"Plaisir d'amour" (literally "The pleasure of love") is a classical French love song written in 1785 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816)
It took its text from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794), which is an integral part of his novel "Célestine" (Nouvelle Espagnole), which was part of the book "Les Six Nouvelles de M. de Florian" (published in 1784)
The poem appears on page 123:
With a musical setting it was first published as "Romance Nouvelle" de M. Le Chevalier de Florian, sur une musique de M. Martini in the Periodique "Etrennes de Polymnie" (Jean Baudrais / 1785)
It was on page 211 of that periodique
With the title "La Romance du Chevrier" it was published in 1785 in "Airs du Droit du Seigneur et trois romances nouvelles".
It was on page 18 and 19 of that collection
Sometime around the beginning of the 19th Century the song was retitled "Plaisir D'Amour", and with this title the song became worldfamous.
One of the first recordings I could find:
(o) Monsieur Fernand (aka Emilo De Gogorza) (1902) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded May 21, 1902 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Released on Victor 1405
In Canada this version was released on Berliner # 801.
Listen here: http://www.phonobase.org/audio/AC-2010/2011_3541.mp3
2 years later Emilio De Gogorza re-recorded the song, with another pseudonym,
Apparently this version wasn't released.
(c) Sig. Carlos Francisco (aka Emilo De Gogorza) (1904) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded June 9, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Matrix Victor B-1452
But, since "Plaisir D'Amour" is a French song, it could very well be, the first recording was done in France.
Albert Piccaluga recorded "Plaisir D'Amour" in Paris in 1902, maybe before de Gogorza's version.
(c) Albert Piccaluga (1902) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in 1902 in Paris
Released on Pathé cylinder 1567
Piccaluga also recorded a version for the Columbia-label in 1902.
Released as Columbia cylinder 26232
SEE : ARTIST_P.pdf
(c) Jean Lassalle (1902) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in 1902 in Paris
Released on Pathe cylinder 2986
SEE: ARTIST_L.pdf
Listen here: www.phonobase.org/audio/AC-2010/2011_3705b.mp3
2 years later in September 1904 Lassalle re-recorded the song in Paris
Released on the Odeon-label 33911 (matrix #XP1046)
SEE: odmxP
(c) Lucien Fugére (1902) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1902
Released in September 1902 on Zon-o-phone X 2014
Listen here: http://www.phonobase.org/audio/AC-2010/2011_4998.mp3
On April 13, 1928 Lucien Fugére re-recorded the song in Paris.
This version was released on Columbia D-13044
Listen here:
(c) Mimi Pinson (1902) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Released in December 1902 on Zon-o-phone X 2091
(c) A Delcroix (1903) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Released on Odeon X 33093
(c) Bernard Begue (1903) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Probably recorded 1903 in Paris
Released on Columbia 50009
Listen here:
(c) Albert Alvarez (1903) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1903
Released on Pathe cylinder 1660
SEE: Alvarez Albert
(c) Mlle Dalmee (1904) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Bruxelles in 1904
Matrix AO169d
Released on G&T (Zonophone) 83034
(c) Henri Weber, (pseud: d'Haller, d'Haller) (1904) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1904
Matrix 3072f
Released on G&T 3-32147
(c) Edouard Coutreuil (1904) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Bruxelles in 1904
Matrix 591e
Released on G&T 3-32165
(c) Maurice Declery (1904) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in 1904 in Paris
Released on Edison cylinder 17072
(c) Pierre Cornubert (1905) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1905
Released on Apollon (Ultima) 176
Also released on Arya (Ultima) 176
(c) Charles Gilibert (1906) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded January 1906
Released on Edison cylinder 17830
(c) Charles Gilibert (1907) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded April 1, 1907 in New York
Or here:
Around the same time in 1907 Gilibert recorded a version for the Columbia-label
(c) Charles Gilibert (1907) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Matrix 30095
Released on Columbia E 5013
Listen here:
(c) Albert Vaguet (1906) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1906
Released on Pathe cylinder 3701
In 1907 Vaguet re-recorded the song in Paris.
This version was released on Pathe 4547.
Listen here: http://www.phonobase.org/audio/AC-2010/2012_5917.mp3
(c) Maurice Renaud (1906) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1906
Matrix 5801p
Released on the G&T label (#032046)
Listen here:
(c) Julia Guiraudon (1906) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded in Paris in 1906
Matrix 5995o
Released on the G&T label (#333619)
(c) Emma Calvé (1908) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded March 6, 1908 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 88134
And on Gramophone Monarch Record 033055
Listen here:
(c) Katherine Jones (1910) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded on May 24, 1910 in London.
Matrix 11708e
Released on the Gramophone Company #7-33001
(c) Edmond Clément (1916) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded 1916 in Paris
Matrix 2986
Released on Pathe 3098
Listen here:
(c) Louise Kirkby Lunn (1920) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
with Percy Pitt on piano.
Recorded on May 19, 1920 in London
Released on HMV DB 510
Listen here:
(c) Ruby Green (1923) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
(c) Jean-Emile Vanni-Marcoux (1925) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
with Piero Coppola on piano
Matrix: CT 1862-1
Recorded September 24, 1925 in Paris
Released on Gramophone DB 925
Vanni-Marcoux re-recorded "Plaisir D'Amour" in 1928 and 1933.
with Piero Coppola on piano
Recorded June 18, 1928
Matrix: CT 4094-2
Released on Gramophone DB 1175
Listen here:
with Lucien Petitjean on piano
Recorded 22 November 22, 1933
Matrix: 2PG 1254-1
Released on Gramophone DB 4916
Vanni-Marcoux - Marston 560012 [JW]: Classical Music Reviews - September 2011 MusicWeb-International
SEE ALSO: Marston Records | Home
(c) Grigoras Dinicu (1927) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Released on Columbia-D8414
Listen here:
(c) Nina Koshetz (1928) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded November 8, 1928 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 9675
(c) Richard Tauber (1928) (as "Liebesfreud-Liebesleid")
Recorded January 26, 1926 in Berlin
Matrix Be 6501
Released in Germany on Odeon O-4925
Also released in the UK on Parlophone P.O. 160
Listen here: Plaisir d%27Amour - Richard Tauber - Liebesfreud.mp3
Or here:
(c) Ninon Vallin (1928) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded November 24, 1928 in Paris
Matrix XXP 6.751
Released on Odeon 123.584
Or to a sample here: Ninon_Vallin_Plaisir_damour_1927.mp3
(c) Louis Lynel (1928) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Directed by André Cadou
Recorded December 1928 in Paris
Ki 2095
Released on Odéon 166.156
Listen here:
(c) John McCormack (1929) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
McCormack sang "Plaisir d"Amour" in the only full length movie he ever made: "Song O' My Heart".
His accompanyist as always is Teddy Schneider. The concert was filmed at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium and the audience was comprised of paid extras.
Watch it here:
In 1940 McCormack officially recorded the song in the Abbey Road studio in London.
(c) John McCormack (1940) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded June 19, 1940 in London
Matrix: OEA 8806-1
Released on in 1942 His Master's Voice DA 1829
(c) Yvonne Printemps (1931) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded December 8, 1931 in Paris
Released on Gramophone (HMV) DB1625
Listen here:
(c) Tito Schipa (1932) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded April 20, 1932 in Milan
Released on HMV DB 2131
Listen here: PLAISIR D%27AMOUR - TITO SCHIPA - DE FLORIAN.mp3
Or here:
(c) Beniamino Gigli (1935) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Recorded April 27, 1935 in Milan.
Released on HMV DB 2530
Or here:
(c) Martha Angelici (1950) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
with Lily Laskine on harp
Recorded April 24, 1950 in Paris
Released on La Voix De Son Maitre (HMV) DA 5031
(c) Elvis Presley (1961) (as "Can't Help Falling In Love")
Listen here:
(c) Marianne Faithfull (1965) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Listen here:
(c) Willy Hagara (1967) (as "Der Tanz Mit Dir")
Listen here:
(c) Aphrodite's Child (1969) (as "I Want To Live")
Listen here:
(c) Michael Schanze (1970) (as "Ich Hab Dich Lieb")
Hit in Germany.
Listen here:
(c) Brigitte Bardot & Guy Marchand (1971) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
Sung in the movie "Boulevard Du Rhum".
Listen here:
(c) Nick Drake (1972) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
A very short piece Nick Drake played after finishing the album Pink Moon. It is a hidden track not heard of until the release of the compilation album A Treasury in 2004 which was intended for the audiophile audience.
Listen here:
(c) Mocedades (1973) (as "Eres Tu")
The 1973 Eurovision Song Contest was marked by a scandal, with "Eres tú" being accused of plagiarism following suggestions that it was merely a rewrite of the Yugoslav entry from the 1966 contest "Brez besed" ("Without words") sung by Berta Ambrož.
Nevertheless, "Eres tú" was not disqualified. It has been suggested that this may have been for political reasons, but I think it's because BOTH songs were inspired by "PLAISIR D'AMOUR"
Well judge for yourself:
BTW the Canadian national anthem ("O Canada") might also be inspired by "Plaisir D'Amour".
Listen here:
In 1993, British reggae band UB40 recorded "Can't Help Falling In Love" as the first single from their 1993 album Promises and Lies. The song was released in May 1993, in the majority of countries worldwide. It eventually climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100
(c) UB40 (1993) (as "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You")
Listen here:
(c) Frank Boeijen (1995) (as "Kan Er Niets Aan Doen")
Released on the live album "Stormvogels".
Listen here:
(c) Emmylou Harris (2003) (as "Plaisir D'Amour")
With Kate and Anna McGarrigle.
Listen here:
More versions here: