FROM JULIO, CON AMOR

JULIO IGLESIAS JOINS LEGACY’s LOVE SONGS SERIES

16-SONG COLLECTION – EVERY SONG IN ENGLISH – ACKNOWLEDGES 20th CHART ANNIVERSARY OF “TO ALL THE GIRLS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, 1984 DUET WITH WILLIE NELSON

Latest entry in LOVE SONGS series arrives in stores now

Exactly 20 springtimes ago, Julio Iglesias won the hearts of American fans for the first time with “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” a duet with Willie Nelson that set the stage for two decades of romantic ballads and a career that has been filled with one record-setting achievement after another. For the first time, LOVE SONGS reaches deep into the Columbia album catalog of Julio Iglesias from the 1980s and ’90s for 16 songs – every selection sung in English – whose theme is universal in every language.

LOVE SONGS will arrive in stores June 1st as the latest addition to the best-selling series on Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music. The release coincides with Julio’s annual spring-summer-tour itinerary of the U.S. The schedule kicked off with three nights at the Las Vegas Hilton (May 6-8th). Please see complete schedule of tour dates at the conclusion of this release.

Julio Iglesias now joins the illustrious company of artists who have been featured in Sony Music’s LOVE SONGS series since its launch in 1996 with the first of two volumes on Billie Holiday. Also included in the series are collections on Louis Armstrong, Michael Bolton, Dave Brubeck, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Conniff, Miles Davis, Earth, Wind & Fire, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, George Jones, Patti Labelle, Loverboy, the Manhattans, Teena Marie, Johnny Mathis, Willie Nelson, the O’Jays, Colin Raye, Charlie Rich, Frank Sinatra, Toto, Andy Williams, Deniece Williams, Tammy Wynette, and Paul Young.

2004 not only marks the 20th anniversary of “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before” (which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 of March 3, 1984) but also marks the 30th anniversary of Julio’s original signing to CBS Records in Spain, who released his first album for the label (A Flor de Piel) in 1974. LOVE SONGS commemorates Julio’s ascension as a Columbia recording artist, taking stock of one of his other great duets, the often overlooked “When You Tell Me That You Love Me.” The song was introduced by Diana Ross in 1991, and recorded by Julio with Dolly Parton three years later on the album entitled Crazy, named for the title tune written by Willie Nelson and made famous by Patsy Cline.

LOVE SONGS covers nearly a decade and a half, with tracks ranging from the classic Willie Nelson duet up through 1998’s “Crazy In Love,” his remake of the Country hit introduced by Kim Carnes ten years earlier, and later recorded by Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers, Joe Cocker and others.

Julio’s affection for contemporary American pop was given its widest exposure on his 1990 album, Starry Night, named for the Don McLean tune, “Vincent.” The album was produced by Albert Hammond, who co-wrote several of its songs: “When I Need You,” “99 Miles From L.A.,” and “Love Has Been A Friend To Me.” The other four tracks from that album which have been chosen for LOVE SONGS comprise the Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” Jacques Brel’s “If You Go Away,” Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” and Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa.”

In addition to “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” from Julio’s breakthrough album of 1984, 1100 Bel Air Place, there are two other signature tracks: Doris Day’s 1952 Columbia chestnut “When I Fall In Love” and Albert Hammond’s “Moonlight Lady.” The balance of the evergreens on LOVE SONGS include covers of Morris Albert’s “Feelings,” “As Time Goes By” (from the movie Casablanca), and “When I Fall In Love” (popularized by the Lettermen in 1962).

For Julio Iglesias, who released his 77th album last November 2003, Divorcio (on Sony Music International), the excitement is strong as ever. He has sold more than 250 million records, the most by any solo artist, according to The Guinness Book Of World Records. Furthermore, Spain's most famous singer has earned an astounding 2,650 gold and platinum records around the world. James Brown may be known as the hardest-working man in show business, but Julio can’t be far behind – as he looks back on nearly 4,600 shows on five different continents.

“To communicate with myself, I have to rediscover myself,” Julio says. “The best singer is the one who keeps pushing on, touching different generations.”