| "Big Ship" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the single released in the Netherlands | ||||
| Single by Cliff Richard | ||||
| B-side | "She's Leaving You" | |||
| Released | 23 May 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 22 April 1969 [1] | |||
| Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:26 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Raymond Froggatt | |||
| Producer(s) | Norrie Paramor | |||
| Cliff Richard singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Big Ship" is a song by Cliff Richard, released as a single in May 1969. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. [2]
"Big Ship" was written by Raymond Froggatt and was close to being selected as Lulu's entry for the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. However, it was rejected in favour of "Boom Bang-a-Bang". [1] In January 1969, record producer Mickie Most wrote in Melody Maker that "Big Ship" was "a number one record ... not just here but all over the world" and was "strongly in line for a future record" by Herman's Hermits. [3] The band did record the song but it remained unreleased until its inclusion on the box set Into Something Good: The Mickie Most Years 1964–72 .
Cliff Richard's manager Peter Gormley heard about the song and given the success of Richard's Eurovision song "Congratulations" the year before decided to get him to record a version. It was recorded with the Mike Vickers Orchestra, who performed all instrumentation on the track. [1] "Big Ship" was released as a single with the B-side "She's Leaving You", written by the Shadows' drummer Brian Bennett, who also conducted the orchestra that backs the song. [4]
Reviewing for Record Mirror , Peter Jones wrote that "the chorus, with organ and voices added, is dead commercial, and Cliff fills in the verses with his usual warmth and clarity. There Is a shanty-ish sort of feel to it and some excellent brass figures behind. Not his best, but better than most". [5] For New Musical Express , Derek Johnson described the song as having a "breezy air of light-hearted gaiety and vitality. Set to a rollicking nautical-flavoured score, with a vocal group joining in the chorus, it's a happy-go-lucky ditty in much the same mould as "Good Times"". [6]
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) [7] | 38 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [8] | 13 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [9] | 45 |
| Denmark (IFPI) [10] | 7 |
| Ireland (IRMA) [11] | 8 |
| Singapore (Radio Singapore) [12] | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [2] | 8 |
"Congratulations" is a song recorded by British singer Cliff Richard. The song was written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. It is best known as the British entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1968, held in London.
"True Love Ways" is a song attributed to Norman Petty and Buddy Holly, and recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in October 1958, four months before the singer's death. It was first released on the posthumous album The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2, in March 1960. The song was a hit in Britain in 1960, reaching number 25 on the pop singles chart. In a 1988 re-release of the recording by MCA, the single reached no. 65 on the UK singles chart in a 5 week chart run.
"Little Town" is a new arrangement of the traditional Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by English singer-songwriter Chris Eaton. Eaton adapted the lyrics to a new melody he composed in a contemporary Christmas music style. It was first recorded by English singer Cliff Richard and released as a single in the UK for the 1982 Christmas season, reaching number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Gee Whizz It's You" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in March 1961 from their album Me and My Shadows. Despite not initially being officially released in the UK, it peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
"I'm Lookin' out the Window" is a ballad written by Don Raye and John Jacob Niles. Peggy Lee first recorded the song as a B-side for her 1959 single "Hallelujah, I Love Him So". The song is best known as a hit record for Cliff Richard in 1962 in numerous countries, although not in the United States.
"Baby You're Dynamite" is a song performed by Cliff Richard and was released as a single in early 1984 in the UK. The song is written by Doug Flett and Guy Fletcher. It first appeared on Richard's 1983 album Silver and in the UK became the third single lifted from the album. During the single's 6-week run on UK Singles Chart, with Ocean Deep as the B-side, it peaked at number 27.
"A Voice in the Wilderness" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in January 1960. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.
"My Kinda Life" is a song by Cliff Richard from his album Every Face Tells a Story and the second single from the album following the debut single "Hey Mr. Dream Maker". It was released as a single in 1977 reaching No. 15 on the UK singles chart. It peaked at No. 61 in Australia, No. 19 in Belgium, No. 38 in Germany and No. 18 in the Netherlands.
"Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" is a song by Cliff Richard, released as a single in May 1970. It peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Throw Down a Line" is a song by Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin, released as a single in September 1969. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Good Times " is a song by Cliff Richard, released as a single in February 1969. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Don't Talk to Him" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in November 1963. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.
"Theme for a Dream" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in February 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.
"Nine Times Out of Ten" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in September 1960. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.
"Hello World" is a song written by Tony Hazzard. It was recorded and released as a single by The Tremeloes in March 1969 and peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. Hazzard wrote the song at the suggestion of his publisher for the Eurovision Song Contest 1969. He conceived "Hello World" as an "obvious title" and intended it for Cliff Richard, who recorded Britain's entry "Congratulations" for the 1968 contest. The song was rejected in the first round by the Music Publishers Association. It was one of three songs rejected for that year's contest that were ultimately hit singles. Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Jerry Lordan's "Good Times " and Geoff Stephens and John Carter's "My Sentimental Friend".
"I Could Easily Fall " is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in November 1964 from their album Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp. It peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart and received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.
"Time Drags By" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in October 1966. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
"In the Country" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in December 1966. It peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
"It's All Over" is a song by the Everly Brothers, released as a single in December 1965 from their album In Our Image.