你微笑的影子 (1965)

"The Shadow of Your Smile", also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", is a popular song and jazz standard with music by Johnny Mandel and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper and later became an Easy Listening hit for Tony Bennett in a version arranged and conducted by Mandel. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Background

Johnny Mandel wrote the "Love Theme from The Sandpiper" as part of the score for the film, and his first choice to write the lyrics was Johnny Mercer. The film's producer, however, was unhappy with what Mercer submitted and hired Paul Francis Webster. After Mercer heard what Webster wrote, he said, "I figured with 'The Shadow of Your Smile' he was in love with a lady with a mustache."

In The Sandpiper

The music from the film was conducted by Robert Armbruster and produced by Quincy Jones. The song is heard over the opening credits as an instrumental with jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon playing the melody. A chorus sings the song over the closing credits. In a review of the soundtrack album, the editors of Billboard magazine described the song as "wistful".

Tony Bennett version

The first rendition of the song to become a chart hit was by Tony Bennett, who recorded it on September 26, 1965, with piano accompaniment by Jimmy Rowles and an orchestra conducted by Mandel, who also arranged the music. It was produced by Ernie Altschuler and Allen Stanton and included on The Movie Song Album in 1966.

Chart performance

Bennett's recording debuted on Billboard's Easy Listening chart in the issue dated November 13, 1965, and got as high as number 28 during its 13 weeks there. The November 20 issue included its first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 95 over the course of six weeks.

Critical reception

In their review column, the editors of Cash Box magazine featured the single as a Pick of the Week, which was their equivalent to a letter grade of A for both "The Shadow of Your Smile" and its B-side, "I'll Miss Her When I Think of Her". They described Bennett's recording of "The Shadow of Your Smile" as a "top-drawer reading" and wrote, "The chanter dishes up the moody, romantic ballad in his distinctive, full-bodied commanding style." The editors of Billboard wrote that it was "given the special warm Bennett treatment with the potential and appeal of 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco'. A winner all the way!" In a retrospective review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann wrote that "in 'The Shadow of Your Smile' …, Bennett found material worthy of him".

Awards and accolades

At the 8th Annual Grammy Awards, "The Shadow of Your Smile" was recognized in three categories. Bennett received a nomination for Best Vocal Performance, Male. His recording was also up for Record of the Year. Mandel and Webster won for Song of the Year, beating out "Yesterday" by the Beatles. Alan Livingston, the head of Capitol Records (the Beatles' US label), complained about the decision, saying that "Yesterday" losing Song of the Year "makes a mockery of the whole event".

"The Shadow of Your Smile" also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 38th Academy Awards, where it was sung by Barbara McNair. It was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. In 2004, it finished at number 77 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs poll of the top tunes in American cinema.

Johnny Mathis version

Johnny Mathis recorded the song on January 12, 1966, with an orchestra conducted by Jack Elliott, who also arranged the music. It was produced by Don Rieber for his album The Shadow of Your Smile.

Chart performance

Mathis's recording of the song "The Shadow of Your Smile" debuted on Music Vendor magazine's Going Up – Heading for the Top 100 chart in the issue dated April 23, 1966, and peaked at number 117 during its seven weeks there.

Critical reception

In reviews of the album of the same name, Variety wrote, "Mathis does very well by the title song". Billboard noted, "The beautiful ballad from The Sandpiper serves as the title tune and basis for the LP."

Lou Rawls version

Lou Rawls recorded the song in front of an invited audience at Capitol Studios in Hollywood for his 1966 album Live! on January 31 and February 1 of that year. It was produced by David Axelrod and featured Tommy Strode on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Jimmy Bond on bass and Earl Palmer on drums.

Chart performance

Rawls's recording spent two weeks in July 1966 on Billboard's R&B chart, during which time it peaked at number 33. It reached number 23 on Cash Box magazine's R&B chart.

Critical reception

In their review of Live!, the editors of Billboard described the recording as a "memorable rendition". In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Craig Lytle described the arrangement as "moderately paced" and wrote, "But Rawls loses no steam; he romances the lyric with vehemence."

Boots Randolph version

Boots Randolph recorded "The Shadow of Your Smile" for his 1966 album Boots with Strings on which his saxophone provided the melody before a chorus assisted with background vocals. The album was produced by Fred Foster.