Darlin' (Poacher song)

Last updated
"Darling"
Single by Poacher
Released1978
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s) Oscar Stewart Blandamer
Producer(s) Barry Kingston

"Darlin'" is a song written in 1970 by English sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer. It was first released under the title "Darling" by the British country band Poacher in 1978. It was later a chart hit for Frankie Miller and David Rogers. The track was subsequently recorded by numerous artists including Tom Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Smokie and Johnny Reid.

Contents

Background

British country band Poacher formed in Warrington, England, in 1977. They competed in the sixth series of New Faces , a British television talent show. "Darling" was released as their debut single in 1978, produced by Barry Kingston and released through his label RK Records in the United Kingdom. [1] Songwriter Oscar Stewart Blandamer wrote the track in 1970. Producer David Mackay picked up the song for Scottish singer-songwriter Frankie Miller, who recorded it for his album Falling in Love (1979). [2]

Frankie Miller version

"Darlin'"
Darlin-frankie-miller.jpg
Single by Frankie Miller
from the album Falling In Love
B-side "Drunken Nights in the City"
Released1978
Recorded1978
Genre Rock / Blues
Songwriter(s) Oscar Stuart Blandamer
Frankie Miller singles chronology
"Be Good to Yourself"
(1977)
"Darlin'"
(1978)
"When I'm Away from You"
(1979)
Official video
"Darlin'" on YouTube

Miller recorded the song in 1978 and had an international hit with it. It reached number 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, and 6 in the UK Singles Chart. [3] It also reached the Top Ten (#8) in Australia in 1979.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [4] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [5] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [7] 7
Norway (VG-lista) [8] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [9] 2
UK Singles (OCC) [10] 6
West Germany (GfK) [11] 5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Darlin'"
Chart (1979)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [12] 52

David Rogers version

"Darlin'"
Single by David Rogers
B-side "How Long Has It Been"
Released1979
Genre Country
Label Republic
Songwriter(s) Oscar Stewart Blandemer
Producer(s) Dave Burgess
David Rogers singles chronology
"When a Woman Cries"
(1978)
"Darlin'"
(1979)
"You Are My Rainbow"
(1979)

A country music version was recorded by the American singer David Rogers. Released on the Republic label, it was never included on an album.

Rogers' recording was a relatively minor hit reaching #18 on the Billboard country singles charts. [13]

Charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Country Songs [14] 18

Other cover versions

Tom Jones

Chart (1981)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Country Songs [15] 19
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 [ citation needed ]3

Johnny Reid

Chart (2007)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [16] 57
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [17] 3

Other artists

Barbara Mandrell released a cover version in 1979, which served as the B-side to her number one single "Years." [18]

In 1979, Dutch singer Willem Duyn (formerly of Mouth & MacNeal) issued a Dutch version of the song, titled "Willem", about a fictional person with his name.

In 1980 the song was one of two by Bonnie Raitt included on the soundtrack of the film, Urban Cowboy. It was not released as a single, although her other contribution, Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dance was issued to Country radio. It failed to crack the Top 40 on the chart, peaking at #42.

In 1981 Welsh pop singer Tom Jones released the song as a single from his Mercury Records album Darlin'. Jones' rendition also reached the country music Top 20, peaking at #19 there in addition to reaching number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. [19]

The British band Smokie recorded a cover version in their 2000 covers album Uncovered.

In 2004 singer Bonnie Tyler released a version of the song on her album Simply Believe .

In 2007 Canadian singer Johnny Reid also released a version of the song on the album Kicking Stones . His version peaked at number 57 on the Canadian Hot 100.

Related Research Articles

"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter Stan Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Since I Don't Have You</span> 1958 song by the Skyliners

"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Francis John Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Good Care of My Baby</span> 1961 song by Bobby Vee

"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song was made famous by Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961.

"Together Again" is a 1964 song by American country singer and guitarist Buck Owens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain</span> 1975 single by Willie Nelson

"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose. First recorded by Elton Britt in 1946, then made more popular by Roy Acuff in 1947, the song has been covered by many artists, including Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Russell, Charley Pride, and Elvis Presley. Most notably, the song was recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger. Both the song and album revived Nelson's success as a singer and recording artist.

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" is a classic hit song, a soul ballad, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was first released in 1967 by Sam & Dave on Stax Records.

"Treat Her Right" is a soul music song, with a standard 12-bar-blues structure. Written by Roy Head and Gene Kurtz, it was recorded by Head and The Traits and released on the Back Beat label in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Mandrell singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country music artist Barbara Mandrell contains 54 singles as a lead artists, seven singles as a collaborative artist, six promotional singles and one music video. In 1966, Mandrell's debut single was released titled "Queen for a Day". She then signed a recording contract and in 1969 had her first charting release with a cover of "I've Been Loving You Too Long ". In the early 1970s, Mandrell had a series of top 20 charting singles on America's Billboard country songs chart. This included "Playin' Around with Love" (1970), "Treat Him Right" (1971) and "Show Me" (1972). She collaborated with David Houston on several singles as well. Their most successful was 1970's "After Closing Time", which became Mandrell's first top ten hit on the Billboard country chart. During this period she also reached the top ten with "Tonight My Baby's Coming Home" (1971) and "The Midnight Oil" (1973). In 1975, Mandrell signed to ABC Records and had a top five country hit with "Standing Room Only".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husbands and Wives (song)</span> 1966 song by Roger Miller

"Husbands and Wives" is a song written and first recorded by American country music singer Roger Miller. Miller's original, from his album Words and Music, was released in February 1966 and was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top Ten on the U.S. country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the pop charts. Since the release of Miller's original, the song has been covered by several other artists, including The Everly Brothers, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, a duet between David Frizzell and Shelly West, Jules Shear, and Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a number-one country hit in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Day Now (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1962 song by Bacharach and Bob Hilliard

"Any Day Now" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962. It has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including notable versions by Chuck Jackson in 1962, Alan Price in 1965, Elvis Presley in 1969, Scott Walker in 1973 and Ronnie Milsap in 1982. In the lyrics, the singer predicts the imminent demise of a romantic relationship and describes the sadness this will leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Next Door to Alice</span> 1972 single by New World

"Living Next Door to Alice" is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by Australian pop band New World in 1972, the song charted at No. 35 on the Australian chart. The song later became a worldwide hit for British band Smokie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye</span> Song written by John D. Loudermilk

"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" is a song written by John D. Loudermilk. It was first released in 1962 by Don Cherry, as a country song and again as a doo-wop in 1967 by the group The Casinos on its album of the same name, and was a number 6 pop hit that year. The song has since been covered by Eddy Arnold, whose version was a number 1 country hit in 1968, and by Neal McCoy, whose version became a Top 5 country hit in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Flat Top Box</span> 1961 single by Johnny Cash

"Tennessee Flat Top Box" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Cash. It was released as a single in late 1961, reaching 11 on the Billboard country singles charts and 84 on the pop charts. The song's name refers to a steel-stringed acoustic guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel in Your Arms</span>

"Angel in Your Arms" is a song composed by Herbert Clayton Ivey, Terrence Woodford, and Tom Brasfield, which was a 1977 Top Ten hit for Hot, and also a Top Ten country hit in 1985 for Barbara Mandrell.

"I Love You Because" is a song written and recorded by country music singer-songwriter Leon Payne in 1949. The song has been covered by several artists throughout the years, including hit cover versions by Al Martino in 1963 and Jim Reeves in 1964.

Poacher was a 1970s English country music band from Warrington, England, featuring, amongst others, Peter Frampton on vocals, Tim Flaherty on guitar, and Steve Millington on keyboards. Poacher won the British TV talent show New Faces in 1977. Poacher are best known for having preceded blues-rocker Frankie Miller's version of the song "Darlin'", by sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer, which was a trans-Atlantic hit for Miller in 1978. The band backed Sarah Jory's first album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Married, But Not to Each Other</span>

"Married But Not to Each Other" is a song originally recorded by American R&B artist Denise LaSalle. It was composed by LaSalle, along with Francis Miller. LaSalle's original version became a major hit on the American R&B music chart in 1976, reaching the top 20 that year. It was one of several singles composed by LaSalle that became a charting single. It was later covered in 1977 by American country artist Barbara Mandrell, whose version reached the top five of the American country chart.

"Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home" is a song written by Kermit Goell and Arthur Kent. It was first recorded on May 21, 1942 by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra. Charles Brown and his Band recorded a version as "I Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home" in March 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight (Barbara Mandrell song)</span> 1978 single by Barbara Mandrell

"Tonight" is a song written by Don Cook and Rafe Van Hoy, and recorded by American country music artist Barbara Mandrell. It was released in May 1978 as the second single from the album Love's Ups and Downs. It reached the top ten of the American country songs chart.

References

  1. "Poacher Biography by AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. "Oscar Stewart Blandamer – Bio". casabland.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 366. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Swiss Singles Chart.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report . Retrieved January 10, 2023 via Imgur.com.
  13. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 359. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  14. "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of May 12, 1979". Billboard . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  15. "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of June 20, 1981". Billboard . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  16. "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  18. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 254. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  19. Whitburn, p. 216