Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Story Behind The Song “Secret Love” by Freddy Fender

Secret Love + Freddy Fender
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

It’s no secret (pun intended!) that the song “Secret Love” by Freddy Fender is about a love so full that it got “impatient to be free.”

This is just a speck in the long list of Freddy Fender songs that talk about love. It is no wonder why this is a hit–romance that invokes thrilling feelings. And a lot of people can relate to the feeling of being so in love, of being so emotionally fulfilled in the presence of a person that they just can’t keep it inside themselves anymore.

How romantic is that?!

But the story of this chart-topping Freddy Fender song is an interesting one: it’s not his original song.

This song went through different artists; in fact, this was originally made by Sammy Fain (who wrote the music) and Paul Francis Webster (who wrote the lyrics) for the 1953 musical film “Calamity Jane.”

The first version was by Doris Jane, who recalled that when she first heard the song, she “just about fell apart.” She initially requested to have her practice run-through with the orchestra be recorded, which the recording studio reluctantly allowed. Good thing they did, because it literally took Doris one take, and the recording studio was immediately satisfied and considered her practice run-through recording as the final version of the song.

RELATED: Here Are Some Facts About Freddy Fender, The Hispanic Star of Country And Western

Then there were the 1953-1954 cover versions, which there is a lot of them. Two of which are the cover version by Gogi Grant and by Tommy Edwards.

Then we have Kathy Kirby’s version of the song. It was considered a remake: with up-tempo and started with the middle eight. They released the remake as a single in October 1963, which resulted in Kirby’s UK career record peaking at #4 in December of that year. The remake was also a hit in Australia, which peaked in the charts at #2.

And then, Freddy Fender. His version of “Secret Love was conceptualized for his 1975 album release “Are You Ready For Freddy?” and was recorded in the summer of 1975. It was initially released as a single in that same year and resulted in Fender topping the charts–making his third #1 hit song on the Billboard C&W. He also crossed the US Top 40 of Billboard Hot 100 charts, hitting them at #20. 

For his 2002 album “La Musica de Baldemar Huerta,” he decided to remake this song.

Now, that’s a journey! It’s so amazing to see the journey that “Secret Love” went through until it reached Freddy Fender. This just goes to show that it’s a very remarkable piece of music.

You can listen to Freddy Fender’s version of the song below. Tell us what you think!

Latest Stories

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

After viral sensation Oliver Anthony shared some candid—and controversial—thoughts about the music industry, country music fans were abuzz recently. The conversation escalated when Anthony hinted that a mainstream country artist ...

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis' Grammy-Winning "Forever and Ever, Amen"

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis’ Grammy-Winning “Forever and Ever, Amen”

When it comes to country music that stands the test of time, Randy Travis is the name that echoes through the halls of history. His deep, resonant voice and unparalleled ...

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Amid Blood Disease Complications

The Robertson family, known for their Duck Dynasty fame, has revealed concerning news about their beloved patriarch, Phil Robertson. On a recent episode of their podcast, Unashamed with the Robertson ...

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Country music has always been a storytelling tradition, weaving the trials and triumphs of everyday life into melodies that stand the test of time. While most fans trace the roots ...

The All-American Rejects Reveal "Dirty Little Secret" Started as a Country Song

The All-American Rejects Reveal “Dirty Little Secret” Started as a Country Song

Who would’ve thought? The All-American Rejects, those emo-rock icons of the 2000s, recently revealed a surprising twist about one of their biggest hits. During an interview on the Zach Sang ...

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery's "Sold" With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold” With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top is quickly solidifying his place as one of country music’s most exciting rising stars. Hailing from Sunnyside, Washington, Zach brings a neotraditional flair to his music that feels ...

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds' Show

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds’ Show

Burt Reynolds may be best remembered as a Hollywood icon. Still, in the early ’90s, he brought country music royalty together for an unforgettable moment in television history. On his ...

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Chris Stapleton’s dominance at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was not without controversy. As he walked away with Single of the Year and Song of the Year for ...

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" Album as "Complete Trash"

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” Album as “Complete Trash”

Oliver Anthony is no stranger to controversy. Known for his unapologetic stance against the mainstream music industry, the artist behind “Rich Men North of Richmond” recently turned his attention to ...

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville's Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville’s Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony, the breakout star whose hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed him to fame, has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the music business’s ...