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I Should Be Glad
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Wikipedia article
"'I Should Be Glad'" is a song by the Swedish rock band Tages, written by bassist Gran Lagerberg and rhythm guitarist Danne Larsson in 1964. Following bad press for their debut single "Sleep Little Girl", the group quickly recorded a follow-up which critics would consider good.
The song was the second of three singles by the group to employ a similar sound; heavily involving acoustic guitars combined with positive lyrics. It nonetheless met positive reception among fans, reaching number two on both Kvllstoppen and 'Tio i Topp' during the early months of 1965.
Background and recording
On 16 October 1964, Tages released their debut single "Sleep Little Girl". This single became a hit for the band, much to the surprise of their members, who thought nothing much of it. It reached number four on Kvllstoppen and went all the way to number one on 'Tio i Topp' during the later parts of 1964. "Sleep Little Girl" was re-pressed in January 1965, owing to the popularity it, eventually becoming the group's best selling single. However, the song's composer, lead singer Tommy Blom garnered much criticism for it, with critics deeming the success of the single to be based on the group's appearance, which was "cute". In retrospect, Gran Brandels and Lennart Wrigholm wrote that "almost no Swedish group's garnered as much negative criticism for a debut single as much as Tages did."
This understandably had a larger impact on the group, and they resorted to writing more songs in order to evolve that craft. The group's bassist Gran Lagerberg and rhythm guitarist Danne Larsson therefore sat down together and wrote the song together. "I Should Be Glad" is according to Wrigholm a "merseybeat song heavily inspired by British groups the Searchers and Gerry and the Pacemakers", both of whom were practically at peak popularity in both Britain and Sweden towards the end of 1964. On 30 December 1964, the group traveled to Stockholm to record the single after their record label Platina had booked studio time. As Platina had no own studio, Metronome Studios was booked, with formed the Violents guitarist Rune Wallebom as the producer. Four songs were cut during this session; this, "I Cry" and re-recordings of both "Sleep Little Girl" and "Tell Me You're Mine", that had been the A- and B-sides of their debut single.
Release
On 14 February 1965, the group made their official television debut on Swedish Television. They appeared on 'Drop-In', a show most famous for the appearance of the Beatles and later starting the career of the Hep Stars. On the show, the group performed both "Sleep Little Girl" and "I Should Be Glad" which had yet been released. The show turned out to become a huge success, both from fans and critics alike, upon which Platina Records the following day, 15 February, released "I Should Be Glad" as their second single. The B-side chosen was "I Cry", also written and harmonized by Lagerberg and Larsson. Due to the success the single would get, it was eventually re-pressed in November 1965, with a re-recording of "I Cry" as its B-side, and featured an alternate picture sleeve.
It became a huge commercial success on both Sweden's record charts Kvllstoppen and 'Tio i Topp.' It entered Kvllstoppen on 23 February at a position of ten, before reaching number two on 9 March, a position it held for four consecutive weeks. It was last seen on the chart on 4 May at a position of 17. It spent 11 weeks on the chart, nine of which were in the top-ten and seven in the top-five. On 'Tio i Topp' it was also successful, being voted in at number four on 20 February. It also peaked at number two the following week, a position it would hold for four weeks. It was last seen on 10 April of that year at a position of 13. In total, "I Should Be Glad" spent seven weeks on the chart. It was the first of three singles by the group to chart in Finland, reaching number 37 in March of that year.
"I Should Be Glad" nor its b-side were included on any studio albums the group released during the 1960s. It would eventually be released on two EPs during this time; 'Sleep Little Girl' (which combined both sides of the group's two first singles) on 30 August 1966, and following the group's contract with Platina expiring in 1967, also included on 'Hits Volym 1' in August 1967. That same month, a compilation album named 'The Best Of Tages' was released, which included "I Should Be Glad" as the fifth track. The track's first release on compact disc was on a CD-reissue of a compilation album named 'Tages, 19641968!', released on 18 November 1992, where the song was the second track. Both sides of the single would eventually be released on the 'This One's For You Box Set', released on 28 November 1964 together with all the group's other recordings.
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Category:1965 songs
Category:1965 singles
Category:English-language Swedish songs
Category:Tages (band) songs
Category:Platina Records singles
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