Sweetest Smile

Last updated
"Sweetest Smile"
Black Sweetest Smile.jpg
Single by Black
from the album Wonderful Life
B-side "Sixteens"
Released19 June 1987 (1987-06-19) [1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:22 (7" version)
  • 5:21 (12" and album version)
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Colin Vearncombe
Producer(s) Dave "Dix" Dickie
Black singles chronology
"Everything's Coming Up Roses"
(1987)
"Sweetest Smile"
(1987)
"Wonderful Life"
(1987)
Music video
Black - Sweetest Smile (Official Video) on YouTube

"Sweetest Smile" is a song by English singer Black, released in June 1987 as the third single from his debut album Wonderful Life . It became his first UK top ten hit, peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. [2] On the back of its success, "Wonderful Life" was re-released, becoming an international hit.

Contents

Meaning and reception

Speaking in an interview with Smash Hits in 1987, he said of the song "It's me singing me story of everything that happened to me in 1985, which was a rotten year. Basically my heart was broken. I was… erm, I'm technically married. Er… I've got an imminent divorce – I've been separated for two years. Er… I've never told anyone that, I shouldn't have said it! Er… yeah, so that was 1985, along with lots of other things, me family falling ill and me friends going through all sorts of stuff… I'm alright now though. Just about." [3]

The song was reviewed in Record Mirror and was described as "a beautiful, slow croon. Sufficiently different from the usual conveyor-belt of identikit hits to distract the listener and stretch their attention span to four minutes." [4]

Track listings

7"

  1. "Sweetest Smile" – 4:22
  2. "Sixteens" – 3:56

12" / CD / cassette

  1. "Sweetest Smile" – 5:21
  2. "Sixteens" – 3:56
  3. "Leave Yourself Alone" – 4:32
  4. "Hardly Star-Crossed Lovers" – 2:51

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 87
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [6] 41
France (SNEP) [7] 38
Ireland (IRMA) [8] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9] 40
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [10] 41
Spain (AFYVE [11] 29
UK Singles (OCC) [2] 8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Faith (song)</span> 1987 single by New Order

"True Faith" is a song by New Order, co-written and co-produced by the band and Stephen Hague. It was the first New Order single since their debut "Ceremony" to be issued in the UK as two separate 12" singles. The second 12" single features two remixes of "True Faith" by Shep Pettibone. Both versions of the 12" include the song "1963". "True Faith" is one of New Order's most popular songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juice Newton</span> American pop and country singer (born 1952)

Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician. Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations in the Pop and Country Best Female Vocalist categories – winning once in 1983 – as well as an ACM Award for Top New Female Artist and two consecutive Billboard Female Album Artist of the Year awards. Newton's other awards include a People's Choice Award for "Best Female Vocalist" and the Australian Music Media's "Number One International Country Artist".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black (singer)</span> English singer-songwriter

Colin Vearncombe, known by his stage name Black, was an English singer-songwriter. He emerged from the punk rock music scene and achieved mainstream pop success in the late 1980s, most notably with the 1986 single "Wonderful Life", which was an international hit the next year.

The Mock Turtles are an English indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their most famous song "Can You Dig It?", which was released in the UK in 1991, charted at number 18. When the song was re-released in slightly remixed form in 2003, it again reached the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love Your Smile</span> 1991 single by Shanice

"I Love Your Smile" is a song by American singer-songwriter Shanice, released in October 1991 as the lead single from her second studio album, Inner Child (1991). The song features a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis as well as laughter from Janet Jackson and René Elizondo Jr. near the end of the song. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and the radio version of the song removes the rap bridge from the album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Been Thinking About You</span> 1990 single by Londonbeat

"I've Been Thinking About You" is a song by British-American band Londonbeat, released as the lead single from their second studio album, In the Blood (1990). The song was produced by Martyn Phillips, and written by band members Jimmy Chambers, George Chandler, Jimmy Helms, and William Henshall. It became a major worldwide hit, reaching the number-one spot in more than 10 countries—including Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States—and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I've Had) The Time of My Life</span> Theme song of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" is a 1987 song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and used as the theme song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. The song has won a number of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)</span> 1987 single by Dusty Springfield and Pet Shop Boys

"What Have I Done to Deserve This?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys and soul singer Dusty Springfield, taken from the duo's second studio album, Actually (1987). The song was released as the second single from the album on 10 August 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful Life (Black song)</span> 1986 song by Black

"Wonderful Life" is a song by the English singer Black from his 1987 album Wonderful Life. The song was released twice as a single and was successful the second time, becoming a top ten hit in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK. Black, who wrote the song while broke, commented: "I was really being ironic... Most people took it at face value."

<i>Wonderful Life</i> (Black album) 1987 studio album by Black

Wonderful Life is the debut album by English singer Black. Released in 1987, it peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart in September of that year.

<i>Black</i> (singer Black album) 1987 compilation album by Black

Black is a self-titled album by Black, the musical vehicle of Colin Vearncombe. It is a retrospective album released in 1987 by Black's former label Warner Music Group after his commercial breakthrough with the album Wonderful Life and comprises several singles recorded while Vearncombe was signed to Warner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playing with Knives</span> 1991 single by Bizarre Inc

"Playing with Knives" is a song by British electronic dance music group Bizarre Inc. It was their second single released through Vinyl Solution, as well as their second single to be written and produced as a trio. It is also the first single from their debut full-length album, Energique (1992). The song originally reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1991. It was re-released later the same year and peaked at number four in the UK charts. In 1999, the song was released for a third time, charting at a peak of number 30.

Teresa Jane Davis, also known by her stage name TJ Davis, is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. She started as a backing vocalist for Gary Numan, D:Ream and Blur, and quickly developed a career of her own. She is known among video game music aficionados for working with award-winning composer Richard Jacques on the soundtracks of Sonic R and Metropolis Street Racer. She was a member of ABBA tribute band Björn Again, performing as 'Frida Longstockin' from 1997 to 2004.

<i>Give Me Your Heart Tonight</i> 1982 studio album by Shakin Stevens

Give Me Your Heart Tonight is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in October 1982 by Epic Records. To date, it is his last studio album to reach the Top-Ten in the UK, peaking at number 3 on the Album Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Sixteen (song)</span> 1987 single by Billy Idol

"Sweet Sixteen" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, which was released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. "Sweet Sixteen" peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise (Black song)</span> 1988 single by Black

"Paradise" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released in 1988 as the fifth and final single from his debut studio album Wonderful Life. The song was written by Black and Dave "Dix" Dickie, and produced by Dix. "Paradise" reached number 38 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel Like Change</span> 1991 single by Black

"Feel Like Change" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released by A&M in 1991 as the lead single from his third studio album Black. The song was written by Black and produced by Robin Millar. "Feel Like Change" reached number 56 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not Afraid (Black song)</span> 1987 single by Black

"I'm Not Afraid" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released in 1987 as the fourth single from his debut studio album Wonderful Life. The song was written by Black and Dave "Dix" Dickie, and produced by Robin Millar. "I'm Not Afraid" reached number 78 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

This is the discography of English singer-songwriter Colin Vearncombe, better known by his stage name Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Cold the Night</span> 1986 single by the Communards

"So Cold the Night" is a song by British duo the Communards released in November 1986 as the final single from their debut album Communards. It was the their second top-ten hit, peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. Strickland, Andy (20 June 1987). "News Digest". Record Mirror . p. 17. ISSN   0144-5804.
  2. 1 2 "Black: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. "Black". Smash Hits . 15–22 July 1987. p. 39. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via sites.google.com.
  4. "Black aka Colin Vearncombe » Music » Wonderful Life". Black. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 24. 25 July 1987. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  7. "Black – Sweetest Smile" (in French). Les classement single.
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetest Smile". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. "Black – Sweetest Smile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  10. "Black – Sweetest Smile". Top 40 Singles.
  11. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.