To All the Girls I've Loved Before - Willie Nelson/Julio Iglesias (1984) 12/16/23

Willie Nelson and his wife Connie were vacationing in London, when they heard a Julio Iglesias song on the radio.

Willie was impressed, so Connie suggested he get in touch with Julio's management and ask if there was any possibility  they could record together.

And that's how a Great Song of 1984 was born.

But let's backtrack a bit. A few years prior, Albert Hammond ("It never Rains in Southern California") teamed up with renowned lyricist Hal David to write a song for Frank Sinatra--but Frank turned it down. So Albert recorded it himself, and then Bobby Vinton took at shot at it. Neither version garnered any attention.

Meanwhile, Julio agreed to record with an unsuspecting Willie, who had no idea that he was teaming up with one of the most successful singers in Europe. After all, Julio was a complete unknown in the US.

Once that tidbit of information became clear, Willie was even more impressed and wanted to make sure whatever they recorded would be a hit.

Julio wanted the same thing--as well as a chance to crack the North American market--so he asked his producer if he had any songs that might work.

That producer was Albert Hammond.

Albert told Julio a little white lie: "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" was a brand new song. Fortunately, he also told the truth: It would be perfect as a duet with Willie.

No word on whether Willie knew it wasn't a new song, but he and Julio agreed to record it, and it was released as a single from Julio's album, "1100 Bel Air Place."

"To All The Girls I've Loved Before" became an instant triple chart hit in both the US & Canada. Here at home, the song topped Billboard's Country Chart, while reaching #3 on The Adult Contemporary Chart and #5 on The Hot 100.

In Canada, it did even better, topping all 3 matching charts!

Julio--with Willie, of course--had conquered North America.

In the end, when you consider the team behind "To All The Girls I've Loved Before:" Albert Hammond, Hal David, Julio and Willie--how could it be anything other than a Great Song of 1984!? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc3az7mJYFw

Tomorrow: Kenny's loss, Chicago's gain.