Have You Seen Her

Last updated

"Have You Seen Her"
Chilites Have You Seen Her.jpg
Single by the Chi-Lites
from the album (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People
B-side "Yes I'm Ready (If I Don't Get to Go)"
ReleasedOctober 1971
Recorded1971
Genre
Length5:08
Label Brunswick
B 55462
Songwriter(s) Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record
Producer(s) Eugene Record
The Chi-Lites singles chronology
"I Want to Pay You Back (For Loving Me)"
(1971)		"Have You Seen Her"
(1971)		"Oh Girl"
(1971)
Official Audio
"Have You Seen Her" on YouTube

"Have You Seen Her" is a song by American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, released on Brunswick Records in 1971. Composed by the lead singer Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin, the song was included on the group's 1971 album (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People .

Contents

The song begins and ends with a spoken narrator remarking on how he was once happy with a woman; however, she left him, so he passes the days by partaking in leisure activities, where he tries to get relief by telling jokes to the children:

One month ago today
I was happy as a lark
But now I go for walks
To the movies, maybe to the park
I have a seat on the same old bench
To watch the children play, huh
You know tomorrow is their future
But for me just another day
They all gather 'round me, huh
They seem to know my name
We laugh, tell a few jokes
But it still doesn't ease my pain

Much to his dismay, the woman does not return or attempt to communicate with him as he had hoped. The narrator ends the song, in a spoken voice, musing on how foolish he was for believing the woman of his dreams would always be around, thinking that he had her in the palm of his hand. Some radio edits have omitted the spoken dialogue. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached the top of the Billboard R&B Singles chart in November 1971. [2] It also reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1972, and was a UK hit again in 1975 when reissued as a double A-side with "Oh Girl", this time peaking at No. 5. [3]

There are two commonly available versions. The original 45 and LP version, and a remix that features the fuzz guitar continuing from 0:29 to 0:40 and the background vocals at the beginning having more reverb - this version was issued on their 1972 Greatest Hits album and then in the UK in 1975 as a double a-side with "Oh Girl" and reaching No. 5 (after the original had charted in early 1972 at No. 3).

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1971–1972)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles [4] 47
Ireland (IRMA) [5] 11
UK Singles Chart 3
US Billboard Hot 100 3
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 1
Chart (1975)Peak
position
UK [3] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)Position
UK39

MC Hammer version

"Have You Seen Her"
HaveYouSeenHerMCHammer.jpg
Single by MC Hammer
from the album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
ReleasedMarch 16, 1990 (1990-03-16)
Length
  • 4:43 (album version)
  • 3:55 (single version)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) MC Hammer
MC Hammer singles chronology
"U Can't Touch This"
(1990)		"Have You Seen Her"
(1990)		"Pray"
(1990)

The most significant cover of "Have You Seen Her" was recorded by MC Hammer, for his successful 1990 LP, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em , which reached No. 4 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Cashbox Top 100. It also hit No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [6] 42
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [7] 20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [8] 13
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [9] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [10] 15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [11] 6
Germany (GfK) [12] 10
Ireland (IRMA) [13] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [14] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [15] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [16] 4
Portugal (AFP) [17] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [18] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] 12
UK Singles (OCC) [20] 8
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] 4
US Hot Black Singles ( Billboard ) [22] 4
US Hot Rap Singles ( Billboard ) [23] 9
US Cash Box Top 100 [24] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Belgium (Ultratop) [25] 81
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [26] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [27] 34
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [28] 20
US Billboard Hot 100 [29] 47
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) [30] 52
US Cash Box Top 100 [31] 30

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [32] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In culture

References

  1. ↑ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Walking in Rhythm: Seventies Soul". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 64. ISBN   031214704X.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 117.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 103. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. January 8, 1972. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  5. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Have You Seen Her". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  6. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1293." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 44. November 3, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  12. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  13. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Have You Seen Her". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  15. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  16. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 20. May 18, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  19. ↑ "MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  21. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. Record Research.
  22. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Billboard. September 8, 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Hot Rap Songs" . Billboard. September 15, 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
  25. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  28. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  29. ↑ "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-14.
  30. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. December 29, 1990. p. 9.
  32. ↑ "American single certifications – Hammer – Have You Seen Her". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
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