Harvest of Love

Last updated
"Harvest of Love"
Single by Benny Hill
Released 1963
Length2:22
Label Pye
Songwriter(s) Benny Hill, Tony Hatch
Benny Hill singles chronology
"Transistor Radio"
(1961)
"Harvest of Love"
(1963)
"Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
(1971)

"Transistor Radio"
(1961)
"Harvest of Love"
(1963)
"Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
(1971)

"The Harvest Of Love" is a short comedy song, co-written and originally performed by Benny Hill, released on Pye Records (7N.15520). The other writer was shown as "M. Anthony", a pseudonym for the producer, Tony Hatch. The song was a #20 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1963, [1] and has appeared on several compilation albums as well as being covered by the Wurzels. The Benny Hill version was flipped with another Hill composition, "BAMba 3688". The record also saw a U.S. release on Rust (5079).

Benny Hill English comedian and actor

Alfred Hawthorne "Benny" Hill was an English comedian and actor, best remembered for his television programme The Benny Hill Show, an amalgam of slapstick, burlesque, and double entendre in a format that included live comedy and filmed segments, with him at the focus of almost every segment.

Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–69), Petula Clark (1957–71), The Searchers (1963–67), The Kinks (1964–71), Sandie Shaw (1964–71), Status Quo (1968–71) and Brotherhood of Man (1975–79). The label changed its name to PRT Records in 1980, before being briefly reactivated as Pye Records in 2006.

Record producer individual who oversees and manages the recording of an artists music

A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performer's music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many, varying roles during the recording process. They may gather musical ideas for the project, collaborate with the artists to select cover tunes or original songs by the artist/group, work with artists and help them to improve their songs, lyrics or arrangements.

The song is sung from the point of view of a farmhand who has fallen in love (or at least, lust) with a young lady. Hill's vocals were accompanied by the Kestrels, who instead of singing, provided a vocal back-up of farmyard impressions. The accompaniment was directed by Hatch. The Kestrels at that time were Roger Greenaway, Tony Burrows, Jeff Williams, and Roger Gullane.

Roger Greenaway English songwriter and record producer

Roger John Reginald Greenaway, is an English songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook. His compositions have included "You've Got Your Troubles" and the transatlantic million selling songs "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress". They were the first UK songwriting partnership to be granted an Ivor Novello Award as 'Songwriters of the Year' in two successive years.

Tony Burrows British singer

Anthony "Tony" Burrows is an English session pop singer and recording artist.

The lyrics included such lines as:

"And as the horse and I plough the field nearby,
Your memory I can't erase,
For while I walk at the rear of the horse, my dear,
I seem to see your face."

At the end of the song it turns out that the narrator is already married.


In September 2013, the original pressing of the single was found in private storage and sold for £10 at auction on the ITV daytime series Storage Hoarders.

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References

  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 252. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.