The Story of the Song from “The Poseidon Adventure” - “The Morning After”

The Story of the Song from “The Poseidon Adventure” - “The Morning After”

Behind the scenes and interviews with writers Joel Hirschhorn and Al Kasha. This song won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1972

The song was written in March 1972 by 20th Century Fox songwriters Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, who were told to write the love theme for The Poseidon Adventure in one night. In the end, the finished product was called "Why Must There Be a Morning After?" but changes by the label resulted in the song's more optimistic title (as evidenced by the new lyric of "There's got to be a morning after"). In the end titles of the film, it is officially called "The Song From 'The Poseidon Adventure'", though it would become best known by the alternate title, "The Morning After".

The song is performed in the film by the character of Nonnie, played by Carol Lynley, but is actually sung by a vocal double, Renee Armand. It appears twice, during a warm-up rehearsal and then later during the New Year's Eve party early in the film. The lyrics relate to the themes of the film, as a band of passengers survive the capsizing of the ship SS Poseidonand have to escape the sinking wreck.

When the film became a huge hit, Russ Regan, manager of 20th Century Records, suggested that Maureen McGovern, who had sent him a demonstration tape and was working at the time as a secretary, sing the song for the commercial release. Having the utmost faith in her, he financed the recording with his own money and contracted her to his company.

The song was eventually a global hit and won an Academy Award.

McGovern's version was the only recording commercially available until 2010 when the complete film score, including the film versions of the songs, was released by La La Land Records.