Almost Like Being in Love

"Almost Like Being in Love"
Single by Michael Johnson
from the album The Michael Johnson album
B-side	"Ridin' in the Sky"
Released	August 1978
Genre	Pop
Label	EMI
Michael Johnson singles chronology

"Almost Like Being in Love"
Song
Published	1947
Composer(s)	Frederick Loewe
Lyricist(s)	Alan Jay Lerner

"Almost Like Being in Love" is a show tune with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. It was written for the score of their 1947 musical Brigadoon.^[1] The song was first sung by David Brooks in the Broadway production. It was later performed in the 1954 film version by Gene Kelly.^[2]

Michael Johnson version

"Almost Like Being in Love" was revived in a downbeat ballad version by singer Michael Johnson (U.S. no. 32, 1978).^[3] His rendition became a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit in both the U.S. (no. 4) and Canada (no. 10).

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Top Singles	40
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	10
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	32
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	4
US Billboard R&B	91
US Cash Box Top 100	37

Other versions

There were three hit versions of the song in the United States in 1947: Frank Sinatra's version^[5] was the highest charting at no. 20. Mildred Bailey and Mary Martin both charted with the song at no. 21 that year.^[6]
Nat King Cole recorded more than one version of the song, including a later version that was used as the closing song in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day which starred Bill Murray. Cole's version, in the key of G major like the original, features a ii–V–I turnaround (2-5-1) in G, a pair of similar 2-5-1 sequences in E major and D major for the bridge, after which it raises the refrain a half-step with a 2-5-1 in A flat major.
Frank Sinatra rerecorded the song for his 1961 album Come Swing with Me!
The song was also made popular by Shirley Bassey. Like Judy Garland, Bassey performed this song as a medley with the song, "This Can't Be Love".
Bradley Walsh recorded his version of the song for his 2016 debut album Chasing Dreams.

Popular culture

The song was used in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day (film).
The song was used in the 2003 movie The Cooler.
More recently it was performed in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel by Darius de Haas.^[7]

References

^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2008). The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television. Oxford University Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0195335330.
^ "Jazz Standards: Almost Like Being in Love". Jazz Standards.
^ Jasen, David A. (2013). A Century of American Popular Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-135-35271-4.
^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ Gilliland, John. (2020-03-23). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #19 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
^ Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890–1954. Record Research Inc. p. 470. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
^ "All The Songs In 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3". Bustle. Retrieved 2 January 2020.

[1] Hischak, Thomas S. (2008). The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television. Oxford University Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0195335330.

[2] "Jazz Standards: Almost Like Being in Love". Jazz Standards.

[Jasen2013-3] Jasen, David A. (2013). A Century of American Popular Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-135-35271-4.

[4] Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X

[5] Gilliland, John. (2020-03-23). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #19 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-21.

[popmem-6] Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890–1954. Record Research Inc. p. 470. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.

[7] "All The Songs In 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3". Bustle. Retrieved 2 January 2020.

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