If Anyone Falls vs. If Anyone Falls In Love

[SpyNote]

THE SONG FORMERLY KNOWN AS TITLES
Billboard Chart Beat
April 27, 2007

Hello Fred,

I just purchased Stevie Nicks' "Crystal Visions" CD and I noticed that the name of the song "If Anyone Falls" was changed to "If Anyone Falls in Love." Do you happen to know if this was intentional or a mistake? I know that it isn't the first time a song title has changed. For example, back in January 1982, Billboard updated the name of Vangelis' hit "Titles" to "Chariots of Fire," more than three months before it hit No. 1. Also, the Jacksons' hit "Heartbreak Hotel" was later changed to "This Place Hotel." I was curious if you know of any other examples where the titles of hit songs have changed?

Regards,

Pete Pait
Alpharetta, Georgia


Dear Pete,

I don't know if the change of title on the Stevie Nicks album was a mistake or not, though there are usually so many eyes checking these things before they are released that it's difficult to believe it was an error.

Song titles can be changed for different reasons. Music publishers like to avoid using the exact same titles as older songs to avoid confusion about royalty payments. That could explain the "Heartbreak Hotel" switch, although I wouldn't mind writing a song called "Heartbreak Hotel" and being sent the royalties on the Elvis Presley hit.

I remember when Polydor originally issued the "Titles" single by Vangelis. I believe this happened because on the "Chariots of Fire" soundtrack album this instrumental piece was correctly called "Titles" as it was the music over which the titles were played. But since every movie has opening titles and/or closing titles and music played over them, it wouldn't make sense to release them all with the title "Titles." Someone must have realized it would be more beneficial for everyone if every time the single was played on the radio, someone would announce, "that was 'Chariots of Fire' by Vangelis" instead of "that was 'Titles' by Vangelis."

The first song that comes to mind when you ask about titles of hit songs being changed is an instrumental by the Marketts in 1964. It was originally called "Outer Limits," though it had no connection to the TV series (and wasn't the theme song). The production company behind the series insisted on a title change, so "Outer Limits" became "Out of Limits," even though I still call it "Outer Limits" to this day.