"Signs" | ||||
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Single by Five Man Electrical Band | ||||
from the album Good-byes and Butterflies | ||||
B-side | "Hello Melinda Goodbye" | |||
Released | May 1971 | |||
Genre | Hard rock [1] | |||
Length | 4:05 (album version) 3:20 (single version) | |||
Label | Lionel Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Les Emmerson | |||
Producer(s) | Dallas Smith | |||
Five Man Electrical Band singles chronology | ||||
|
"Signs" is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band. It was written by the band's frontman, Les Emmerson, and popularized the relatively unknown band, who recorded it for their true first album, Good-byes and Butterflies , in 1970. The LP Five Man Electrical Band had begun as a Staccatos album with Brian Rading, the band's bassist suggesting the band's new name from the song title.
"Signs" was originally a 1970 B-side to the relatively unsuccessful single "Hello Melinda Goodbye" (#55 Canada). Re-released in 1971 as the A-side, "Signs" reached No. 4 in Canada and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1971. It became a gold record. In Canada, RPM Magazine ranked it at No. 55, with Absolutely Right ranked No. 49. [2]
Some radio edits have omitted the instrumental introduction and shortened the instrumental coda for airplay, due to time constraints.
The song was written by Les Emmerson when he was road-tripping on Route 66 in California, and noticed the beautiful scenery was obscured by many billboards. [3]
The song's narrator describes four instances of encountering signs that anger or concern him, as follows:
"Signs" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tesla | ||||
from the album Five Man Acoustical Jam | ||||
Released | November 1990 | |||
Recorded | July 2, 1990 | |||
Venue | Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA | |||
Genre | Acoustic rock | |||
Length | 3:15 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) | Les Emmerson | |||
Producer(s) | Dan McClendon | |||
Tesla singles chronology | ||||
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"Signs" was covered and recorded live by Tesla for their Five Man Acoustical Jam album in 1990, peaking at number 8 on the Pop charts. [12] The album version of the cover had some minor changes to the lyrics: the line "blockin' out the scenery" was changed to "fuckin' up the scenery," and "made up my own little sign" was changed to "made up my own fuckin' sign," whilst the single version retained the original lyrics for radio airplay. A studio version recorded in 2007, which appeared on the EP A Peace of Time , using the original lyrics.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Signs" (Clean Version) | 3:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Down Fo' Boogie" (LP Version) | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Signs" (LP Version) | 3:15 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Little Suzi" (Live Acoustic Version) | 3:53 |
2. | "Down Fo' Boogie" (LP Version) | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Signs" (Clean Version) | 3:11 |
2. | "Down Fo' Boogie" (Single Version) | 3:21 |
3. | "Little Suzi" (Live Acoustic Version) | 3:53 |
Chart (1990−1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada RPM Top Singles [13] | 72 |
US Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [14] | 8 |
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [15] | 2 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [16] | 70 |
Year-end chart (1991) | Position |
---|---|
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) [17] | 73 |
The Five Man Electrical Band is a Canadian rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. They had many hits in Canada, including the top 10 entries "Half Past Midnight" (1967), "Absolutely Right" (1971) and "I'm a Stranger Here" (1972). Internationally, they are best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs".
"If" is a song written by American singer-songwriter David Gates in 1971. Originally popularized by his group Bread, "If" charted at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 when released as a single in 1971 and No. 6 in Canada. It also spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and one week at the top of the Canadian AC chart.
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"One Bad Apple" is a song by the Osmonds, released as a single on November 14, 1970. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 2, 1971. It hit the top of the chart on February 13, 1971 and stayed there for five weeks. It also reached No. 6 on the R&B chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1971. The song is an early example of bubblegum dance. Both "One Bad Apple" and the Donny Osmond-credited single "Sweet and Innocent" are on the 1970 album Osmonds. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on February 4, 1971.
"Hair" is the title song to the 1967 musical Hair and the 1979 film adaptation of the musical.
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"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), Steve Marriott (1989), and Santana (1990) covered this song.
"Take It Easy on Me" is a song by Australian soft rock band Little River Band, released in March 1982 as the third and final single from the album Time Exposure. The song reached No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming their sixth and last top 10 hit on the chart and also reached No. 14 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song was written by band member Graham Goble and produced by British record producer George Martin.
"Sweet Mary" is a song written by Steve Jablecki and performed by Wadsworth Mansion. "Sweet Mary" was featured on their 1971 album Wadsworth Mansion and was produced by Jim Calvert and Norman Marzano.
"We're in This Love Together" is a 1981 hit song by Al Jarreau. It was the first of three single releases from his fifth studio album, Breakin' Away. The song was his first and biggest chart hit.
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"The Other Guy" is a song by Australian soft rock band Little River Band. It was released in February 1983 as the third and final single from the band's 1982 Greatest Hits album. The song also introduced the band's new lead vocalist, John Farnham, who replaced Glenn Shorrock.
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