"The Hammer Song" | |
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Single by The Weavers | |
B-side | "Banks of Marble" |
Released | 1950 |
Genre | Folk |
Label | Hootenanny |
Songwriter(s) | Pete Seeger Lee Hays |
"If I Had a Hammer" | ||||
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Single by Peter, Paul and Mary | ||||
from the album Peter, Paul and Mary | ||||
B-side | "Gone the Rainbow" | |||
Released | 1962 | |||
Genre | Folk | |||
Length | 2:11 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Seeger Lee Hays | |||
Producer(s) | Albert Grossman Milt Okun | |||
Peter, Paul and Mary singles chronology | ||||
|
"If I Had a Hammer" | ||||
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Single by Trini Lopez | ||||
from the album Trini Lopez at PJ's | ||||
B-side | "Unchain My Heart" | |||
Released | 1963 | |||
Venue | P.J.'s | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Length | 2:59 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Seeger Lee Hays | |||
Producer(s) | Don Costa | |||
Trini Lopez singles chronology | ||||
|
"Datemi un martello" | ||||
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Single by Rita Pavone | ||||
B-side | "Che m'importa del mondo" | |||
Released | December 1963 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1963 | |||
Genre | Pop, chanson, surf rock | |||
Length | 2:40 | |||
Label | RCA Italiana | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Seeger Lee Hays Sergio Bardotti | |||
Producer(s) | Luis Bacalov | |||
Rita Pavone singles chronology | ||||
|
"If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" is a protest song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the Progressive movement, and was first recorded by the Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. It was a #10 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962 and then went to #3 a year later when recorded by Trini Lopez in 1963.
The Weavers released the song under the title "The Hammer Song" as a 78 rpm single in March 1950 on Hootenanny Records, 101-A, backed with "Banks of Marble".
The song was first publicly performed by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays on June 3, 1949, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City at a dinner in support of prominent members of the Communist Party of the United States, including New York City Councilman Benjamin J. Davis, who were then on trial in federal court, charged with violating the Smith Act by advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government. [2] Four months later, it was one of three songs Seeger played as the warm-up act for Paul Robeson's September 4 concert near Peekskill, New York, attended by Davis, which subsequently erupted into the notorious, anti-Communist Peekskill Riot. [3] In 1950 Seeger and Irwin Silber featured a copy of the sheet music of "The Hammer Song" for the cover of Sing Out! , their new magazine (the successor to People's Songs and the People's Songs Bulletin), whose title was taken from the song's chorus. [4] Due to the Red Scare and subsequent blacklists, the song when first released did not receive wide exposure outside of activist circles.
It fared notably better commercially when it was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary 12 years later. Their version of the song, released in July 1962 from the group's debut album became a top 10 hit, and won the Grammy Awards for Best Folk Recording and Best Performance by a Vocal Group. It reached number 17 in Canada. [5] Trini Lopez's 1963 single went to number three on the same Billboard chart and number five in Canada. [6] It was included on his album Trini Lopez at PJ's (Reprise R/RS 6093). [7] Rita Pavone's Italian-language adaptation "Datemi un martello", with lyrics by Sergio Bardotti, was a major hit in Italy and also charted in South America. [8]
The song "If I Had a Hammer" was a freedom song of the civil rights movement. It had a tremendous impact on the American youth in the 1960s who protested against the American culture. It helped to spark the hippie movement.[ citation needed ]
Chart (1962) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada CHUM Chart [21] | 17 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [22] | 10 |
US Cashbox Top 100 [23] | 13 |
Chart (1963–1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina [24] | 1 |
Australia (Kent Music Report) [25] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [26] | 1 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [27] | 1 |
Canada (CHUM Chart) [28] | 5 |
Denmark (Hitlisten) [29] | 1 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [30] | 16 |
France (IFOP) [31] | 3 |
France (Cash Box) [32] | 1 |
Ireland [33] | 3 |
Israel (Kol Yisrael) [34] | 1 |
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [35] | 10 |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [36] | 1 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [37] | 1 |
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [38] | 2 |
Norway (VG-lista) [39] | 2 |
Peru [40] | 1 |
South Africa [41] | 3 |
Spain (AFYVE) [42] | 1 |
Sweden (Kvällstoppen) [43] | 1 |
Sweden ( Tio i Topp ) [44] | 1 |
Switzerland (Musikmarkt) [45] | 2 |
UK Singles (OCC) [46] | 4 |
Uruguay [47] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [48] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles [49] | 12 |
Venezuela [50] | 8 |
West Germany (GfK) [51] | 2 |
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF) [52] | 3 |
Brazil (IBOPE) [53] | 1 |
Uruguay [54] | 5 |
"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers for their album Twist & Shout in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, The Astronauts and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.
Trinidad López III, known as Trini Lopez, was an American singer and guitarist. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer", which earned a Golden Disc for him. His other hits included "Lemon Tree", "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl". He designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corporation, which are now collectors' items. A documentary on his life and career, My Name Is Lopez, was released in April 2022.
"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. A cover by British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.
"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded in 1964 by the English rock band the Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day's Night. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose performance in the film marked the first mass media depiction of Harrison singing lead.
"A World Without Love" is a song recorded by the British duo Peter and Gordon and released as their first single in February 1964. It was included on the duo's debut album in the UK, and in the US on an album of the same name. The song was written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The B-side was "If I Were You", written by Peter and Gordon.
"Time Is on My Side" is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy. First recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his orchestra in 1963, it was covered by both soul singer Irma Thomas and then later the Rolling Stones in 1964.
"Stay" is a doo-wop song written by Maurice Williams and first recorded in 1960 by Williams with his group the Zodiacs. Commercially successful versions were later also issued by the Hollies, the Four Seasons and Jackson Browne.
"I Will Follow Him" is a popular song that was first recorded in 1961 by Franck Pourcel, as an instrumental entitled "Chariot". The song achieved its widest success when it was recorded by American singer Little Peggy March with English lyrics in 1963. The music was written by Franck Pourcel and Paul Mauriat. It was adapted by Arthur Altman. The completely new English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.
"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" is a song written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and originally recorded in 1963, as "Do-Wah-Diddy", by the American vocal group the Exciters. Cash Box described the Exciters' version as "a sparkling rocker that bubbles over with coin-catching enthusiasm" and said that the "great lead job is backed by a fabulous instrumental arrangement." It was made internationally famous by the British band Manfred Mann.
"Cover Me" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the second single released from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A.. Springsteen wrote the song for Donna Summer. However, his manager, Jon Landau, decided the song had hit potential, and so he kept it for the upcoming Springsteen album. It has been certified Gold in the US.
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" is a song written by Phil Spector, inspired by the words on his father's gravestone, "To Know Him Was to Love Him". It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, The Teddy Bears. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958, while reaching No. 2 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. Peter & Gordon and Bobby Vinton later each experienced chart success with the song, in 1965 and 1968, respectively.
"Tired of Waiting for You" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks. It was released as a single on 15 January 1965 in the UK and on 17 February 1965 in the US. The single reached number one in the UK and number six in the US. It then appeared on their second studio album, Kinda Kinks. It was the group's highest-charting single in the US - tied with "Come Dancing", which achieved the same chart position eighteen years later in 1983.
"Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is a song written by Cynthia Weil (lyrics) and Barry Mann which was a 1963 hit single for Eydie Gormé, reaching number 7 on the Hot 100 in Billboard in March 1963. The song also peaked at number 32 in the UK, whereas "Yes, My Darling Daughter" became the biggest hit for Eydie there, reaching number 10.
"Glad All Over" is a song written by Dave Clark and Mike Smith and recorded by the Dave Clark Five.
"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.
"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" is a 1963 single by Elvis Presley. It was written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, and Florence Kaye and was published by Elvis Presley Music in June 1963. The song peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on August 10, 1963, and No. 9 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart, becoming his final top-ten single on the Rhythm and Blues chart. The song also topped Japan's Utamatic record chart in the fall of 1963. The single was certified gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the US.
"Gotta Travel On" is an American folksong. The earliest known version was printed in Carl Sandburg's The American Songbag in 1927 under the title "Yonder Comes the High Sheriff" and several variations were recorded in the 1920s, but the best known version is credited to Paul Clayton, The Weavers, Larry Ehrlich, and Dave Lazer and was first recorded by Pete Seeger in 1958.
"Bobby's Girl" is a song and single written by Gary Klein and Henry Hoffman. The original was performed by American teenage singer Marcie Blane, and became a No. 3 hit on the US charts. A near-simultaneous cover by British singer Susan Maughan was a hit in the UK, coincidentally also reaching No. 3 on the UK charts. Both Blane and Maughan are one-hit wonders; for both these artists, "Bobby's Girl" marked their only appearance on a national top 40 chart.
"My Heart Belongs to Only You" is a song written by Frank Daniels & Dorothy Daniels. Bette McLaurin and June Christy both released versions of the song in 1952. In 1953, the song reached No. 27 on Cash Box's chart of "The Nation's Top 50 Best Selling Records", in a tandem ranking of June Christy, Bette McLaurin, these versions were marked as bestsellers.
"Ooh Poo Pah Doo" is a song written and performed by Jessie Hill. It was arranged and produced by Allen Toussaint. The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100 in 1960 although the charts list the B-side, instrumental "Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part II", as the hit.