In times past, popular music often extolled the joys and lamented the heartbreaks delivered by mail. Letters were the main form of communication between separated lovers; telephone and telegraph were seldom available alternatives. In the digital age, of course, love letters (and breakup letters) have become a lost art form. If there are songs about romantic texting or IMs, I haven't heard of them. Fortunately, the emotional impact of epistolary romance can still be found in song.
A few unforgettable covers:
not sure I've ever seen a worse lip synch than Alex Chilton there with the Box Tops. But this letter song is as good as any of them. Ketty Lester's version is the best but Elvis did it pretty well, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kiSd73mag
Another one crossed my mind when thinking..
Donovan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxpI9ZwYFs
Thanks, Cory.
When I saw your post, I immediately thought of Johnny Cash’s Tear Stained Letter
https://youtu.be/lkUlEFq5ZmE?si=Z10Ek_LYSVIVCj1q
Thanks.
Dear John Ferlin Husky & Jean Shepard (starts at 1:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVo8yNcz7LM&list=RDMVo8yNcz7LM&start_radio=1
The Sullivan Ballou Letter set to Ashoken Farewell (Ken Burns’ “Civil War”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1vhCBhGhHA
P.S. I Love You Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA5DkiVKSlM
A great one, Steve!
Unusually, I've actually seen two of the acts in your list: the Box Tops and the Marvelettes. Both were long after the originals, but still …