1973 HITS ARCHIVE: Wildflower - Skylark (stereo 45)
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- Опубліковано 26 лис 2022
- Donny Gerrard was the featured vocalist on this most successful release by the Vancouver-based group…and their 23 year old keyboardist was future award-winning composer, arranger, producer, and record executive David Foster. I found the Songfacts article about the writing of “Wildflower” to be of interest: www.songfacts.com/facts/skyla...
Pop Chart Peaks: Record World 8, Billboard & Cash Box 9 - A/C Peak: 5
Transferred from stereo 45 single Capitol 3511 - Wildflower (David Richardson-Doug Edwards) by Skylark, produced by Eirik The Norwegian (Eirik Wangberg) .
THE 1973 HITS ARCHIVE - Here in one place, a comprehensive collection of ‘pop’ best-sellers and songs which made an impact that were either released or enjoyed a major chunk of their popularity within the calendar year 1973 (some were recorded in 1972)
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Although this was issued in the UK, it did not chart; our charts were full of throwaway glam rock crap. This song is excellent, I have heard it twice on your channel now and it is mesmerising.
Although I'm from the UK, I'm a big fan of all 3 of your channels. I have always been a fan of chart books but to have the songs readily available to listen to on UA-cam brings those bland typed entries to life. You are providing a great service to anyone researching the history of American popular music culture.
Thank you for the kind words. Hopefully this channel will eventually attract the traffic and subscription rates of the other two, but they both had a healthy head start.
A beauty 🌹
R.I.P. Donny Gerrard
One of my favorites hits from Spring of 73
My oh my...
They all were just belting out amazing creations for us all back then.
I marveled and wondered how long they could keep it going seeing how the 50s sound disappeared then the 60s sound and styles.
I never thought these 70s multi faceted complex production miracles would be replaced with a genre that eliminated music and harmonies altogether which is what RAP Hippity Hopity did.
Now here's a hit record that CKLW introduced to the US to become a hit. It received lots of airplay in Canada, then it spread to Detroit, then to the rest of the United States to become a Top Ten record. Unfortunately, the group immediately split up when the follow up single and the album was released by Capitol Records. The group never made the US charts again as a result. Too bad, this is one of the better one hit wonders of the 1970's, and one CKLW promoted to the upper mid west portion of the US.
Skylark's manager was a hometown DJ (Rochester NY) Ferdinand J. Smith III. Next to the works of Chuck Mangione, this very record was all over the radio for the next 30 plus years (Top 40, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Oldies). The late Donny Gerard went on to cut solo works before joining Mavis Staples as one of three backing vocalists.
The promo issue was PRO-6626, and unfortunately Billboard, at that time, often had a habit of passing off such numbers as the actual cat. #. Until the spring 1973 revamping of their Hot 100 layout, they actually listed the cat. # of this record as Capitol 6626.
That Songfacts link did not mention another act who had an R&B hit with this the same year: The New Birth.
This also went to #10 on the RPM Top Singles in Canada and #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Charts per wiki
STILL HAVE this on vinyl school yard DAYs wish i had a time machine
Lyrics:
She’s faced the hardest times, you could imagine
And many times her eyes fought back the tears
And when her youthful world, was about to fall in
Each time her slender shoulders
Bore the weight of all her fears
And a sorrow no one hears
Still rings in midnight silence, in her ears
Let her cry, for she’s a lady (she’s a lady)
Let her dream, for she’s a child (child)
Let the rain fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower, growing wild
And if by chance I should hold her (if by chance that I should hold her)
Let me hold her for a time (let me hold her for a time)
But if allowed just one possession
I would pick her from the garden, to be mine
(I would pick her from the garden, to be mine)
Be careful how you touch her, for she’ll awaken
And sleep’s the only freedom that she knows
And when you walk into her eyes, you won’t believe
The way she’s always paying
For a debt she never owes
And a silent wind still blows
That only she can hear and so she goes
Let her cry, for she’s a lady
Let her dream, for she’s a child
Let the rain fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower, growing wild
Let her cry, for she’s a lady (she’s a lady)
Let her dream, for she’s a child
Let the rain fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower, growing wild
She’s a flower growing wild
Thanks Much 😊,
JaneLee 🕊️
4/5/23
I awoke this morning and the song "Make It Better" by Jericho popped in my head. I always wondered if Jericho's Denny Gerrard was related to Skylark's Donny Gerrard? Us Crazy Canucks, Eh 🎉
1972.
I originally thought this was Tom Jones but I was wrong. Good tune either way.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank You AP,
JaneLee 🕊️
11/27/22
During the 1:27 till 1:48 mark, some radio stations cut that part but not sure??
The promo 45 edit as issued to radio stations was a minute shorter.
Hi Prof! I was wondering if you could find a song for me from perhaps 1969-1970? It is a song about a winter scene...snow falling, a fireplace, words "our secret hideaway" . That's all I can remember but it is a song I have no way to find except from someone who really knows music from that time period. Thanks for helping me.
Hi Patti. You asked me that earlier under an Aretha Franklin post, and I responded: Thanks for the kind words, Patti...so glad that you're enjoying the music here! The only song that comes to mind at the moment is this 1966-67 hit by Tommy Roe (with snow outside and fire burning, but the hideaway isn't secret). Here are the lyrics genius.com/Tommy-roe-its-now-winters-day-lyrics and here is my post of the record: ua-cam.com/video/yFMGDw58nc0/v-deo.html
@@anotherprof3408 Thank you so much!!! You are awesome to find this for me. I knew it was kind of an obscure song. And thanks for being patient with me....I asked you then I couldn't remember where I posted the question and I looked and looked but couldn't find it. Silly girl! Thanks again!
@@patticook4425 No problem, Patti! So glad we were able to locate the one that you were looking for.