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Love of the Common People
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Wikipedia article
"'Love of the Common People'" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album 'John Hurley Sings about People,''John Hurley Sings about People,' John Hurley, with Ronnie Wilkins. RCA Records LSP-4355, 1970 but first sung in January 1967 by The Four Preps. The Four Preps recording was not a hit, but later in 1967, The Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4.
Soul group The Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the US Hot 100. A year later, Nicky Thomas had a major UK hit (No. 9) with a reggae-inspired version, and Paul Young had a No. 2 UK hit (and No. 1 in several European countries) in 1983 with his interpretation of the song.
Lyrics
The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and unemployment. There is a mention of "free food tickets," a reference to government food stamp and welfare programs, in the very first line, and the lyrics also describe the subject family as having holes in their clothes and their shoes. The last verse advises the subject family to keep their faith strong and to maintain hope for improvement.
Nicky Thomas version
Nicky Thomas recorded a Joe Gibbs-produced reggae version of the song in 1970, which sold over 175,000 copies in the United Kingdom and reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) 'Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall,' Greenwood Press, , p. 292 It was Thomas's largest selling single, and, according to Steve Leggett of Allmusic, "practically defines the term 'pop reggae.'"Leggett, Steve "[ 'Love of the Common People: The Best of Nicky Thomas' Review], 'Allmusic,' Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 6 December 2009
Paul Young version
In 1982, Paul Young released his interpretation of "Love of the Common People" as a single, but initially it failed to chart. Only after Young's first and second solo hits in 1983, with "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and "Come Back and Stay", and the single's re-release did it become successful. The single peaked at No 2 in the UK, and reached the No 1 spot in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. This version also contained a solo by ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other cover versions
"Love of the Common People" had been covered by:
*The Everly Brothers (1967)
*Country singers Waylon Jennings and Lynn Anderson, Pennsylvania Sixpence, all recorded versions in 1967.
*Leonard Nimoy in 1968
*Wayne Newton in 1967
*Reggae singer Eric Donaldson and the Gosdin Brothers in 1968
*In 1968, The Simple Image
*In 1969, Elton John
*Soul group The Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the Hot 100.
*John Denver on his 1969 album 'Rhymes & Reasons,'
*Sandy Posey August 26, 1967 on her I Take It Back Lp- MGM
*Pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow in 1979.
*It was also a Top 10 hit in Ireland for showband star Joe Dolan in 1968.
*Wanda Jackson covered the song in 1971
*In 1982, Stiff Little Fingers
*In 2006 Bruce Springsteen covered it as part of his Seeger Sessions tour, releasing a live version of it as a bonus track on his 'Live in Dublin' album.
*Anti-Nowhere League covered it 2017 on their album 'League Style'.
*Australian artist Jessica Mauboy covered the song in 2017 on her chart-topping 'The Secret Daughter' album.
*English folk artist Kate Rusby covered the song on her 2020 album 'Hand Me Down'.
See also
*BRT Top 30 number-one hits of 1984
*List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1984
*List of number-one singles of 1983 (Ireland)
*List of number-one hits of 1984 (Italy)
References
Category:Country ballads
Category:Rhythm and blues ballads
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Political songs
Category:Protest songs
Category:Waylon Jennings songs
Category:Paul Young songs
Category:John Denver songs
Category:Joe Dolan songs
Category:Bruce Springsteen songs
Category:1982 singles
Category:1983 singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Songs about poverty
Category:1967 songs
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:CBS Records singles
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