who sang when a man loves a woman first
Percy Sledge
title: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) text: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) "When a Man Loves a Woman" is a song written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright and first recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. It made number one on both the "Billboard" Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. Singer and actress Bette Midler recorded the song 14 years later and had a Top 40 hit with her version in 1980. In 1991, Michael Bolton recorded the song and his version peaked at number one on both the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart and the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary title: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) text: Singles chart. The song was initially recorded by Percy Sledge at Rick Hall's FAME Studios at Muscle Shoals, before being re-recorded at the nearby Norala Studios owned by Quin Ivy. The sidemen for the recording included Spooner Oldham, Farfisa organ; Marlin Greene, guitar; Albert "Junior" Lowe, double bass and Roger Hawkins, drums. Andrew Wright and Calvin Lewis did not play on the record. Rick Hall arranged a distribution deal with Atlantic Records, but Jerry Wexler asked that the song be re-recorded because the horns were out of tune. According to musician David Hood, "They went back in the studio and title: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) text: changed the horns, got different horn players to play on it. But then the tapes got mixed up and Atlantic put out their original version. So that's the hit." Released by Atlantic Records in April 1966, Sledge's recording reached number one on both the "Billboard" Hot 100 and R&B singles charts, becoming the first number 1 hit recorded in Muscle Shoals. It is also one of seven number 1 hits to debut on the "Billboard" Hot 100 at number 100. The single was also a top ten hit in the UK reaching number four on its initial release and ultimately title: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) text: peaking at number two in 1987 on the UK Singles Chart after it was featured in a Levi's Jeans commercial. The Percy Sledge version is listed 53rd in "Rolling Stone"'s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Also in 1987, it was reissued in the US to promote the soundtrack album for Oliver Stone's film "Platoon". Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright were members of the Esquires, a band in Sheffield, Alabama fronted by singer Percy Sledge. According to Wright, "We were set to play a Friday night dance, and we were practicing ... I was messing around on the organ when title: When a Man Loves a Woman (song) text: on the old "Billboard" Hot 100 charting system which relied on sales and airplay reports before switching over to Soundscan. Also, with the Percy Sledge original having reached number one previously, Bolton's version made it the seventh song in history to top the Hot 100 as recorded by multiple artists. When a Man Loves a Woman (song) "When a Man Loves a Woman" is a song written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright and first recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. It made number one on both the "Billboard" Hot 100 and R&B