He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
Love In Madrid
Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
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Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
The lyrics of Frank Chacksfield's "The Man I Love" expresses a deep feeling of love and romance. The opening lines "I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me" convey the idea that the mere presence of the beloved person puts the singer in an amorous state. The lyrics further intensify saying that the heaven is in the love interest's eyes, and the stars shine brightly under their gaze. The singer then wonders if anyone can blame them for feeling like being in love.
The next verse suggests the two lovers have put their hearts together and become one. The mood for love overrides any doubt, as the singer does not hesitate to express their emotions for their lover. The final lines address any potential problems or obstacles to their love, acknowledging that some clouds may appear over their love, but that should not deter them from being in the mood for love, and they will deal with whatever may come tomorrow. The lyrics promote a sense of living in the moment, believing that love can conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am feeling a strong sense of affection and romantic attraction
Simply because you're near me.
This feeling is triggered by your physical proximity to me
Funny, but when you're near me
I find it amusing how my emotions are affected by your presence
Heaven is in your eyes
Your eyes are incredibly beautiful and captivate me
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes shine like stars and I could gaze at them for hours
Oh! Is it any wonder
It's not surprising that I'm feeling such strong emotions with you around
I'm in the mood for love?
Can you blame me for feeling so enamored with you?
Why stop to think of whether
I see no reason to contemplate whether this love will last
This little dream might fade?
Why worry about the possibility that this romantic feeling may not endure?
We've put our hearts together
We have committed to each other emotionally
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
I feel secure in our relationship and am not fearful of the future
If there's a cloud above
Even if there are troubles or obstacles in our path
If it should rain we'll let it
We will confront any challenges that arise and find a way to weather them together
But for tonight, forget it!
For now, let's enjoy the present moment and our love for each other
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind