Wikipedia article
"'It's Sad to Belong'" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and performed by England Dan & John Ford Coley on their 1977 album, 'Dowdy Ferry Road'. Called a "timeless classic",[Martinez-Belen, Crispina. [http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/242946/mymp-s-prevalentine-show "MYMP's pre-Valentine show"]. 'mb.com.ph', February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-04.] it peaked at #21 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart and #1 on the easy listening chart. It was one of the earlier pop hits in Goodrum's career.[Minting, Will. [http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9934&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 "Jay Graydon & Randy Goodrum interview, October 2008"]. 'ejazznews.com', November 1, 2008. Retrieved 2011-01-04.]
"It's Sad to Belong" was released in May 1977[Nite, Norm N. '[https://books.google.com/books?id=5I04AQAAIAAJ&q=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&dq=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&hl=en&ei=xrwiTZ-oGMK78gaA3pDgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBDgU Rock On: The Modern Years: 1964 - Present, Volume 2]' (Crowell, 1980), p. 152.] through Big Tree Records, with the b-side "The Time Has Come".[Koenig, John. '[https://books.google.com/books?id=fuIXAQAAIAAJ&q=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&dq=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&hl=en&ei=D70iTebIL8P38AaS4_jcDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBDge Goldmine Records & Prices]' (Krause Pubns Inc, 2006).] It became one of "a string of hit singles" that England Dan & John Ford Coley had in the mid-1970s.[[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YqUiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1a0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1231,3723231&dq=it's-sad-to-belong&hl=en "Dan Seals to perform Friday"]. 'The Sumter Daily Item', November 16, 1985, p. 128.][[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=68QfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hdgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2338,3091982&dq=it's-sad-to-belong&hl=en "Singer at Doniphan"]. 'The Southeast Missourian', May 28, 1986, p. 2.]
The song topped the adult contemporary (then called "easy listening") chart for five consecutive weeks from June 25 to July 23.[Hyatt, Wesley (1999). 'The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits' (Billboard Publications).][Whitburn, Joel. '[https://books.google.com/books?id=drgq4g0rmVsC&q=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&dq=%22it's+sad+to+belong%22&hl=en&ei=MrwiTfPUFMGC8gbT76jRCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEUQ6AEwCTgK The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits]' (Billboard Books, 2000), p. 214.] It also appeared on the top 40 "rack singles" list on June 7.['[https://books.google.com/books?id=aCQEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover Billboard]', June 18, 1977.] On December 24, it ranked #3 on 'Billboard's end-of-the-year easy listening chart.['[https://books.google.com/books?id=k0UEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover Billboard]', December 24, 1977.]
Background
"It's Sad to Belong" is the second track on 'Dowdy Ferry Road'. It is one of only two songs on the album not written by either singer.[[http://www.allmusic.com/album/dowdy-ferry-road-r6797/review "Dowdy Ferry Road - England Dan & John Ford Coley"]. 'allmusic.com'. Retrieved 2011-01-04.]
The song has been called "bittersweet", telling the story of a married man falling in love with another woman and knowing they cannot be together. Dale Van Atta of the 'Deseret News' observed that it is "the universal divorce anthem - about the alleged monotony of monogamy" and that the duo "[reduces] it to a simple, peaceful chorus" (referring to the line, 'Yes, it's sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along').[Van Atta, Dale. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hbEpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=doUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7008,2895961&dq=it's-sad-to-belong&hl=en "Patented simplicity on the 'Dowdy Ferry Road'"]. 'The Deseret News', June 10, 1977, p. 20.]
'Billboard Magazine' described the song as a "sweetly catchy ballad." 'Cash Box' said "the strong point is their seamless harmony, easing a catchy chorus through several refrains."
It is still performed in concerts by the surviving member of the duo, John Ford Coley.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other versions
B.J. Thomas recorded a version of "It's Sad to Belong" in 1977 on his eponymous LP.[[https://www.discogs.com/BJ-Thomas-BJ-Thomas/release/1381502 Discogs - B.J. Thomas 1977]]
See also
*List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1977 (U.S.)
References
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