Don't Pity Me

Last updated
"Don't Pity Me"
Song by Faith Hope & Charity
from the album Faith Hope & Charity
B-side "Find What You Need"
Released1978
Label 20th Century TC-2370
Songwriter(s) V. McCoy
Producer(s) Van McCoy
Faith Hope & Charity singles chronology
"Life Goes On"
(1977)		"Don't Pity Me"
(1978)		"How Can I Help But Love You"
(1978)

"Don't Pity Me" was a hit for Faith Hope & Charity in 1978. A Van McCoy composition, it made it onto the Billboard, Cash Box, and Record World music charts.

Contents

Background

Early version

Former 1976 Eurovision British contestant Louisa Jane White [1] recorded a version of the song as the B side of her single "Don't Stop" which was released on Pye 7N 45661 in 1977. It was produced by Gerry Shury and Ron Roker. [2]

Faith Hope & Charity version

The Faith Hope & Charity single was released on 20th Century TC-2370. In addition to composing the song, Van McCoy also produced it. [3] [4]

With Faith Hope & Charity now consisting of Brenda Hilliard and Albert Bailey, their 1978, self-titled album was their 20th Century Fox debut. In the Billboard review of the album, Adam White commented on the 1970s sound of Van McCoy as reaching its peak of perfection in Faith Hope & Charity. White named "Don't Pity Me" as the album's finest cut. The lead vocal was by Brenda Hilliard. [5] The B side, "Find What You Need" was sung by Albert Bailey. [6] [7]

Two former Faith Hope & Charity members, Zulema and Destry contributed their backing vocals to the album. [8] [9]

While "Don't Pity Me" was seeing chart action, another Van McCoy composition "My Favorite Fantasy by McCoy was seeing action in the same Billboard and Cash Box charts. [10] [11] [12]

Charts

Faith Hope & Charity

The song made its debut in the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart on week ending May 27, 1978. [13] On August 12 at week twelve, it peaked at #12. [14] [15]

The song made its debut in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart at #85 on the week ending June 3, 1978. [16] On its tenth week it peaked at #20 on week ending August 5. [17] [18]

On the week of June 17, the single made its debut at #68 in the Record World R&B Singles chart. [19] It peaked at #15 on August 12 at its ninth week. [20] [21] It was also in the 101 - 150 Singles chart on July 15 at #141. [22] The following week, July 22, it had entered the Record World Singles chart at #92. [23] It peaked at #84 on August 12. [24] [25]


Chart (1978)Peak
position
US Cash Box Top 100 R&B12 [26] [27]
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles20 [28] [29]
US Record World R&B Singles15 [30] [31]
US Record World 101 - 150 Singles141 [32] [33]
US Record World Singles84 [34] [35]

Other versions

A version was recorded by Thelma Houston and released on Tamla Motown TMG 1117 in 1978. [36] [37]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van McCoy</span> American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)


Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit "The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit, and produced songs by such recording artists as Brenda & the Tabulations, David Ruffin, The Stylistics, The Presidents, Faith, Hope & Charity, New Censation, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Peaches & Herb, Lesley Gore, and Stacy Lattisaw.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was subsequently covered by American singer Thelma Houston in 1976 and British duo the Communards in 1986, with both versions achieving commercial success.

Faith Hope and Charity was the name of a vocal group from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit, "To Each His Own". They were also an in-demand group of session singers in New York studios during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zulema</span> American singer

Zulema Cusseaux, usually credited as Zulema, was an American disco and R&B singer and songwriter. Aside from her solo career, she was a member of an early line up of Faith, Hope and Charity and worked as a backing vocalist and songwriter with Aretha Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just One Look (song)</span> 1963 single by Doris Troy

"Just One Look" is a song co-written by American R&B singers Doris Troy and Gregory Carroll. The recording by Doris Troy was a hit in 1963. The Hollies, Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt and Iain Matthews each achieved great success with the song. There have also been many other versions.

"Sending Out An S.O.S." is a 1975 song for singer Retta Young. It charted in the US on the Billboard and Cash Box charts. It charted also in the UK where it did better. It is considered a classic disco song and appears on a multitude of compilations.

Retta Young is an American former singer best known for her 1975 disco hit "Sending Out An S.O.S." which made the Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Cash Box Top 100 R&B and UK Top 30 charts. She released an album and three singles during the 1970s.

Paul Kyser is an American promoter, record label owner, singer, songwriter, record producer and arranger. He wrote and co-produced the hit "Dawning of Love" with Tom Vetri for Devotion. He also wrote "Body and Soul " for the group Soul Generation and "Where Were You " for Jimmy Briscoe and the Little Beavers. Along with Leon Stuckey he co-wrote "Just How Sweet Is Your Love" for Rhyze, which appears on the Boogie's Gonna Getcha: '80s New York Boogie compilation album. He co-wrote "Be My #2" which appears on the R. Kelly Untitled album. He is also credited with discovering Jimmy Briscoe & The Little Beavers.

Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony was a musical ensemble led by Van McCoy. The group had several hits during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Passed This Way Before</span> 1966 single by Jimmy Ruffin

"I've Passed This Way Before" is a song by American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin, released as a single in November 1966 from his album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.

Hilltak records was a Californian Independent record label that was formed in the late 1970s. Artists that produced hits for the label include 9th Creation, Patti Hendrix, Broadway, Dalton & Dubarri, and The Guess Who. The label started out as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records but terminated the relationship some time later.

Patti Hendrix is a soul singer who recorded for the 20th Century Fox Records and Hilltak Records labels. She had a hit in 1978 with "Lighting A Fire ". It made it into the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts.

Lighting a Fire (That You Can't Put Out) was a hit for Hilltak Records recording artist Patti Hendrix in 1978. It made the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts.

"My Favorite Fantasy" was a 1978 hit single by American musician, composer and producer Van McCoy. It was from his album of the same name. Featuring McCoy himself on vocals, it charted in the United States, Canada and the UK. It registered in the Billboard Magazine, Cash Box, Record World, RPM Weekly and Record Mirror charts.

Louisa Jane White is an English singer and composer who started performing while still in school during the 1960s. She later had success in the 1970s and competed in overseas music competitions as well as Eurovision selection. She recorded for the Philips, MCA and the President subsidiary Dansan Records Label.

"I'm Not Dreaming" is a song performed by the American singer Zulema in 1978. She sang in a duet with a supposedly mysterious male singer.

Change was a hit for singer Zulema in 1978. It was her first single for the LeJoint record label.

One Girl Too Late is a Van McCoy composition. It was a hit for Brenda & the Tabulations in 1973. It has also been covered by Polly Brown, Gina Foster and Pure Silk featuring Winsome.

The Beck Family was a musical family group from Philadelphia. With their music in the disco-funk genre, they had success with their hit single, "Can't Shake the Feeling" which charted nationally in 1979, the peak of the disco era. It registered in the Cash Box, Billboard and Record World charts. It also made the disco chart in Canada. They released an album which made the Billboard Soul LPs chart. They also had another single released during that time.

"We Don't Live Here, We Just Love Here" was a 1978 single for Big Ben Atkins. It was also a hit for him that year, registering on the Cash Box, Billboard and Record World charts.

References

  1. ↑ Shropshire Star, Sept 30, 2019 - Singing schoolgirl knocked on door of stardom by Toby Neal
  2. ↑ DYANERO - Louisa Jane White - Don't Stop / Don't Pity Me Album
  3. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 333 FAITH HOPE & CHARITY DON'T PITY ME
  4. ↑ Record World, May 13, 1978 - Page 22 RECORD WORLD SINGLE PICKS
  5. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  6. ↑ funkmysoul - Faith Hope & Charity – 1970 – Faith Hope & Charity (Maxwell)
  7. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  8. ↑ The Second Disc, AUGUST 22, 2014 - You Gotta Have Faith (Hope, and Charity): Real Gone Reissues Lost R&B Gems BY JOE MARCHESE
  9. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  10. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series: 1977 - Page 2224
  11. ↑ Billboard - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, WEEK OF JUNE 17, 1978
  12. ↑ Cash Box, June 24, 1978 - Page 40 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B
  13. ↑ Cash Box, May 27, 1978 - Page 46 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B May 27, 1978
  14. ↑ Cash Box, August 12, 1978 - Page 38 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B August 12, 1978
  15. ↑ Cash Box, August 19, 1978 - Page 46 CASHBOX TOP 100 R&B August 19, 1978
  16. ↑ Billboard, June 3, 1978 - Page 58 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 6/3/78
  17. ↑ Billboard, August 5, 1978 - Page 56 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey For Week Ending 8/5/78
  18. ↑ Billboard, August 12, 1978 - Page 60 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 8/12/78
  19. ↑ Record World, June 17, 1978 - Page 62 June 17, 1978 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART
  20. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 89 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 12, 1978
  21. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 51 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 19, 1978
  22. ↑ Record World, July 15, 1978 - Page 30 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  23. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 339 July 22, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  24. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 39 August 12, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  25. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 37 August 19, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  26. ↑ Cash Box, August 12, 1978 - Page 38 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B August 12, 1978
  27. ↑ Cash Box, August 19, 1978 - Page 46 CASHBOX TOP 100 R&B August 19, 1978
  28. ↑ Billboard, August 5, 1978 - Page 56 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey For Week Ending 8/5/78
  29. ↑ Billboard, August 12, 1978 - Page 60 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 8/12/78
  30. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 89 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 12, 1978
  31. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 51 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 19, 1978
  32. ↑ Record World, July 15, 1978 - Page 30 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  33. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 330 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  34. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 39 August 12, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  35. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 37 August 19, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  36. ↑ LESCHARTS.COM - THELMA HOUSTON - DON'T PITY ME (CHANSON)
  37. ↑ Complete Recorded Music™ - Motown (Tamla Motown/Motown/Gordy UK 45s: TMG Prefix Series: 501-1390 (1965-1985)), TMG 1117 Don't Pity Me // It's Just Me Feeling Good
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.