Portrait of My Love

"Portrait of My Love"
Single by Matt Monro
from the album My Kind of Girl
B-side"You're the Top of My Hit Parade"
Released1960
GenreTraditional pop
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)Norman Newell (as David West) & Cyril Ornadel[1]
Matt Monro singles chronology
"I'll Know Her"
(1960)
"Portrait of My Love"
(1960)
"My Kind of Girl"
(1961)

"Portrait of My Love" is a song written by Norman Newell and Cyril Ornadel, which was released by Matt Monro in 1960, and was an international hit for Steve Lawrence in 1961.

Matt Monro version

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In 1960, Matt Monro released the song as a single. The song was Monro's first hit single, and spent 16 weeks on the UK's Record Retailer chart, reaching No. 3,[2] also reaching No. 3 on the UK's New Musical Express chart.[3] In 1961, the song was released on Monro's album My Kind of Girl.[4]

Charts

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Chart (1961) Peak
position
UK Record Retailer[2] 3
UK New Musical Express[3] 3

Steve Lawrence version

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"Portrait of My Love"
Single by Steve Lawrence
from the album Portrait Of My Love
B-side"Oh How You Lied"
Released1961
GenreTraditional pop
Length2:51
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Norman Newell (as David West) & Cyril Ornadel[5]
Producer(s)Don Costa[6]
Steve Lawrence singles chronology
"Hansel and Gretel"
(1960)
"Portrait of My Love"
(1961)
"My Clair De Lune"
(1961)

In 1961, Steve Lawrence released a version of the song as a single and on the album Portrait of My Love. Lawrence's version became an international hit and spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 9,[7] while reaching No. 1 in the Philippines,[8] No. 7 in Australia,[9] and No. 9 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.[10]

Lawrence's version was ranked No. 30 on Billboard's end of year "Hot 100 for 1961 - Top Sides of the Year"[11] and No. 81 on Cash Box's "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961".[12]

In 1962, Steve Lawrence was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his rendition of "Portrait of My Love".[13]

Awards

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In 1961, the song won songwriters Norman Newell and Cyril Ornadel the British Songwriters Guild's Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Song of 1960".[14][1]

In 1999, the song was honored at the BMI Awards in London for having 2 million radio plays.[15]

Other versions

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The Ivors 1961". The Ivors. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Matt Monro - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Best Selling Pop Records in Britain", Billboard, January 30, 1961. p. 56. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "My Kind of Girl - Matt Monro". AllMusic. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Portrait of My Love - By: Steve Lawrence, MusicVF.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  6. ^ "Announcing Don Costa Productions, Inc.", Billboard, October 19, 1961. p. 9. Accessed December 17, 2015.
  7. ^ Hot 100 - Steve Lawrence Portrait of My Love Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "Steve Lawrence Tune Still Tops", Billboard, June 19, 1961. p. 22. Accessed December 17, 2015.
  9. ^ "Billboard Music Week Hits of the World", Billboard, May 22, 1961. p. 12. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  10. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade – Week of May 8, 1961". CHUM. Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2018-03-12. Chart No. 211.
  11. ^ "Chart Toppers", Billboard, December 25, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  12. ^ "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961", Cash Box, December 30, 1961. p. 12. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  13. ^ "RCA Victor Leads List Of Grammy Nominations", Billboard, May 5, 1962. p. 32. Accessed December 17, 2015.
  14. ^ "Steve Lawrence's 'Portrait' Takes English Ivors Award", Billboard, March 27, 1961. p. 12. Accessed December 17, 2015.
  15. ^ "1999 BMI/PRS Awards", BMI. Music Industry News Network. November 5, 1999. Accessed July 26, 2015
  16. ^ Hot 100 - The Tokens Portrait of My Love Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  17. ^ Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, June 3, 1967. p. 4. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "100 Top Pops", Record World, June 3, 1967. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  19. ^ "RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 7, No. 12, May 20, 1967. Retrieved January 13, 2024.