“When a Man Loves a Woman,” a timeless ballad of deep affection and vulnerability, is instantly recognizable. Originally sung by Percy Sledge, this iconic song has resonated across generations, inspiring countless artists to interpret its heartfelt message. But beyond the legendary Percy Sledge, who else has lent their voice to this powerful anthem of love? For over half a century, musicians from diverse genres have embraced “When a Man Loves a Woman,” transforming it into country laments, soulful torch songs, electrifying rock anthems, smooth jazz instrumentals, and even experimental hybrids. Let’s explore ten of the most remarkable versions that showcase the song’s enduring appeal and the unique artists who have made it their own.
Esther Phillips, “When a Woman Loves a Man” (1966)
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips, once known as “Little Esther,” had already tasted fame in her early teens before facing struggles with addiction and career setbacks. By the 1960s, she was staging a remarkable comeback, marked by her clever gender-swapped cover of The Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” which she transformed into “And I Love Him.” Riding this wave of innovation, Phillips daringly reimagined Percy Sledge’s hit as “When a Woman Loves a Man.” Released mere weeks after the original soared up the charts, Phillips’ rendition offers a world-weary, bluesy perspective, imbued with the hard-won wisdom of a woman who understands love’s complexities. Her version, entering the R&B charts shortly after Sledge’s, stands as a testament to the song’s universal themes resonating across genders and experiences.
Eddie Harris (1966)
Jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris took “When a Man Loves a Woman” into uncharted instrumental territory. Most instrumental covers tend to adhere closely to the original melody, but Harris, known for his experimental approach, completely deconstructed the song on his 1966 album The Tender Storm. Backed by the dynamic hard-bop pianist Cedar Walton, Harris distilled the essence of the song into melodic fragments and funky riffs, weaving them into a mesmerizing six-minute improvisation. This rendition marked a pivotal point in Harris’s career, signaling his exploration of soul music and his pioneering use of the Varitone, an electronic effects unit that allowed him to manipulate his saxophone’s sound, adding another layer of innovation to his already groundbreaking interpretation.
Mae West (1966)
Mae West
Iconic screen siren Mae West, in her vibrant seventies, delivered a truly unique and campy take on “When a Man Loves a Woman” for her album Way Out West. Backed by a garage-rock band named Somebody’s Chyldren, West infused the song with her signature over-the-top persona. Her performance is a delightful blend of vaudeville and garage rock, recalling her early career in pre-amplified theater. Listen closely to how she playfully shouts and slides down from the high notes, adding a theatrical flair that only Mae West could deliver. This version is less about romantic sincerity and more about theatrical spectacle, showcasing West’s enduring ability to entertain and surprise.
Karen Dalton (1971)
Karen Dalton
Karen Dalton, a revered figure in the early Sixties Greenwich Village folk scene, possessed a voice that was both hauntingly cracked and remarkably clear, often compared to the sound of a trumpet. A fiercely independent artist who defied industry expectations, Dalton only released two studio albums. Her deeply personal and unsettling version of “When a Man Loves a Woman” appears on her second album, 1971’s In My Own Time. While supported by a tight and swaying band, Dalton truly makes the song her own by toying with its phrasing and emotional core. She transforms the familiar lyrics into an expression of profound personal pain, revealing the raw vulnerability beneath the surface of romantic devotion.
John Wesley Ryles (1976)
John Wesley Ryles
For country singer John Wesley Ryles, “When a Man Loves a Woman” marked a significant career resurgence. After an initial hit with “Kay” in 1968, Ryles had spent much of the early Seventies away from the Nashville spotlight. His country-infused cover of this soul classic garnered him renewed attention on the country charts. Notably, Ryles subtly altered a lyric, changing “tryin’ to hold on to your heartless love” to “your high-class love,” adding a touch of country charm and perhaps a hint of playful self-deprecation. The success of this cover paved the way for an even bigger hit the following year, “Once in a Lifetime Thing,” solidifying his comeback.
Bette Midler (1979)
Bette Midler
Bette Midler’s powerful rendition of “When a Man Loves a Woman” is a standout moment from her role in the 1979 film The Rose, where she portrays a tragic 1960s rock star. Her on-screen performance is a roaring, brassy spectacle, delivered in a style reminiscent of Janis Joplin, upon whom her character was loosely based. Preceded by a raw and emotional monologue about love and heartache, Midler’s performance captures the intensity and vulnerability of love within the tumultuous world of rock and roll. Released as a single from The Rose soundtrack, even before the title track, it became a modest hit, further cementing the song’s cross-genre appeal.
Michael Bolton (1991)
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton’s 1991 cover of “When a Man Loves a Woman” achieved massive commercial success, reaching Number One and earning him a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. Setting aside its chart-topping status for a moment, and imagining it as a lesser-known blue-eyed soul track, one can appreciate the raw vocal power Bolton brings to the song. While his style is undeniably big and dramatic, pushing for the high notes and embracing the theatricality of the song, the inherent emotional core of “When a Man Loves a Woman” still shines through. An interesting piece of trivia: Before his solo success, Bolton was in a hard-rock band called Blackjack. Adding another layer of coincidence, another band named Jack Grayson and Blackjack had a country hit with their own version of the song around the same time, highlighting the song’s pervasive reach across genres in the early 90s.
Barbara Mandrell (1991)
Barbara Mandrell’s take on “When a Man Loves a Woman,” recorded for her album Key’s in the Mailbox, shares a similar soulful vein with Michael Bolton’s version, albeit with a touch of country twang. Interestingly, Bolton himself co-wrote another song on the same album, suggesting a shared musical sensibility. Mandrell’s affinity for deep Southern soul was evident early in her career, with her first major single being a 1969 cover of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now),” quickly followed by a rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man.” Her “When a Man Loves a Woman” is a natural extension of this soulful foundation, blending country sensibilities with the song’s inherent emotional depth.
Ryan Gosling (1991)
Long before Hollywood fame and heartthrob status, Ryan Gosling showcased his talent at Mormon talent shows. A brief, charming glimpse of a young Gosling, around 10 or 11 years old, performing “When a Man Loves a Woman” has surfaced, captured by an audience member. This proto-American Idol moment reveals a youthful earnestness and vocal promise. The surviving fragment also includes a delightful bonus: Gosling and his sister Mandi impressively dancing to C&C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now,” showcasing his early performance versatility. This unearthed clip offers a sweet and unexpected prelude to Gosling’s later artistic endeavors.
Frank Ocean, “Non-Stop” (2011)
Before becoming Frank Ocean, Christopher Breaux created a vast collection of tracks, eventually compiled into the mixtape The Lonny Breaux Collection. Within this collection lies “Non-Stop,” Ocean’s 21st-century reimagining of “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Producer J.R. Rotem looped and subtly modified Percy Sledge’s original recording, over which Ocean layered a completely new melody and lyrics. “Non-Stop” explores themes of tormented, unrequited love, presenting a contemporary variation on Sledge’s iconic imagery of despair, like “sleeping out in the rain.” Ocean’s version retains the emotional weight of the original while transforming it into a modern soundscape of longing and heartache, demonstrating the song’s continued relevance and adaptability.
The Enduring Power of Love’s Song
“When a Man Loves a Woman” continues to captivate and inspire artists across genres and generations. From Esther Phillips’s gender-perspective shift to Frank Ocean’s modern R&B interpretation, these diverse covers reveal the song’s timeless capacity to express profound human emotion. Whether delivered with soulful intensity, jazzy improvisation, theatrical flair, or raw vulnerability, each rendition underscores the enduring power of a song that speaks directly to the heart of love itself. These covers are not merely imitations, but rather heartfelt tributes and unique artistic statements that further solidify “When a Man Loves a Woman” as a cornerstone of romantic music history.
