It's Only Love (B. J. Thomas song)

"It's Only Love"
Single by B. J. Thomas
from the album Young and In Love
B-side"You Don't Love Me Anymore ("The Train Song")"
ReleasedMarch 1969
GenrePop, Easy Listening
LabelScepter
Songwriter(s)
B. J. Thomas singles chronology
"Hooked on a Feeling"
(1968) 		"It's Only Love"
(1969) 		"Pass the Apple Eve"
(1969)

"It's Only Love'" is a 1969 song by B. J. Thomas from his LP Young and In Love. Elvis Presley made the song a top hit in the UK, reaching No. 3 in 1980.

Thomas' original of "It's Only Love" was released in the spring of 1969. It became a modest hit in the United States: Billboard No. 45, Cash Box No. 28 and AC No. 19,[1] while peaking at No. 24 in Canada.[2]

Elvis Presley cover

"It's Only Love"
Single by Elvis Presley
B-side"The Sound of Your Cry" (U.S.)
"Beyond the Reef" (UK)
ReleasedSeptember 21, 1971
RecordedMay 20, 1971
StudioRCA Studio B, Nashville
GenreRock, easy listening
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"I'm Leavin'" / "Heart of Rome"
(1971) 		"It's Only Love" / "The Sound of Your Cry"
(1971) 		"Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
(1971)

"It's Only Love" was covered two and a half years later by Elvis Presley in the fall of 1971, and released as a single along with "The Sound of Your Cry" on the B-side.[3] Accompanying vocals were provided by the Imperials.

According to the Elvis Presley official website: "Another double-ballad selection, another Elvis pick, another sales dud. 'It's Only Love' was a legitimate listener-friendly stab at the pop market (by Mark James, author of 'Suspicious Minds'), and Elvis put real effort into it. But it sold no more than 1968’s 'A Little Less Conversation', the previous low for a regular-issue Elvis single."[4]

In the United States, "It's Only Love" reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of November 6, 1971.[5] It also charted on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.[6]

In 1980, it was released in some countries as a single with "Beyond the Reef" on the B-side. In the UK Singles Chart the single charted as "It's Only Love / Beyond the Reef" (double-A-sided), peaking at No. 3 on the week of August 30, 1980.[7] As of August 2017, the single "It's Only Love" / "Beyond The Reef" is Presley's nineteenth most selling single in the UK.[8]

Also the song "It's Only Love" was included in the 1980 box set Elvis Aron Presley (on the record 8 titled "Lost Singles").[9]

Charts

B. J. Thomas
Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[2] 24
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[10] 45
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening 37
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[1] 28
Elvis Presley
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[11] 46
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 51
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[6] 19
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 51
Chart (1980) Peak
position
UK (Official Charts Company)[7] 3

Certifications

Elvis Presley version

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 26, 1969
  2. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-04-28. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  3. ^ "Elvis Presley - It's Only Love / The Sound Of Your Cry at Discogs". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  4. ^ "It's Only Love". Elvis Presley official website "Elvis the Music". Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  5. ^ a b "Elvis Presley - Chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  6. ^ a b "Elvis Presley - Chart history (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  7. ^ a b "Elvis Presley - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  8. ^ "Elvis Presley's Top 50 bestselling songs". Official Charts Company. 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  9. ^ "Elvis Presley - Elvis Aron Presley (1955-1980 - 25 Anniversary) at Discogs". Discogs. 1980. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  10. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-11-13. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  12. ^ "British single certifications – Elvis Presley – It's Only Love". British Phonographic Industry.