"The Hammer Song" | |
---|---|
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" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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 performed publicly by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays on June 3, 1949, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City at a testimonial dinner for the leaders of the Communist Party of the United States, who were then on trial in federal court, charged with violating the Smith Act by advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government. [2] It was not particularly successful in commercial terms when it was first released. It was part of the three songs Seeger played as the warm-up act for Paul Robeson's September 4 concert near Peekskill, New York, which subsequently erupted into a notorious riot. [3]
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. [4] Trini Lopez's 1963 single went to number three on the same Billboard chart and number five in Canada. [5] It was included on his album Trini Lopez at PJ's (Reprise R/RS 6093). [6] 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. [7]
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 [20] | 17 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] | 10 |
US Cashbox Top 100 [22] | 13 |
Chart (1963–1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina [23] | 1 |
Australia (Kent Music Report) [24] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [25] | 1 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [26] | 1 |
Canada (CHUM Chart) [27] | 5 |
Denmark (Hitlisten) [28] | 1 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [29] | 16 |
France (IFOP) [30] | 3 |
France (Cash Box) [31] | 1 |
Ireland [32] | 3 |
Israel (Kol Yisrael) [33] | 1 |
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [34] | 10 |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [35] | 1 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [36] | 1 |
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [37] | 2 |
Norway (VG-lista) [38] | 2 |
Peru [39] | 1 |
South Africa [40] | 3 |
Spain (AFYVE) [41] | 1 |
Sweden (Kvällstoppen) [42] | 1 |
Sweden ( Tio i Topp ) [43] | 1 |
Switzerland (Musikmarkt) [44] | 2 |
UK Singles (OCC) [45] | 4 |
Uruguay [46] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [47] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles [48] | 12 |
Venezuela [49] | 8 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) [50] | 2 |
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF) [51] | 3 |
Brazil (IBOPE) [52] | 1 |
Uruguay [53] | 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 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.
"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly and his band, the Crickets.
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.
"Four Strong Winds" is a song recorded by Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia, from their 1963 album Four Strong Winds. The song was written in 1962 by Ian Tyson, one half of the duo, and was the first song Tyson wrote. Tyson has stated that he wrote the song in about 20 minutes in his then-manager Albert Grossman's New York apartment, and was inspired to write it after hearing Bob Dylan sing. The song is a melancholy reflection on a failing romantic relationship. The singer expresses a desire for a possible reunion in a new place in the future but acknowledges the likelihood that the relationship is over.
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions is the fourteenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen. Released in 2006, it peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 49th Grammy Awards.
"She's Not There" is the debut single by the English 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.
"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.
"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 5 May 1966. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor hit in the United States where it spent eight weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 29 during the week of August 6, 1966. It was also successful in Ireland, and was number one there for four weeks, keeping the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" at number two.
"Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three in 1962 and eleven in 1988.
"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.
"Then He Kissed Me" is a song written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. The song, produced by Spector, was initially released as a single on Philles Records (#115) in July 1963 by The Crystals. The lyrics are a narrative of a young woman's encounter, romance, and eventual engagement with a young man.
"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.
"(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.
"Spirit in the Night" is a song written and originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen for his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973). It was also the second single released from the album. A cover version performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band using the title "Spirits in the Night" was released on the album Nightingales and Bombers and as a Top 40 single.
"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.