Chanson D'Amour (French for Song of Love) is a popular song written by American film composer, Wayne Shanklin. His harmonious song with its catchy, hushed, "ra-da-da-da-da" phrase, was first recorded by the American husband and wife singing duo, Art and Dotty Todd in 1958. The Era Records hit reached the Top Ten in the UK and the US and was their biggest hit just as rock 'n roll was soon dominating the pop charts. They lip-synced the song on American Bandstand for fans. That same year, The Fontane Sisters trio recorded a successful competing version for Era Records. The Todds recording used additional voices or vocal tracks while the Fontane's was strictly 3-part harmony. The song was a standard for the famous French singer, Edith Piaf. By 1977, The Manhattan Transfer recorded their version with Janis Siegel singing the melody in a perfect rendition of Piaf's unmistakable voice. It was the group's most widespread international success.
The two 1958 recordings:
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