Uploaded September 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"Sea of Love", recorded and co-written by Phil Phillips in 1959, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. It won a gold record award, but was the only top-40 song for Phillips who never recorded another hit. While working as a bellhop before he recorded the song, Phillips was introduced to local record producer who heard about the song and signed him to a recording contract. Though the song became a national hit, Phillips claims he earned just $6,800 for it. The harmony vocals on the song were performed by a group of friends (The Twilights) Phillips brought to the studio and had to teach them how to sing it. He wrote "Sea of Love" for a love interest. His original version was featured prominently in the 1989 film Sea of Love. Phillips later worked as a radio DJ and recorded an anti-drug spoken word recording "The Evil Dope" in the late 1960's that is considered a cult classic. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
"Sea of Love", recorded and co-written by Phil Phillips in 1959, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. It won a gold record award, but was the only top-40 song for Phillips who never recorded another hit. While working as a bellhop before he recorded the song, Phillips was introduced to local record producer who heard about the song and signed him to a recording contract. Though the song became a national hit, Phillips claims he earned just $6,800 for it. The harmony vocals on the song were performed by a group of friends (The Twilights) Phillips brought to the studio and had to teach them how to sing it. He wrote "Sea of Love" for a love interest. His original version was featured prominently in the 1989 film Sea of Love. Phillips later worked as a radio DJ and recorded an anti-drug spoken word recording "The Evil Dope" in the late 1960's that is considered a cult classic. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
