On this day in 1988: Phil Collins started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with his version of ‘Groovy Kind Of Love’, his 6th U.S. #1. The song was also a hit for The Mindbenders, the group that backed Wayne Fontana in 1965. ‘Groovy Kind Of Love’ was written by Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager based on a melody by the classical composer Muzio Clementi. The original rendition was recorded by American singing duo Diane & Annita and released as ‘Groovey Kind of Love’ on the French e.p. ‘One by One’ in 1965. Since then it has been recorded by numerous artists,

The Mindbenders, the group that backed Wayne Fontana before he broke from the band, continued with the band’s guitarist, Eric Stewart, who was now the lead vocalist. Jack McGraw, who ran the Screen Gems offices in London, thought the Wine and Bayer Sager song was a perfect match for Eric’s voice. The band recorded their version of the song in 1965, featuring a female backing chorus singing the words “You and me” and the repeated title towards the end of each verse of the song. The band liked the result so much that they released it to radio as their debut single. It reached #2 in the U.K.the week of January 19–26, 1966, and it also reached #2 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in late May and early June 1966. ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ by Percy Sledge kept the song from the #1 spot. The band included the song on their first album without Wayne Fontana, ‘The Mindbenders’ (U.S. title A Groovy Kind of Love).

Phil Collins recorded a new version of “A Groovy Kind of Love” in 1988. He had originally suggested the song as a good one for collaborator Stephen Bishop to record, with Collins producing. While filming the movie Buster in 1988, Collins suggested the song as a potential love theme for the title character and his wife. He recorded a demo as a guide for the producers, only to find out later his demo had actually been used in the film. Collins had initially expressed reservations about being featured on the soundtrack during the movie, but relented due to feeling it worked well for the scene. He subsequently recorded a full version of the song. The full version was originally released on ‘Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’. It subsequently appeared on several Phil Collins compilation and greatest hits albums.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:

1 3 GROOVY KIND OF LOVE –•– Phil Collins – 8 (1)
2 1 RED RED WINE –•– UB40 – 26 (1)
3 5 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY) –•– Information Society – 15 (3)
4 2 LOVE BITES –•– Def Leppard – 11 (1)
5 9 WILD, WILD WEST –•– The Escape Club – 10 (5)
6 16 KOKOMO –•– The Beach Boys – 8 (6)
7 7 DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO? –Steve Winwood – 10 (7)
8 8 DON’T BE CRUEL –•– Bobby Brown – 14 (8)
9 4 DON’T BE CRUEL –•– Cheap Trick – 13 (4)
10 17 THE LOCO-MOTION –•– Kylie Minoque – 9 (10)

11 14 NEVER TEAR US APART –•– INXS – 11 (11)
12 18 ONE MOMENT IN TIME –•– Whitney Houston – 7 (12)
13 12 FOREVER YOUNG –•– Rod Stewart – 12 (12)
14 13 TRUE LOVE –•– Glenn Frey – 10 (13)
15 22 BAD MEDICINE –•– Bon Jovi – 5 (15)
16 20 CHAINS OF LOVE –•– Erasure – 13 (16)
17 6 DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY –•– Bobby McFerrin – 13 (1)
18 25 DESIRE –•– U2 – 4 (18)
19 15 I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU –•– Taylor Dayne – 20 (3)
20 26 ANOTHER LOVER –•– Giant Steps – 10 (20)