Endless Summer Nights
| "Endless Summer Nights" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Richard Marx | ||||
| from the album Richard Marx | ||||
| B-side | "Have Mercy" | |||
| Released | January 5, 1988 (Debuted on the Hot 100 the week ending January 30) | |||
| Format |
7" single 12" maxi | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length |
4:32 (album version) 4:15 (single version) | |||
| Label | Manhattan | |||
| Writer(s) | Richard Marx | |||
| Producer(s) |
Richard Marx Humberto Gatica | |||
| Richard Marx singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Endless Summer Nights" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Richard Marx, and released in January 1988 as the third single from his eponymous Triple Platinum debut album. The song peaked at #2 on the U.S. pop and Adult Contemporary charts.[1]
Background and composition
"Endless Summer Nights" was a track from Marx's original demo tapes.[2] The lyrics were inspired by a trip to Hawaii that Marx had taken with his then-girlfriend (and future wife), Cynthia Rhodes.[3] According to Marx, he wrote the song as a theme to the summer love that does not last when lovers go their separate ways in the fall.[3] In the liner notes of his 1997 Greatest Hits album, Marx commented on the song: "Aside from replacing synthesized bass with the great Nathan East, this recording is the demo that every record company in the business rejected in 1985 and 1986."[2] Marx eventually signed with EMI-Manhattan Records in 1986.[2]
Release and reception
Released in January 1988 as the third single from his debut solo album, "Endless Summer Nights" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 53, the highest debut of the week.[2] In March, the song reached number two, where it stayed for two weeks, behind "Man In The Mirror" by Michael Jackson.[4] The single also peaked at number two on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.[4] Elsewhere, the single reached number 13 in Sweden, 19 in Australia, number 42 in New Zealand, number 50 in the United Kingdom, and number 62 in the Netherlands.[5]
Track listing
- "Endless Summer Nights" (Marx) – 4:11
- "Have Mercy" (live) (Marx) – 5:30
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 2 |
| U.S. Adult Contemporary[4] | 2 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5] | 19 |
| Dutch Top 40[5] | 62 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[5] | 42 |
| Swedish Singles Chart[5] | 13 |
| UK Singles Chart[6] | 50 |
Other versions
Soul singer Dorothy Moore performed a cover version of "Endless Summer Nights" on her 1988 album Time Out for Me.[7] Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, who accompanied Marx on his first tour, covered the song on his eponymous 1990 debut solo album.[8] Jawaiian trio Ekolu recorded a cover version of the song on their 2009 album Ekolu Music II: Anthem.[9]
References
- ↑ "Richard Marx - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- 1 2 3 4 Feldman, Christopher (2000). The Billboard Book of Number Two Singles. New York: Billboard Books. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-8230-7695-6.
- 1 2 Bronson, Fred (2005-07-30). "All Time Hottest Songs of Summer". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 117 (31): 35. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- 1 2 3 4 "'Endless Summer Nights' - Chart history". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Richard Marx - 'Endless Summer Nights'". Ultratop. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ↑ "'Endless Summer Nights' - Chart history". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ↑ "Time Out for Me - Overview". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ↑ Widran, Jonathan. "Dave Koz - Overview". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ↑ Berger, John (2009-09-25). "Touching Tribute". Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Black Press). Retrieved 2009-10-22.