Kites (Simon Dupree song)
Encyclopedia
"Kites" is a ballad written by Hal Hackady
and Lee Pockriss
.
It was a hit for Simon Dupree and the Big Sound
, the group of the Shulman brothers who went on to form the progressive band Gentle Giant
. Their first releases had not been successful and they looked to their manager, John King, for inspiration. He suggested the Kites ballad, which he had obtained from Robbins' Music. This was not their preferred style but King insisted. It was recorded at Abbey Road
using unconventional instruments such as a wind machine and included a spoken interlude in Chinese, composed of "sweet nothings" and performed by the actress Jacqui Chan, friend of the band. The single reached number 8 in late 1967 and as an exemplar of the early psychedelic rock
style it has since appeared on many compilations, especially those themed around psychedelia.
Hal Hackady
Hal Hackady is an American lyricist, librettist, and screenwriter.Hackady began his career writing teleplays for early anthology series General Electric Theater and Alfred Hitchcock Presents...
and Lee Pockriss
Lee Pockriss
Lee Julian Pockriss was an American songwriter who wrote many well-known popular songs and several scores for films and Broadway shows.-Early life and career:...
.
It was a hit for Simon Dupree and the Big Sound
Simon Dupree and the Big Sound
Simon Dupree and the Big Sound were a British pop band formed by three brothers, Derek Shulman, born 1947 , Phil Shulman, born 1937 , and Ray Shulman, born 1949 .-Career:...
, the group of the Shulman brothers who went on to form the progressive band Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
. Their first releases had not been successful and they looked to their manager, John King, for inspiration. He suggested the Kites ballad, which he had obtained from Robbins' Music. This was not their preferred style but King insisted. It was recorded at Abbey Road
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
using unconventional instruments such as a wind machine and included a spoken interlude in Chinese, composed of "sweet nothings" and performed by the actress Jacqui Chan, friend of the band. The single reached number 8 in late 1967 and as an exemplar of the early psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
style it has since appeared on many compilations, especially those themed around psychedelia.
Other performances
- The Israeli band Nikmat HatraktorNikmat HaTraktorNikmat HaTraktor is an Israeli rock music band established in 1988 in Tel Aviv by singer and bass player Avi Balali and guitarist Ofir Leibovitz. Other band members include Eyal Parson Shachar on keyboard , and Aviv Barak on drums...
(נקמת הטרקטור) recorded a HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
version of the song, which appeared on their eponymous debut album (1990). - A cover version by the dance group Ultraviolet was a UK club hit in 1991.
- A version of Kites is included in Arthur BrownArthur Brown (musician)Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
's 2007 album The Voice of Love. - Charlotte HatherleyCharlotte HatherleyCharlotte Franklin Hatherley is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. She initially came to prominence as guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Ash. Since departing Ash in 2006, she has found success as a solo artist...
plays an acoustic version of the song in her set. - In 1981, Billy MackenzieBilly MackenzieWilliam MacArthur "Billy" Mackenzie was a Scottish singer, with a distinctive falsetto voice best known as a member of The Associates.- Biography :...
of The Associates covered this song under the name 39 Lyon Street.