"Hair" | |
---|---|
Song by Original Broadway cast | |
from the album Hair | |
Released | 1968 |
Recorded | May 6, 1968 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:55 |
Label | RCA Victor |
Composer(s) | Galt MacDermot |
Lyricist(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
"Hair" is the title song to the 1967 musical Hair and the 1979 film adaptation of the musical.
The musical’s title song begins as character Claude slowly croons his reason for his long hair, as tribe-mate Berger joins in singing they "don't know." [1] They lead the tribe, singing "Give me a head with hair," "as long as God can grow it," [1] listing what they want in a head of hair and their uses for it. Later the song takes the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the tribe punning "Oh say can you see/ My eyes if you can/Then my hair’s too short!" [1] Claude and Berger’s religious references continue with many a "Hallelujah" as they consciously compare their hair to Jesus’s, and if Mary loved her son, "why don’t my mother love me?" [1] [2] The song shows the Tribe's enthusiasm and pride for their hair as well as comparing Claude to a Jesus figure. [2]
"Hair" | ||||
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Single by The Cowsills | ||||
from the album The Cowsills in Concert | ||||
B-side | "What Is Happy?" | |||
Released | March 1969 | |||
Recorded | October 1968 | |||
Studio | Cleveland, Ohio | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | MGM | |||
Composer(s) | Galt MacDermot | |||
Lyricist(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
The Cowsills singles chronology | ||||
|
The song was a major hit for the Cowsills in 1969 and their most successful single. The Cowsills version cuts out most of the religion-themed lyrics, changing "long as God can grow it" to "long as I can grow it" and removing some verses. Their version spent two weeks at number one on the Cash Box Top 100 [5] and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. [6] "Hair" was kept out of the number-one spot by another song from the Hair cast album: "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension. [7] It also reached number one on the RPM Canadian Singles Chart. [8]
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia KMR | 1 |
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [9] | 1 |
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary [10] | 12 |
New Zealand [11] | 1 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [12] | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [13] | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary [14] | 19 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [15] | 1 |
Chart (1969) | Rank |
---|---|
Canada [16] | 14 |
South Africa [17] | 20 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [18] | 13 |
U.S. Cash Box [19] | 10 |
"Hair" was also covered in Australia in 1969 and released as a single by Doug Parkinson in Focus (B-side with "Without You") and was a top ten hit for him there that year. [20]
A version by Dutch rock band Zen reached the top of the Dutch Top 40 in January 1969. [21] A cover was released as a B-side by girl group Gilded Cage in 1969. [22]
This section contains a list of miscellaneous information.(May 2018) |
"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J. Blige.
"She's Not There" is the debut single by British rock band the Zombies, written by keyboardist Rod Argent. It reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1964, and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at the beginning of December 1964. In Canada, it reached No. 2.
"Sea of Love" is a song written by John Philip Baptiste and George Khoury. It was the only top-40 chart-maker for Phillips, who never recorded another hit.
"Signs" is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band. It was written by the band's frontman, Les Emmerson, and popularized the relatively unknown band, who recorded it for their true first album, Good-byes and Butterflies, in 1970. The LP "Five Man Electrical Band" had begun as a Staccatos album with Brian Rading, the band's bassist suggesting the band's new name from the song title.
"Memphis, Tennessee", sometimes shortened to "Memphis", is a song by Chuck Berry, first released in 1959. In the UK, the song charted at number 6 in 1963; at the same time Decca Records issued a cover version in the UK by Dave Berry and the Cruisers, which also became a UK Top 20 hit single. Johnny Rivers's version of the song was a number two US hit in 1964.
"Clean Up Woman" is a song by Betty Wright from her second studio album, I Love the Way You Love (1972). Written and produced by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, it was released in November 1971 in the U.S. as a 7" single with "I'll Love You Forever" on the B-side. The song's distinctive guitar lick was played by Willie "Little Beaver" Hale.
"Georgy Girl" is a song by the Australian pop/folk music group The Seekers. It was used as the title song for the 1966 film of the same title. Tom Springfield, who had written "I'll Never Find Another You", composed the music and Jim Dale supplied the lyrics. The song is heard at both the beginning and end of the film, with markedly different lyrics. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but the prize went to "Born Free".
"Spinning Wheel" is a song from 1968 by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, written by Canadian lead vocalist David Clayton-Thomas and appearing on their eponymous album.
"Jean" is a popular song from the 1969 movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It was written by the American poet and composer Rod McKuen, who also recorded a version of the song.
"Never Gonna Let You Go" is a popular song from 1982 written by the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann; Weil wrote the lyrics, while Mann wrote the music. It was first recorded by Dionne Warwick for her 1982 album Friends in Love, and then by singer Stevie Woods for his 1982 album The Woman in My Life. However, its best-known rendition was by Brazilian musician and bandleader Sérgio Mendes, on his 1983 self-titled album. That version was sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller.
"Love or Let Me Be Lonely" is a pop song recorded by the soul group The Friends of Distinction and released as a single in early 1970. The song was a multi-format success, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at #6 on May 1, 1970 and at #13 on the R&B chart. On the Adult Contemporary singles charts, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" went to #9. The song is ranked as the 63rd biggest hit of 1970.
"The Rain, the Park & Other Things" is a pop song with music and lyrics co-written by Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. It was recorded by the pop band the Cowsills, and included on their 1967 self-titled debut album. Released as a single, the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts. It was kept from the No. 1 spot by "Daydream Believer" by the Monkees. The single cemented the group's international popularity and sold some three million copies over the years. It ties with 1969's "Hair" as the group's biggest hit, as both reached No. 2 in the US. In Canada, "The Rain, the Park & Other Things" reached No. 1 on the RPM singles chart.
"This Girl Is a Woman Now" is a song written by Victor Millrose and Alan Bernstein and was recorded by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap for their 1969 album The New Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Album.
"Real Love" is a hit song by The Doobie Brothers, the first of three singles from their 1980 LP, One Step Closer.
"Moonlight Feels Right" is the debut single recorded by the American band Starbuck. Written and produced by Bruce Blackman, the song was released in December 1975 but did not chart until April 1976.
"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), Steve Marriott (1989), and Santana (1990) covered this song.
"Sweet Mary" is a song written by Steve Jablecki and performed by Wadsworth Mansion. "Sweet Mary" was featured on their 1971 album Wadsworth Mansion and was produced by Jim Calvert and Norman Marzano.
"Smile a Little Smile for Me" is the debut single by the Flying Machine. The song was written by Geoff Stephens and Tony Macaulay.
"The Other Guy" is a song by Australian soft rock band Little River Band. It was released in February 1983 as the third and final single from the band's 1982 Greatest Hits album. The song also introduced the band's new lead vocalist, John Farnham, who replaced Glenn Shorrock.
"Soul Deep" is a song originally recorded by Robbie Lane and the Disciples in 1966, but best known by a recorded version by The Box Tops. It was the third of three singles released from their 1969 Dimensions LP. Lead vocals were provided by Alex Chilton.
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