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I Know Him So Well

"I Know Him So Well" is a duet from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It was originally sung by Elaine Paige (as Florence) and Barbara Dickson (as Svetlana). In this duet, two women – Svetlana, the Russian chess champion's estranged wife, and Florence, his mistress – express their bittersweet feelings for him and at seeing their relationships fall apart.

"I Know Him So Well"

"Chess" (London Symphony Orchestra)

December 1984[1]

1984

Pop

4:15

RCA

  • Björn Ulvaeus
  • Benny Andersson
  • Tim Rice

History

The chorus of the song is based on the chorus of "I Am an A", a song performed live during Andersson and Ulvaeus' group ABBA's 1977 tour.[2] Although "I Am an A" was never released officially, it circulated on various bootlegs and is readily available on YouTube.

Original version

The duet was first released worldwide on the Chess double LP, often referred to as a concept album or album musical, in the autumn of 1984. Later it was released as a single by Paige and Dickson, the duet reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in 1985.[3] They laid down their vocals separately and never met during the recording of the song, only for the video and subsequent performances on Top of the Pops and the European tours.[1][4] This recording remains in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest selling UK chart single ever by a female duo. Paige also appeared in the original London West End stage production of Chess. The song peaked at number 21 in Australia.[5]


In the United Kingdom on 18 September 2004, the BBC's All-Time Greatest Love Songs (hosted by Lionel Richie) saw the duet performed live by Paige and Dickson, together for the first time in 20 years, to a rapturous reception. Paige played her solo demo recording of the song on her BBC Radio 2 show, Elaine Paige on Sunday.


In January 2011, the Official Charts Company released a list of the top 10 All Time Best Selling Duets in which "I Know Him So Well" was placed seventh in the chart.[6]


Paige and Dickson also recorded Spanish-language lyrics for release as "Lo Creo Conocer". The single was never released though.[7]

Benny Andersson – keyboards, synthesizers

Barbara Dickson – vocals

– keyboards, synthesizers

Anders Eljas

– bass

Rutger Gunnarsson

Per Lindvall – drums, percussion

Elaine Paige – vocals

Lasse Wellander – guitars

Writers and producers – Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus

Arrangement – Benny Andersson,

Anders Eljas

Engineer and mixer –

Michael B. Tretow

"I Know Him So Well"

  • "Just the Lonely Talking Again"
  • "You're Still My Man"

30 November 1988

1986–1987

4:30

Arista

Narada Michael Walden

Europe, CD maxi single

[17]

"I Know Him So Well"

"Words Are Not Enough"

"Bittersweet"

3 December 2001 (2001-12-03)[24]

3:23

– lead vocals

Claire Richards

– lead vocals

Lisa Scott-Lee

– lead vocals

Faye Tozer

– backing vocals

Lee Latchford-Evans

– backing vocals

Ian "H" Watkins

"I Know Him So Well"

21 March 2011

2011

Pop

"You'll Never Walk Alone"

11 November 2012 (2012-11-11)

Spring 2012

Pop rock

  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 3:27 (radio edit)

Red Girl

Peter-John Vettese

Digital download

Originally recorded in 1985 during sessions for , Barbra Streisand released her version featuring Mr. Mister's Richard Page on her 1991 box set Just for the Record...

The Broadway Album

Pianist included an instrumental version on his 1987 album, Songs of Love.[38]

Richard Clayderman

Singers and Daniel Boys covered the song on Barrowman's 2008 album Music Music Music.[39]

John Barrowman

In 2014, and Kerry Ellis performed the song on Jaconelli's solo debut album, Solitaire.[40]

Charlotte Jaconelli

sang the song with Amanda Holden on Holden's 2020 debut album Songs from My Heart.[41]

Sheridan Smith

In 2022, singer–songwriter AJ Rafael released a single version along with filmmaker and singer Chance Calloway to raise funds for The Trevor Project.[42]

YouTuber

The song has been covered in non-charting versions by several notable performers.