Song record producer disliked became No. 1 hit
This week in 1970: U.A.W. began a strike against General Motors in Detroit; Cuba reported killing eight armed mercenaries from the U.S.; U.S.S.R. Luna landed—ending the first unmanned round trip to the moon; and a singer from Ferriday, La., had his 26th hit record.
Some songs have been recorded despite the dislike of that song by the person or persons producing the recording session.
According to record producer Jerry Kennedy, Jerry Lewis’ 1970 No. 1 “There Must Be More To Love That This” was one of those songs. Kennedy commented, “I was not in love with that song—I just did not believe in the song. But Jerry Lee liked it and was sold on recording it, so we did. And when I heard the playback, I changed my mind about the song. I could not believe the song could come off as good as it did.”
“There Must Be More To Love Than This” was written by Laverne Thomas and William Taylor, who was Jerry Lee’s trumpet player at the time.
The Mercury Records single entered the country music charts Aug. 22, 1970, and was in the No. 1 slot on Sept. 26th. The record stuck in the top slot for two weeks. It was on the charts for 15 weeks.
Jerry Lee Lewis placed 65 songs on the country music charts between 1957 and 1989— including six No. 1s. Fifteen of those 65 singles also scored on the pop music charts.