Mountain of Love

"Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman.[1] Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It was originally recorded in late 1959 at the Royal Recording Studios in Memphis before the backing vocals (and strings, much later) were overdubbed. It performed well, spending 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[2] peaking at #21 in May 1960,[3] while reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart,[4] and #25 on Canada's "CHUM Hit Parade".[5] The song was his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the highest charting single of his career.[2]

"Mountain of Love"
Single by Harold Dorman
B-side"To Be with You"
Released1960
Recorded1959
GenreRock and roll
Length2:30
LabelRita
Songwriter(s)Harold Dorman

Cover versions
"Mountain of Love"
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album In Action
B-side"Moody River"
Released1964
Length2:29
LabelImperial
Songwriter(s)Harold Dorman
Producer(s)Lou Adler

In 1960, Kenny Lynch released a cover of the song, which reached #33 on the United Kingdom's Record Retailer chart.[6]

In 1964, Johnny Rivers released his remake using members of The Wrecking Crew[7] as a single. This version also proved popular, charting at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

"Mountain of Love"
Single by Ronnie Dove
from the album Ronnie Dove Sings the Hits for You
B-side"Never Gonna Cry (The Way I’ll Cry Tonight)"
Released1968 (1968)
Recorded1966
GenrePop
Length2:33
LabelDiamond Records
Songwriter(s)Harold Dorman
Producer(s)Phil Kahl (B-side: Lee Hazlewood
Ronnie Dove singles chronology
"“In Some Time”"
(1968)		 "Mountain of Love"
(1968)		 "“Tomboy”"
(1968)

In 1968, singer Ronnie Dove had a minor hit when he released his version as the B-side of "Never Gonna Cry (The Way I'll Cry Tonight)" on Diamond Records.[9] Ronnie Dove's version spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached #67. This recording featured A-list session musicians, such as Boots Randolph on saxophone and Glen Campbell on guitar.[10] It was originally issued as an album track on Ronnie Dove Sings the Hits for You two years earlier, and was the original B-side of this single.

Other artists to record the song include The Beach Boys (on their 1965 album Beach Boys' Party!), Tommy Cash, Narvel Felts, and Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town (on their 2007 album, Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town). Bobby G. Rice took a rendition to #20 on the country music charts in 1971.[11] A cover by Molly & the Heymakers peaked at #79 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada in 1992.[12] Bruce Springsteen has covered the song live twelve times since 1975.[13]

Charley Pride version
"Mountain of Love"
Single by Charley Pride
from the album Charley Sings Everybody's Choice
B-side"Love Is a Shadow"
Released1981
GenreCountry
Length2:46
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Harold Dorman
Producer(s)Norro Wilson
Charley Pride singles chronology
"Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)"
(1981)		 "Mountain of Love"
(1981)		 "I Don't Think She's in Love Anymore"
(1982)

In December 1981, Charley Pride released a cover version, which topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in March 1982.[14] Charley Pride's version of "Mountain of Love" was his twenty-sixth #1 on the country chart.

Charts
Chart (1981-1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 76
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1
New Zealand Singles Chart 41
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 1

References
  1. Mountain of Love - By: Harold Dorman, MusicVF.com. Accessed August 16, 2015
  2. Harold Dorman - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed August 16, 2015
  3. "The Billboard HOT 100", Billboard, May 23, 1960. p. 34. Accessed November 29, 2015
  4. "The Billboard Hot R&B Sides", Billboard, May 16, 1960. p. 44. Accessed November 29, 2015
  5. "CHUM Hit Parade – Week of May 16, 1960". CHUM. Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2015-11-30.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Chart No. 159.
  6. Mountain of Love - By: Kenny Lynch, MusicVF.com. Accessed August 16, 2015
  7. Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 531.
  9. Ronnie Dove – Never Gonna Cry (The Way I'll Cry Tonight) / Mountain Of Love, Discogs. Accessed August 16, 2015
  10. Ronnie Dove - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed August 16, 2015
  11. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  12. "RPM Country Tracks". RPM. April 18, 1992. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  13. "Mountain Of Love", Brucebase
  14. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 277.
  15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 239. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. "Charley Pride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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