About The Song
“Dedicated To The One I Love” is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass. Pauling was the guitarist of the “5” Royales, the group that recorded the original version of the song, produced by Bass, in 1957. Their version was re-released in 1961 and charted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1967, a subsequent and slightly more popular cover version by the Mamas & the Papas released on the Dunhill label went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from number 1 by “Happy Together” by The Turtles. This version also reached number 2 on the UK’s Record Retailer chart. The lead singer on the Mamas & the Papas version was Michelle Phillips. It was the first time that Phillips was given the lead over Cass Elliot. The song was also included on the group’s 1967 album The Mamas & The Papas Deliver.
The song has the same mix on both the single and album versions, unlike some of their other tracks. However, there are different versions of the song:
The mono single and mono album versions are the same. Michelle’s voice is double-tracked but mixed to sound like one voice. Cass’s vocals and the piano are more prominent. The song ends with all four members singing in harmony.
The stereo album version moves the piano to the background, and Cass’s voice is more blended with the others, especially at the end, where her vocals are almost absent.
Cash Box called the single a “groovey, harmonic, soft rock venture that is sure to please all of the group’s many fans.”
The group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 to perform both this song and the single to follow, “Creeque Alley”. Although the single has a running time of 2:56, and the group performed the song in its entirety, edited versions of the song appear on internet video sites with a much shorter running time.
DTV, in 1984, set the Mamas & the Papas version of the song to Sleeping Beauty and was featured on the VHS DTV: Groovin’ for a 60’s Afternoon.
Video
Lyrics
While I’m far away from you my baby
I know it’s hard for you my baby
Because it’s hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
(Love can never be exactly like we want it to be)
I could be satisfied knowing you love me
(And there’s one thing I want you to do)
(Especially for me)
And it’s something that everybody needs
While I’m far away from you my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
Because it’s hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
If there’s one thing I want you to do especially for me
Then it’s something that everybody needs
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
This is dedicated (to the one I love)
This is dedicated to the one I love
This is dedicated (to the one I love)
This is dedicated
This is dedicated