"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by the words on his father's gravestone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him". It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, The Teddy Bears. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later each experienced chart success with the song (with its title and lyrics altered to the gender-neutral "To Know You Is to Love You"), in 1965 and 1968, respectively. In 1987, the song was resurrected in a country style by the vocal group Trio—consisting of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris—and featured on their album Trio (1987), topping the US Hot Country Songs chart and the Canadian country music chart. The song is in 12/8 time, played at a thoughtful, steady pace.

Chart performance

All-time charts

Peter and Gordon version

In 1965, Peter and Gordon released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Peter and Gordon's version spent 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 5, while also reaching No. 5 on Canada's "RPM Play Sheet". In the United States, the song spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 24.

Charts

Bobby Vinton version

In 1969, Bobby Vinton released a version of the song, titled "To Know You Is to Love You". Vinton's version spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 34, while reaching No. 8 on Billboards Easy Listening chart, No. 16 on Canada's RPM 100, and No. 6 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart.

Charts

Trio (Parton/Ronstadt/Harris) version

In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, collectively called Trio, recorded a cover of the song, including it on their Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album Trio. The group would go on to release it as the album's first single, topping both the Canadian and American country charts. The single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 16, 1987. The accompanying music video, directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas (Ronstadt's boyfriend at the time), aired regularly on CMT and GAC.

Charts

Other versions