Posted on 04/11/2021 8:31:34 AM PDT by SamAdams76
This was a very important record in the early 1970s that was covered by a multitude of recording artists.
This is one of only 50 singles to sell in access of ten million copies (the "Middle of the Road" version). However, the hit version in the United States was performed by Mac & Katie Kassoon.
Anyway, an utterly massive record that anybody alive in the early 1970s would instantly know.
The video linked here is rather primitive by MTV standards (we were still 10 years away from the launch of that music video channel). But it's amusing in that has Lolly walks down the streets of 1970 Amsterdam, many bystanders are bewildered and intrigued by the sight of this long-haired man walking down the street singing with a movie camera in front and to the side of him.
Lolly wrote the song by the way so this can be considered the "original" version. It hit the U.S. charts exactly 50 years ago this week and peaked at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This was voted a "creepy" song in that it has a theme of child abandonment.
Unfortunately for Lolly, he would be killed about 7 years later in a head-on collision while riding a Yamaha motor-bike someplace in England.
He was only 32 but he did write one of the biggest selling songs in the history of pop music.
Never heard it before today. And I was 17 that year.
I remember the song. It was one of those songs sung by a male that sounds like a female in the rendition (Neil Sedaka’s “Laughter in the Rain” is another one). It was upbeat, almost like a Jackson 5 tune.
Consider yourself culturally enriched. Retroactively.
I suppose beauty (or value) is in the ear of the listener.
This song and this performance don’t start my engine at all.
But so what? That just me, and it doesn’t take away what the song means to you.
You are correct that 1971 was a MAJOR year of good popular music. When I think of that year, a few hits come to mind;
1. Theme from Shaft, Issac Hayes. 2. Maggie May, Rod Stewart 3. That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard it Should Be, Carly Simon. 4. Mr. Bojangles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, If You Could Read My Mind, Lightfoot..and many, many others.
For years, I assumed it was a woman singing that song.
But turns out, Ronnie was a dude.
I was born in 1957, and if I heard this song even once in my life, I must have instantly forgotten it. Of all the great music around at the time, why would anyone want to remember this one?
The only reason I remember this record is because I was in college radio at the time. All kinds of musical crap came across my desk as Music Director. This qualified as musical crap.
Ah, the posted video is NOT the version I remember. The one by “Middle of the Road” DID feature a female lead singer.
Lol! But as bad as it is or was, it’s still better than many if not most of the absolute garbage out today.
I bet you never heard “Chick-A-Boom” by Daddy Dewdrop either!
First time I’ve heard it. The vocal melody has parts that are nearly identical to the song Come On Feel the Noise by Quiet Riot from 1983:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxgMGk9JPVA
Wouldn’t surprise me if the QR singer had heard the Stott song and unintentionally reused some of the melody in his own song.
That one I’ve heard.
I was 12 that year and very into music but I nevery heard of this guy or his song.
Too bad it wasn't a real bet, because I could have used the money. I'm well familiar with that one and think it's many times better than that junk you posted. I was in a neighborhood pop band in the 70. And today I'm somewhat of an amateur DJ. I know 70s music pretty well. Also 50s and 60s.
Never heard it before today.
-———same here, and couldn’t listen to the whole thing now.
Not the Beatles, not the Rolling Stones. Looks like Keith Richards’ younger sane brother if he had one.
Wow! Thank you so much for posting that!
I’m a huge aficionado of music Bashley the 1960s and 1870s I’ve never heard that song / it’s incredible
A very very catchy tune
LED ZEPPELIN Iii
NOW, you’re talkin!
I can hear the sitar and drum march dirge of KASHMIR right now!
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