What I Did for Love

For other uses, see What I Did for Love (disambiguation).

"What I Did for Love" is a song from the musical A Chorus Line with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. It was quickly recognized for its show-business potential outside Broadway and was picked up by popular singers to include in their performances in their club and television appearances. Both female and male singers have made it an inclusion in their recorded albums to great effect.[1] The Daily Telegraph described it as a "big anthem".[2]

Synopsis within A Chorus Line

In the penultimate scene of the production, one of the dancers, Paul San Marco, has suffered a career-ending injury. The remaining dancers, gathered together onstage, are asked what they would do if they were told they could no longer dance. Diana, in reply, sings this anthem, which considers loss philosophically, with an undefeated optimism; all the other dancers concur. Whatever happens, they will be free of regret. What they did in their careers, they did for love, and their talent, no matter how great, was only theirs "to borrow," was to be only temporary and would someday be gone. However, the love of performing is never gone, and they are all pointed toward tomorrow.

Notable versions

Marcia Hines' version

"What I Did for Love"
Single by Marcia Hines
from the album Ladies and Gentlemen
B-side"A Love Story"
ReleasedJune 1977
RecordedTrafalgar Studios, Sydney, 1977
GenrePop music
Length3:15
LabelMiracle Records
Songwriter(s)Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban
Producer(s)Robie Porter
Marcia Hines singles chronology
"(Until) Your Love Broke Through"
(1976) 		"What I Did for Love"
(1977) 		"You"
(1977)

Marcia Hines recorded and released a version as the lead single from her third studio album, Ladies and Gentlemen (1977). The song peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report, becoming Hines' third top 10 single in Australia.

At the 1978 Australian Record Awards, the song won Hines Female Vocalist of the Year.[10]

Track listing

7" Single (MS-507)
  • Side A "What I Did for Love" - 3:15
  • Side B "A Love Story" (Robie Porter) - 3:31

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report[11] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1977) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11][12] 41
Australian Artist (Kent Music Report)[11] 5

References

  1. ^ "Song Search for "what i did for love"". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Charles Spencer, "A Chorus Line, London Palladium, review", The Telegraph, 20 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Beverly Bremers - What I Did For Love / You're Precious To Me - Columbia - USA - 3-10180". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  4. ^ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  8. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1988. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  10. ^ "Australian Radio Awards For 1978 Presented At Gala Sydney Meeting" (PDF). Billboard. August 12, 1978. p. 43. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ a b c David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1970-1992"
  12. ^ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Imgur.com.