Once Upon a Time at the Top of the Charts: Peter Cetera, “Glory of Love”

30 years today, Peter Cetera found himself sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 with his first solo single since bidding Chicago adieu.

If you remember Cetera’s “Glory of Love,” then you may also remember that it was initially introduced to the world at large as a result of its inclusion on the soundtrack to The Karate Kid, Part II. What you may not realize, however, was that – per Cetera – it was originally written for Rocky IV, but United Artists apparently passed on including it on that album, putting it on the soundtrack to a different sequel instead. We’ll never know if the song would’ve been as successful in connection with Rocky and Adrian’s romance (if that’s even how it would’ve been utilized), but it’s hard to imagine that it would’ve done any better than it ultimately did: not only was it a #1 hit, but it was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Following its success on the soundtrack to The Karate Kid, Part II, “Glory of Love” was also added to the track listing of Cetera’s solo album Solitude / Solitaire, which provided him with a second #1 hit: “The Next Time I Fall,” a duet with Amy Grant. You never forget your first time, though, which is why “Glory of Love” is the one that’s remembered most.