Sealed with a Kiss

"Sealed with a Kiss" is a song written and composed by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It first became a hit in 1962 for Brian Hyland. The original recording of "Sealed with a Kiss" was by The Four Voices which was released as a single in May 1960 without becoming a hit.[1] Jason Donovan later had an international number one hit with the song.

For other uses, see Sealed with a kiss (disambiguation).
"Sealed with a Kiss"
Single by The Four Voices
B-side"You're All There Is"
ReleasedMay 30, 1960 (1960-05-30)
GenrePop
Length2:03
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Peter Udell, Gary Geld
The Four Voices singles chronology
"Good, Good Thing"
(1960)		 "Sealed with a Kiss"
(1960)

The lyrics are from the point of view of one of two lovers who have had to part ways over the summer. The narrator promises the lover who has had to leave that he will send his love and dreams in daily letters "sealed with a kiss". The two also bind each other to a pledge, under seal of a kiss, that they will reunite in September.

Brian Hyland version
"Sealed with a Kiss"
Single by Brian Hyland
from the album Sealed with a Kiss
B-side
  • "Summer Job"
  • "Ginny Come Lately"
ReleasedMay 26, 1962 (1962-05-26)[2]
GenrePop
Length2:38
LabelABC - Paramount
Songwriter(s)Peter Udell, Gary Geld
Brian Hyland singles chronology
"Ginny Come Lately"
(1962)		 "Sealed with a Kiss"
(1962)		 "Warmed Kisses (Left Over Love)"
(1962)

In 1962, Brian Hyland, who often performed Udell's and Geld's material, covered the song. Hyland recalls Geld saying the song was "based on, but not totally based on, a Bach finger exercise." (See Five-finger exercise.)[3] Hyland's single began its run on June 9, 1962, and became a top 3 hit, reaching No. 3 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.[4] The personnel on the original Brian Hyland recording included Mundell Lowe, Al Caiola on guitar, Gary Geld on piano, George Duvivier on bass, Blackie Shackner on harmonica, Gary Chester on drums, and Sticks Evans and Al Rogers on percussion.

When re-released in 1975, Hyland's recording charted in the UK at No. 7. Hyland also recorded a version in German.

Charts
Chart (1962) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 3
Chart (1974) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 13

Gary Lewis and the Playboys version
"Sealed with a Kiss"
Single by Gary Lewis and the Playboys
from the album Gary Lewis Now!
B-side"Sara Jane"
ReleasedMay 18, 1968 (1968-05-18)[9]
GenrePop
Length2:22
LabelLiberty
Songwriter(s)Peter Udell, Gary Geld
Producer(s)Snuff Garrett
Gary Lewis and the Playboys singles chronology
"Has She Got the Nicest Eyes"
(1967)		 "Sealed with a Kiss"
(1968)		 "Main Street"
(1968)

Gary Lewis & the Playboys covered the song in 1967 on the album Gary Lewis Now!. Their cover version of the single was a Billboard Hot 100 No. 19 hit.[10]

Charts
Chart (1968) Peak
position
Australia
74
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 19

Bobby Vinton version
"Sealed with a Kiss"
German 7" vinyl single
Single by Bobby Vinton
from the album Sealed with a Kiss
B-side"All My Life"
ReleasedMay 10, 1972 (1972-05-10)[13]
GenrePop
Length2:48
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Peter Udell, Gary Geld
Bobby Vinton singles chronology
"Ev'ry Day of My Life"
(1972)		 "Sealed with a Kiss"
(1972)		 "But I Do"
(1972)

A third top 40 Hot 100 version came in 1972, when Bobby Vinton released his interpretation as a single. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard singles chart.[14] This version also placed high on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (No. 2).[15] Vinton arranged the song himself, with a modern sound including a unique bongo opening that made the song stand out from the other recordings. The success of the single led to Vinton releasing an album, also titled Sealed with a Kiss, that charted as a best seller. This single, which was a follow-up to "Every Day of My Life", marked a Vinton comeback in 1971, with the artist appearing on American Bandstand and other television shows on the strength of the single. Billboard ranked it as the No. 87 song for 1971.

Vinton's recording was used in both the trailer and the end credits of the 2007 horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.

Charts
Chart (1972) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 19

Jason Donovan version
"Sealed with a Kiss"
Single by Jason Donovan
from the album Ten Good Reasons
B-side"Just Call Me Up"
ReleasedMay 29, 1989
Recorded1989
GenrePop
Length2:38
LabelPWL
Songwriter(s)Peter Udell, Gary Geld
Producer(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Jason Donovan singles chronology
"Too Many Broken Hearts"
(1989)		 "Sealed with a Kiss"
(1989)		 "Every Day (I Love You More)"
(1989)
Music video
"Sealed with a Kiss" on YouTube

On May 29, 1989, Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan released a cover version of "Sealed with a Kiss" as the fourth single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989).[18] Keen to diversify his sound away from the teen pop/dance material that had been his staple, Donovan told producer Pete Waterman that he wanted to record a cover with cross-generational appeal.[19] The track was selected by Waterman and PWL promotions executive Tilly Rutherford, with Donovan admitting he was unaware of prior versions.[19]

His version went straight into the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and stayed there for two weeks, also reaching the top in Finland and Ireland.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Dreamy rendition of the Bobby Vinton oldie has the potential to provide Aussie-bred, U.K.-based pop star with a long-awaited stateside hit."[20] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits said, "It actually does sound like a record made in the '60s and not at all like any of the other records in the charts, which should help it get played a lot on the radio. "A future number one!" as Bruno Brookes would chirrup cheerfully."[21]

Charts

Notable cover versions
  • Swedish rock band Hounds covered the song in 1967, in a version which reached number 4 on Kvällstoppen and 2 on Tio i Topp.[46][47]
  • American R&B all-girl trio the Toys covered it in 1968, on the Musicor label, where it reached No. 43 on the U.S. R&B charts.[48]

References
  1. James Christopher Monger (1996-03-01). "Teen Dreams - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  2. "Sealed with a Kiss / Summer Job - Brian Hyland". 45cat. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  3. Moser, John J. (27 October 2017). "INTERVIEW: 'Sealed with a Kiss' singer Brian Hyland, coming to Easton's State Theatre, says 'American Bandstand' lineup's hits are all 'masterpieces'". Mccall.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  4. Jason Ankeny (1943-11-12). "Brian Hyland | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  6. "Brian Hyland Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sealed with a Kiss". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  9. "Sealed with a Kiss / Sara Jane - Gary Lewis". 45cat. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  10. "Gary Lewis & the Playboys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5856." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  12. "Gary Lewis and the Playboys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. "Sealed with a Kiss / All My Life - Bobby Vinton". 45cat. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  14. "Bobby Vinton | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  15. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 248.
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 330. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. "Bobby Vinton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  18. "Ten Good Reasons - Jason Donovan | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  19. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 48: Sealed With A Kiss to Tell Him I Called on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  20. Coleman, Bill (April 14, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  21. Doyle, Tom (May 31, 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 59. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  22. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  23. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  24. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  25. Danish Singles Chart. July 21, 1989.
  26. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 24. June 17, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  27. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Jason Donovan". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 66. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  28. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sealed with a Kiss". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jason Donovan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  31. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  32. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss". Top 40 Singles.
  33. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 42. October 21, 1989. p. 17. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  34. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss". Singles Top 100.
  35. "Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss". Swiss Singles Chart.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  37. "Discos más populares de Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón. August 11, 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  38. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jason Donovan – Sealed with a Kiss" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  39. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  41. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  42. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  43. "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
  44. Copsey, Rob (7 May 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1989". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  45. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  46. Hallberg, Eric (193). Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. ISBN 9163021404.
  47. Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74. Premium Publishing. ISBN 919727125X.
  48. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 587.
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