Lily and Madeleine Cover “Sea of Love”

Written by
Lily and Madeline by Larry Hirshowitz
Lily and Madeleine by Larry Hirshowitz (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Teenage sisters Lily and Madeleine have a maturity that transcends their years.

They played an impressive live set of original songs on Morning Becomes  Eclectic, including a brand new track called “Hold Onto Now” (from their forthcoming album due in October) before closing with their version of the frequently covered track “Sea of Love”. (Find the full set here)

When Jason Bentley and I saw it on their set list, we felt compelled to look up the song’s history.

The Cat Power version is the one that got Lily and Madeleine’s attention, but it’s been covered by everyone from Iggy Pop and Del Shanon to Tom Waits. An early version by Marty Wilde made it famous in the UK while Robert Plant (with the Honeydrippers) resurrected it as a hit in the mid-80’s.

Phil Phillips co-wrote the track with George Khoury and his 1959 recording of it it was his only top 40 hit.

It’s a true classic. A perfect  love song.

And with their sweet, simple, innocent vocals, he ladies added a lovely version to that list.

Lily & Madeleine Live on KCRW – Set List

In The Middle
And Tonight
Spirited Away
Devil We Know
Come To Me
Paradise
Lost Upon The Sea
You Got Out
Back To The River
Hold Onto Now (new song)
Sea of Love (cover)