| Gift of Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Studios | ||||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | Oli Poulsen | |||
| Sissel Kyrkjebø chronology | ||||
| ||||
Gift of Love is the first English-language album and fourth studio album overall by Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø, also known under the mononym Sissel. It was originally released in 1992 by Mercury Records.
An album of cover versions, the original release of Gift of Love contains 12 tracks, including a duet with American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka on "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", originally sung as a solo by Sedaka and released as a single in 1962, his own version reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Two other tracks co-written by Sedaka are included. According to Sedaka's personal writing in the liner notes of the album, when he first heard Sissel, he was "speechless", having not been so excited with a female voice since performing with Barbra Streisand thirty years prior.
Gift of Love was first reissued in 1994 with 13 tracks, adding original composition "Fire in Your Heart" as the opening track. This was the official song of the 1994 Winter Olympics, which were held in and around Lillehammer in Norway, and it was also released as a single, reaching number one on the Norwegian singles chart.
A second, 15-track reissue of the album was released in 1994, including the 13 tracks of the previous release plus two bonus tracks—a new version of "Fire in Your Heart", featuring Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo, and "Hymne Olympique (1896)", the Olympic Anthem, sung by Sissel.
Original 1992 version
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Gift of Love" | 4:07 | |
| 2. | "If" | David Gates | 2:38 |
| 3. | "Breakaway" | 3:48 | |
| 4. | "Need I Say More" |
| 3:12 |
| 5. | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | 3:25 | |
| 6. | "Moonlight" |
| 3:39 |
| 7. | "Here, There and Everywhere" | Lennon–McCartney | 2:38 |
| 8. | "Miracle Song" | 4:21 | |
| 9. | "Solitaire" |
| 3:37 |
| 10. | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (with Neil Sedaka) |
| 3:59 |
| 11. | "Calling You" | Bob Telson | 4:38 |
| 12. | "More Like You" | 4:20 |
First 1994 reissue
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fire in Your Heart" |
| 4:22 |
| 2. | "The Gift of Love" |
| 4:07 |
| 3. | "If" | Gates | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Breakaway" |
| 3:48 |
| 5. | "Need I Say More" |
| 3:12 |
| 6. | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" |
| 3:25 |
| 7. | "Moonlight" |
| 3:39 |
| 8. | "Here, There and Everywhere" | Lennon–McCartney | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Miracle Song" |
| 4:21 |
| 10. | "Solitaire" |
| 3:37 |
| 11. | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (with Neil Sedaka) |
| 3:59 |
| 12. | "Calling You" | Telson | 4:38 |
| 13. | "More Like You" |
| 4:20 |
Second 1994 reissue, with bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fire in Your Heart" (solo version) |
| 4:22 |
| 2. | "The Gift of Love" |
| 4:07 |
| 3. | "If" | Gates | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Breakaway" |
| 3:48 |
| 5. | "Need I Say More" |
| 3:12 |
| 6. | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" |
| 3:25 |
| 7. | "Moonlight" |
| 3:39 |
| 8. | "Here, There and Everywhere" | Lennon–McCartney | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Miracle Song" |
| 4:21 |
| 10. | "Solitaire" |
| 3:37 |
| 11. | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (with Neil Sedaka) |
| 3:59 |
| 12. | "Calling You" | Telson | 4:38 |
| 13. | "More Like You" |
| 4:20 |
Bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Fire in Your Heart" (with Plácido Domingo) |
| 4:20 |
| 15. | "Hymne Olympique (1896)" | Kostis Palamas | 4:23 |
Original release
Credits adapted from the liner notes for the original 1992 release of the album.
Musicians
Technical
1994 additional tracks
Adapted from the liner notes for the second 1994 reissue of the album.
"Fire in Your Heart"
"Hymne Olympique (1896)"
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 61 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 9 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 41 |
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