This is a beautiful love song Doris Day sung in the film Calamity Jane.
The song was written by Sammy Fain and the lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the 1953 film Calamity Jane.
“Doris Day first heard “Secret Love” when its co-writer Sammy Fain visited the singer’s home and played it for her, Day being so moved by the song that she’d recall her reaction as being: “I just about fell apart””.
When Day arrived at the studio to record the song, having biked to the studio, she did a run through with the orchestra, having never sung the song with them before. The session was recorded and day later recalled, “When I got there I sang the song with the orchestra for the first time … That was the first and only take we did.” … “When I finished Ray called me into the sound booth grinning from ear to ear and said, ‘That’s it. You’re never going to do it better.'”
The single was released three weeks before the film, Calamity Jane.
The song was a chart topper reaching #1 in the UK and three weeks at #1 in the US.
The song was nominated for Best Songs at the 1954 Academy Awards, but Day refused to perform for the ceremony. Ann Blyth stepped in to sing the song.
Bing Crosby, Freddy Fender, Count Bassie, Connie Francis, George Michael and Kathy Kirby also recorded the song.
Toyah Wilcox, who starred in one of the stage versions of Calamity Jane, stated “It’s a great song to sing; it’s very powerful, and emotionally—and musically—it’s the pinnacle of the whole show.”.