If I Loved You Explained

"If I Loved You" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. The song was introduced by John Raitt and Jan Clayton. It was performed in the film version by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.

In the show, the characters of Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan sing this song as they hesitantly declare their love for one another, yet are too shy to express their true feelings.

The song was in turn inspired by lines of dialogue from Ferenc Molnar's original Liliom, the source material for the musical.

Recorded versions

• Ronnie Aldrich
• Thomas Allen
• Ernie Andrews
• Julie Andrews (1994) - Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers^[1]
• Barbra Streisand (1985) The Broadway Album^[2]
• P. J. Proby (1965)
• Dave Apollon
• Michael Ballam
• Jimmy Beaumont
• Isabel Bigley
• Paul Bley
• Bob Brookmeyer
• Ray Brown Trio
• Artie Butler
• José Carreras
• Benny Carter
• Carmen Cavallaro
• Chad & Jeremy
• Chung-Oo
• Charlotte Church (2001) - Enchantment
• Victoria Clark
• Richard Clayderman
• Jan Clayton and John Raitt (1945) for the Carousel Original Broadway Cast Recording^[3]
• Perry Como
• Ray Conniff
• Van Craven
• Michael Crawford
• Henri Crolla
• Bing Crosby
• Czech Symphony Orchestra
• Art Garfunkel
• Annie Haslam
• Michael Hayden and Sally Murphy on the 1994 Broadway Revival Cast Recording^[4]
• Fred Hersch
• Mario Lanza
• Eileen Farrell
• Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones on the film soundtrack^[5]
• Jo Stafford
• The Vogues
• Bryn Terfel (1996) - Something Wonderful: Bryn Terfel Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein
• Amel Larrieux

Notes and References

1. Julie Andrews - Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers, Philips Records, D106250 (1994)
2. Barbra Streisand: The Broadway Album. Columbia Records/CBS, Inc. (1985)
3. If I Loved You" - John Raitt and Jan Clayton with the Carousel Orchestra under the direction of Joseph Littau. Recorded May 16, 1945 in New York City, Master # 72863-A, originally released on Decca single 29173A and Original Cast Album DA-400, July 19, 1945. Source notes from Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box, 1935 - 1988. Four Compact Disc Set, Broadway Gold/MCA Classics, MCAD4-11353 (1996)
4. Carousel (1994 Broadway Revival Cast), Angel Records (June 14, 1994)
5. Carousel (1956 Film Soundtrack). Reissued on CD by Angel Records (March 13, 2001)