Posted on 06/19/2022 6:21:00 PM PDT by SamAdams76
Fifty years ago this week, the week of June 17, 1972, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan debuted on the Billboard HOT 100 at number #88 with the song "Alone Again (Naturally)".
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
Also debuting that same week at #68 was "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)".
Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
Both these subtitled songs would compete each other later that summer for the number one spot and become two of the biggest pop hits of that year.
"Alone Again" topped the charts for a total of six weeks with an initial run of four weeks before allowing 'Brandy" to claim the number one spot. Then "Alone Again" went back on top for two more weeks.
Gilbert O'Sullivan would spin off a few more Top 40 hits such as "Get Down", "Clair" and "Out Of The Question" during the early 1970s. Gilbert is still alive and kicking today at the age of 75 and no doubt still collecting some nice royalty checks.
As for Looking Glass, "Brandy" was their one big hit but they were saved from one hit wonder status with the 1973 Top 40 hit "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne", which peaked at #33. Elliot Lurie, who wrote and sang both the Looking Glass hits is still alive at the age of 73.
Arcane trivia, Barry Manilow's first big hit "Mandy", was originally titled "Brandy" but the title was changed to avoid confusion with the Looking Glass song.
You can hear the original "Brandy" song here (as performed by Scott English who co-wrote the song with Richard Kerr):
Three great songs here from half a century ago.
The Dad I was referring to was the actual dad of the Cowsills. He was a mean drunk and control freak who destroyed the Cowsills band. He was good at opening the door then getting kicked out and never being asked to return.
See post #41
The saddest story was the Cowsills rotten dad. He must of had PTSD or something similar. He was a tyrant and a drunk who killed the Cowsills name because nobody wanted to deal with him again once they got to know him.
1972....what a summer for me. :)
Nothing beats “Ain’t gonna bump no more” by Joe Tex.
I did not realize Barry Cowsill drowned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Looks like I found a rabbit hole to go down.
The Cowsills had a lot going for them musically. They could have had an entire decade of massive hits if they were managed properly.
My own Beagle reminded me of that this morning. ;)
Loved that song. Fell in love but she didn’t love me and I drove my roommate crazy playing it over and over.
Trying to get away and move on, caused me a lot of misery and stupidity in my life. Nearly died several times, got arrested, and more. Finally moved back home with my parents to get my life together, as I would surely have ended up dead or in prison the way I was going.
It worked out for the best in the end. Been married to another for the past 33 years.
Love that song and married that woman in it. Ironic that both of these songs came up in the same thread.
My life went to crap living out Alone Again Naturally.
Heartbeat (It’s A Love Beat), I played that song to death when I got the single.
Another brother died in Canada 2 days later.
Tony De Franco and the De Franco Family.
Yep.
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