Signs (Five Man Electrical Band song)

Last updated

"Signs"
Signs45RPM.jpg
Single by Five Man Electrical Band
from the album Good-byes and Butterflies
B-side "Hello Melinda Goodbye"
ReleasedMay 1971
Genre Hard rock [1]
Length4:05 (album version)
3:20 (single version)
Label Lionel Records
Songwriter(s) Les Emmerson
Producer(s) Dallas Smith
Five Man Electrical Band singles chronology
"Signs"
(1971)
"Absolutely Right"
(1971)

"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.

Contents

"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.

Composition

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:

Chart performance

Tesla version

"Signs"
Signs (Tesla cover).jpg
Cover for the 7" single
Single by Tesla
from the album Five Man Acoustical Jam
ReleasedNovember 1990
RecordedJuly 2, 1990
Venue Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
Genre Acoustic rock
Length3:15
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Les Emmerson
Producer(s) Dan McClendon
Tesla singles chronology
"Love Song"
(1989)
"Signs"
(1990)
"The Way It Is"
(1991)

"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.

Track listings

7" single
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Signs" (Clean Version)3:11
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Down Fo' Boogie" (LP Version)3:21
12" single
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Signs" (LP Version)3:15
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Little Suzi" (Live Acoustic Version)3:53
2."Down Fo' Boogie" (LP Version)3:21
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Signs" (Clean Version)3:11
2."Down Fo' Boogie" (Single Version)3:21
3."Little Suzi" (Live Acoustic Version)3:53

Chart performance

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Man Electrical Band</span> Canadian rock band

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If (Bread song)</span> 1971 single by Bread

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Don't Be a Hero</span> 1974 single by Paper Lace

"Billy Don't Be a Hero" is a 1974 pop song that was first a UK hit for Paper Lace and then, some months later, a US hit for Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods. The song was written and composed by two British songwriters, Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Man (song)</span> 1967 hit single

"Soul Man" is a 1967 song written and composed by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, first successful as a number 2 hit single by Atlantic Records soul duo Sam & Dave, which consisted of Samuel "Sam" Moore and David "Dave" Prater. In 2019, "Soul Man" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress. It was No. 463 in "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2010 and No. 458 in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Bad Apple</span> 1970 single by the Osmonds

"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.

"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966. The best known version was a number one hit for the 5th Dimension in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String</span> 1970 single by Chairmen of the Board

"(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" is a 1970 soul music song by the Chairmen of the Board. The single reached No. 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. Ronald Dunbar and Edythe Wayne wrote the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgy Girl (song)</span> 1966 single by The Seekers

"Georgy Girl" is a song by the Australian pop/folk music group The Seekers. It was used as the title song for the 1966 film of the same title. Tom Springfield, who had written "I'll Never Find Another You", composed the music and Jim Dale supplied the lyrics. The song is heard at both the beginning and end of the film, with markedly different lyrics. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but the prize went to "Born Free".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock On (David Essex song)</span> Single by David Essex

"Rock On" is a song written by English singer David Essex. Recorded in 1973 and released as a single by Essex, it became an international hit. In 1989, American actor and singer Michael Damian recorded a cover version that went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been recorded many times, including a 2006 version by the English hard rock group Def Leppard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Made Me Believe in Magic</span>

"You Made Me Believe in Magic" is the title of a 1977 international hit single by the Bay City Rollers, taken from their album It's a Game. The recording, a mid-tempo disco-styled pop tune featuring strings and horns, had its greatest impact in North America, where it was issued as the album's lead single in May 1977 to reach number 10 on the US Hot 100 in Billboard magazine that August. "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was the Bay City Rollers' third US Top 10 hit; the follow-up single "The Way I Feel Tonight" (#25) would mark the group's final Hot 100 appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's Your Name (Lynyrd Skynyrd song)</span> 1977 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"What's Your Name" is a rock song by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the opening track on their album Street Survivors. It peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Woman (The Impressions song)</span>

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Easy on Me</span> 1982 single by Little River Band

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Mary</span> 1970 single by Wadsworth Mansion

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're in This Love Together</span> 1981 single by Al Jarreau

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakdown Dead Ahead</span> 1980 single by Boz Scaggs

"Breakdown Dead Ahead" is a 1980 song recorded by Boz Scaggs, and composed by Scaggs and David Foster. It was the lead single of two released from Scaggs's album Middle Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Guy (song)</span> 1983 single by Little River Band

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)</span> Single song by Kevin Johnson

"Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" is a 1973 song written and originally performed by Australian singer Kevin Johnson, most famously covered by American singer Mac Davis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Drum (song)</span> 1971 single by Bobby Sherman

"The Drum" is a song recorded by Bobby Sherman from his Portrait Of Bobby LP. It was released as a single in the spring of 1971, the second of two from the album. The song was written by Alan O'Day, his first of five Top 40 chart credits.

References

  1. "Top Quality Rock Helps Labels Turnaround Their Profit Picture". Billboard . 6 November 1971. p. RN-34. ISSN   0006-2510.
  2. "RPM Top 100 Singles of 1971 - January 8, 1972" (PDF).
  3. "Signs".
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 . St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. "RMP100 Singles, July 24, 1971". Library and Archives Canada . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  6. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  7. "Cash Box Top 100 9/04/71". tropicalglen.com. 4 September 1971. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  8. Australian-charts.com
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Music Outfitters. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  11. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971". tropicalglen.com. 25 December 1971. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 255. ISBN   978-0-89820-174-1.
  13. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 23 March 1991. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  14. "Tesla Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard . Eldridge Industries . Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  15. "Tesla Chart History". Billboard . Eldridge Industries . Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  16. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 554. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  17. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (21 December 1991). "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. p. YE-14.{{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)