
I’ll be a fool, for you I’m sure
You know I don’t mind (Oh)
You know I don’t mind
‘Cause you,
You mean the world to me (Oh)
I know I know
I’ve found, I’ve found in you
My endless love
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