Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head (Andy Williams album)
Encyclopedia
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head is an album
by American pop singer Andy Williams
that was released in the spring of 1970 by Columbia Records
. It made its first appearance on the Billboard 200
chart in the issue dated June 13, 1970, and remained on the album chart for 19 weeks, peaking at number 43. For its release in the UK, the name of the album was changed to Can't Help Falling in Love, and the song selection and track order were slightly different. It entered the UK album chart that same month, on June 20, and reached number seven over the course of 48 weeks.
The song "Can't Help Falling in Love" was one of the two tracks from the UK version of the album that did not appear on the original release. As a non-album single in the U.S., it entered Billboard magazine's Hot 100
chart in the issue dated February 28, 1970, and spent three weeks there, getting as high as number 88. It also began a three-week run on the magazine's chart of the week's 40 most popular Easy Listening (or Adult Contemporary) songs in that issue, where it eventually made it to number 28. The song debuted on the UK singles chart on March 14, 1970, and lasted there 17 weeks, four of which were spent at number three. The other song that was on the UK album but not the original was "It's So Easy", which entered the UK singles chart on August 1 of that year and peaked at number 13 over the course of 14 weeks.
The track from Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head that was left off of the Can't Help Falling in Love album in the UK was a new recording of "Sweet Memories", a song that Williams originally recorded in March 1968 with Nick DeCaro producing and arranging. That version was released as a non-album single on April 30, 1968, and reached number 75 pop
and number four Easy Listening.
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records
on January 22, 2002, the other album being Williams's Columbia
release from the fall of 1969, Get Together with Andy Williams
. Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Classic Album Collection, Vol. 2, which contains 15 of his studio albums and two compilations and was released on November 29, 2002.
, excited about an idea he had for Andy. He asked me if I would like to produce this album with him. The concept was to give Andy's fans one complete side of continuous music, without any interruptions, and make it mean something. To me this medley represents a living story of life, which has been led by millions of people. Starting with "Little Boy" and "If Wishes Were Horses", right to the end with "Both Sides Now
". The other side of the album is equally satisfying with such songs as "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
", "Bridge over Troubled Water
", and "Sweet Memories". All in all this album has been a lot of work and fun. I have worked with a lot of artists, but this has been a personal experience which I am pleased to be a part of as a producer." -- Dick Glasser
"I worked in commercial television for about three years, mostly on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
, but I also did two TV specials for Andy. One of the standard forms of TV writing is the medley. In television the medley is usually those parts of popular songs most identifiable to the public, strung together in a musical collage with some kind of theme or storyline connecting them. I always thought it would be a nice experiment, rather than take the most popular parts of songs, to take good parts of good songs (not necessarily popular) and string them together to have a good theme or storyline instead of just a familiar one. It's a slightly different use of the TV medley concept applied to recording. I did this when I was interested in interpolating the forms of one medium into the forms of another. I think it worked out fine for Andy." -- Mason Williams
In his review of Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head on AllMusic.com, William Ruhlmann notes that the "LP's catalog number is out of sequence with his other releases, and it may well be that an earlier version was pulled back, since hits like the title track and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' appear to have been added at the last minute and the recording sessions stretch across more than a year."
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American pop singer Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
that was released in the spring of 1970 by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. It made its first appearance on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart in the issue dated June 13, 1970, and remained on the album chart for 19 weeks, peaking at number 43. For its release in the UK, the name of the album was changed to Can't Help Falling in Love, and the song selection and track order were slightly different. It entered the UK album chart that same month, on June 20, and reached number seven over the course of 48 weeks.
The song "Can't Help Falling in Love" was one of the two tracks from the UK version of the album that did not appear on the original release. As a non-album single in the U.S., it entered Billboard magazine's Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in the issue dated February 28, 1970, and spent three weeks there, getting as high as number 88. It also began a three-week run on the magazine's chart of the week's 40 most popular Easy Listening (or Adult Contemporary) songs in that issue, where it eventually made it to number 28. The song debuted on the UK singles chart on March 14, 1970, and lasted there 17 weeks, four of which were spent at number three. The other song that was on the UK album but not the original was "It's So Easy", which entered the UK singles chart on August 1 of that year and peaked at number 13 over the course of 14 weeks.
The track from Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head that was left off of the Can't Help Falling in Love album in the UK was a new recording of "Sweet Memories", a song that Williams originally recorded in March 1968 with Nick DeCaro producing and arranging. That version was released as a non-album single on April 30, 1968, and reached number 75 pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number four Easy Listening.
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records
Collectables Records
Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
on January 22, 2002, the other album being Williams's Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
release from the fall of 1969, Get Together with Andy Williams
Get Together with Andy Williams
Get Together with Andy Williams is an album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released in the fall of 1969 by Columbia Records. The album made its first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated November 8, 1969, and remained on the album chart for 21 weeks, peaking at...
. Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Classic Album Collection, Vol. 2, which contains 15 of his studio albums and two compilations and was released on November 29, 2002.
Liner notes
"About a year ago, I received a call from Mason WilliamsMason Williams
Mason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
, excited about an idea he had for Andy. He asked me if I would like to produce this album with him. The concept was to give Andy's fans one complete side of continuous music, without any interruptions, and make it mean something. To me this medley represents a living story of life, which has been led by millions of people. Starting with "Little Boy" and "If Wishes Were Horses", right to the end with "Both Sides Now
Both Sides Now
- Personnel : * Joni Mitchell — vocals * Mark Isham — trumpet, solo* John Anderson — oboe * Julie Andrews — bassoon * Nick Bucknall — clarinet * Stan Sulzmann — clarinet, flute * Philip Todd — clarinet, flute and alto flute...
". The other side of the album is equally satisfying with such songs as "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
", "Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
", and "Sweet Memories". All in all this album has been a lot of work and fun. I have worked with a lot of artists, but this has been a personal experience which I am pleased to be a part of as a producer." -- Dick Glasser
Dick Glasser
Richard Eugene "Dick" Glasser was a singer, songwriter, and record producer....
"I worked in commercial television for about three years, mostly on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is an American comedy and variety show hosted by the Smothers Brothers and initially airing on CBS from 1967 to 1969.-History:...
, but I also did two TV specials for Andy. One of the standard forms of TV writing is the medley. In television the medley is usually those parts of popular songs most identifiable to the public, strung together in a musical collage with some kind of theme or storyline connecting them. I always thought it would be a nice experiment, rather than take the most popular parts of songs, to take good parts of good songs (not necessarily popular) and string them together to have a good theme or storyline instead of just a familiar one. It's a slightly different use of the TV medley concept applied to recording. I did this when I was interested in interpolating the forms of one medium into the forms of another. I think it worked out fine for Andy." -- Mason Williams
Mason Williams
Mason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
North American release
- "Long Time Blues" (Mason WilliamsMason WilliamsMason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
) – 3:06 - "It's Over" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:43
- "Sweet Memories" (Mickey NewburyMickey NewburyMickey Newbury was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
) – 3:06 - "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My HeadRaindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
" (Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Hal DavidHal DavidHarold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
) – 3:11 - "Bridge over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled WaterBridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
" (Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
) – 4:57 - "Little Boy/If Wishes Were Horses" (Mike SettleMike SettleMike Settle, is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster and singer. He is most famous for being a member of the Rock band Kenny Rogers & The First Edition between 1967 and 1970...
) – 2:18 - "Today Medley" (John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
, Randy SparksRandy SparksRandy Sparks is a musician, singer-songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels and The Back Porch Majority. Prior to that, in the late 1950s he had a solo career and released two albums under the Verve label, a self-titled album in 1958 and Walking the Low Road in 1959...
) – 3:52 - "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
" (Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) – 2:58 - "Simple Thing As Love" (John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
) – 2:44 - "Both Sides NowBoth Sides Now- Personnel : * Joni Mitchell — vocals * Mark Isham — trumpet, solo* John Anderson — oboe * Julie Andrews — bassoon * Nick Bucknall — clarinet * Stan Sulzmann — clarinet, flute * Philip Todd — clarinet, flute and alto flute...
" (Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
) – 3:43
UK release
- "Bridge over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled WaterBridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
" ( Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
) – 4:57 - "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My HeadRaindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
" (Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Hal DavidHal DavidHarold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
) – 3:11 - "Can't Help Falling in LoveCan't Help Falling in Love"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
" (George WeissGeorge David WeissGeorge David Weiss was an American songwriter and former President of the Songwriters Guild of America.-Career:...
, Hugo PerettiHugo PerettiHugo E. Peretti was an American songwriter and record producer.Born in New York City, Hugo Peretti began his career as a teenager, playing the trumpet in the Borscht Belt in upstate New York...
, Luigi CreatoreLuigi CreatoreLuigi Creatore is a American songwriter and record producer.From a musical family, Creatore began his career as a writer. After serving with the United States military during World War II, in the 1950s he became a writer then partnered with his cousin Hugo Peretti to form the songwriting team of...
) – 3:15 - "It's Over" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:43
- "It's So Easy" (Dor Lee, Dave Watkins) – 2:29
- "Long Time Blues" (Mason WilliamsMason WilliamsMason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
) – 3:06 - "Little Boy/If Wishes Were Horses" (Mike SettleMike SettleMike Settle, is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster and singer. He is most famous for being a member of the Rock band Kenny Rogers & The First Edition between 1967 and 1970...
) – 2:18 - "Today Medley" (John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
; Randy SparksRandy SparksRandy Sparks is a musician, singer-songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels and The Back Porch Majority. Prior to that, in the late 1950s he had a solo career and released two albums under the Verve label, a self-titled album in 1958 and Walking the Low Road in 1959...
) – 3:52 - "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
" (Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) – 2:58 - "Simple Thing As Love" (John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
) – 2:44 - "Both Sides NowBoth Sides Now- Personnel : * Joni Mitchell — vocals * Mark Isham — trumpet, solo* John Anderson — oboe * Julie Andrews — bassoon * Nick Bucknall — clarinet * Stan Sulzmann — clarinet, flute * Philip Todd — clarinet, flute and alto flute...
" (Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
) – 3:43
North American release
- 1/11/69 - "It's Over", "Sweet Memories"
- 1/18/69 - "Long Time Blues"
- 3/5/69 - "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
", "Simple Thing As Love" - 11/17/69 - "Little Boy/If Wishes Were Horses", "Today Medley", "Both Sides NowBoth Sides Now- Personnel : * Joni Mitchell — vocals * Mark Isham — trumpet, solo* John Anderson — oboe * Julie Andrews — bassoon * Nick Bucknall — clarinet * Stan Sulzmann — clarinet, flute * Philip Todd — clarinet, flute and alto flute...
" - 2/24/70 - "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My HeadRaindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
", "Bridge over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled WaterBridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
"
In his review of Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head on AllMusic.com, William Ruhlmann notes that the "LP's catalog number is out of sequence with his other releases, and it may well be that an earlier version was pulled back, since hits like the title track and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' appear to have been added at the last minute and the recording sessions stretch across more than a year."
UK release (additional tracks)
- 1/14/70 - "Can't Help Falling in LoveCan't Help Falling in Love"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
" - 1/14/70-1/16/70 - "It's So Easy"
Song information
- "Long Time Blues" was recorded by The Kingston TrioThe Kingston TrioThe Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
for their 1965 album Somethin' Else, Glenn YarbroughGlenn YarbroughGlenn Yarbrough is an American folk singer. He was the lead singer with The Limeliters between 1959 and 1963, and had a prolific solo career, recording on various labels.-Biography:...
for his 1965 album Baby the Rain Must Fall, and Mason WilliamsMason WilliamsMason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
for his 1968 album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record.
- Jimmie Rodgers entered the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
with "It's Over" in the issue of the magazine dated May 14, 1966, and spent seven weeks there, eventually reaching number 37. His placement of the song onto the Easy Listening chart began the following week, on May 21, and lasted 10 weeks with a peak position at number five. As of the May 18, 1968, issue, the song also became an Easy Listening entry for Eddy ArnoldEddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
, whose chart run there lasted seven weeks and took him to number 15. That issue also saw his debut of the song on the Hot 100, where he reached number 74 over the course of seven weeks. His first appearance with the song on the CountryHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart came two weeks later, in the June 1 issue, and he remained on that chart 12 weeks and eventually got as high as number four.
- In addition to the aforementioned success that Williams had with "Sweet Memories", the song was also a CountryHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart entry for Dottie WestDottie WestDottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
and Don GibsonDon GibsonDonald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
that debuted in the July 12, 1969, issue of Billboard magazine and later peaked at number 32 during its 10-week stay.
- In his autobiography Moon River and Me: A Memoir, Williams writes that he "missed a chance to sing the Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
and Hal DavidHal DavidHarold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
song 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My HeadRaindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" is B. J. Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score. It was recorded in seven takes, after...
' from the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidButch Cassidy and the Sundance KidButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman...
. The producer of the film, John ForemanJohn ForemanJohn Gregory Foreman is an Australian musician and television personality. In 1992, he joined the Network Ten team for Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton as Music Director until retiring in 2004...
, lived down the beach from me in Malibu, and he told me later that he had wanted me to sing 'Raindrops' in the movie. He tried to get a hold of me to do it, but I was away on tour. It had to be recorded then and there, so he got B. J. ThomasB. J. ThomasBilly Joe "B. J." Thomas is an American popular singer known for his chart-topping hits in the 1960s and 1970s—appearing on the pop, adult contemporary, country and Hot 100 charts.-Career:...
to perform it instead." Thomas's single entered the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the issue of the magazine dated November 1, 1969, and spent 22 weeks there, four of which were at number one. His rendition also entered the Easy Listening chart that week and later managed seven weeks at number one over the course of the 18 weeks there. His single received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of AmericaRecording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on December 23, 1969, and entered the UK singles chart on February 21, 1970, spending four weeks there and reaching number 38. Bobbie GentryBobbie GentryRoberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...
spent the same four weeks on the same chart with a cover of the song that reached number 40, but Sacha DistelSacha DistelSacha Distel was a French singer and guitarist who had hits with a cover version of the Academy Award-winning "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" , "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was born in Paris.-Career:Sacha Distel, born Alexandre Distel, was a son of Russian White émigré Leonid Distel...
had the biggest UK success with it, entering the singles chart six weeks ahead of Thomas and Gentry, on January 10. His recording lasted there for 27 weeks and peaked at number 10. Back in the U.S., the song earned Thomas a GrammyGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination in the category of Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, MaleGrammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
as well as Song of the YearGrammy Award for Song of the YearThe Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and Best Contemporary SongGrammy Award for Best Contemporary SongThe Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song was awarded between 1960 and 1971. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1960 the award was known as Best Performance by a "Top 40" Artist...
nominations for Bacharach and David. Although all three came up empty at the Grammy ceremony on March 11, 1970, Bacharach and David did win Academy Awards in the Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
category four weeks later, on April 7, beating out "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" is a song with lyrics written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman and original music written by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending in which Bill Eaton sings it under the opening credits...
", a song that Williams would record two months later, on July 13, for his next album, The Andy Williams ShowThe Andy Williams Show (album)The Andy Williams Show is an album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released in the fall of 1970 by Columbia Records. It made its first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated November 14, 1970, and remained on the album chart for 17 weeks, peaking at number 81. It...
.
- Simon & Garfunkel entered the Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
with "Bridge over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled WaterBridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
" in the issue of Billboard magazine dated February 7, 1970, and had reached the number one position three weeks later, in the February 28 issue, making Williams's February 24 recording date rather timely. The duo spent six weeks at number one out of a total of 14 weeks on the popBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart as well as six weeks at number one Easy Listening. The song put them on the UK singles chart for the week of February 21, their first of 20 weeks there during which three were in the number one position. The Recording Industry Association of AmericaRecording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
awarded the single Gold certification by month's end, on February 27, but it would be another year until the awards they would receive from GrammyGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
voters were announced. On March 16, 1971, the song brought in awards for songwriter Simon in the Song of the YearGrammy Award for Song of the YearThe Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and Best Contemporary SongGrammy Award for Best Contemporary SongThe Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song was awarded between 1960 and 1971. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1960 the award was known as Best Performance by a "Top 40" Artist...
categories and for both Simon and Garfunkel for Record of the YearGrammy Award for Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist has been awarded since 1963. The award is presented to the arranger of the music.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
. Three of the other nominees in those categories were songs that Williams had already recorded by the time the envelopes were opened: The CarpentersThe CarpentersCarpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
's "We've Only Just BegunWe've Only Just Begun"We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...
" and James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
's "Fire and RainFire and Rain"Fire and Rain" is a folk/rock song written and performed by James Taylor. As a song on his second album, Sweet Baby James, the song engendered widespread attention for him. The album was released in February 1970, with the song being released as a single that month. "Fire and Rain" quickly rose to...
" were covered on his Love StoryLove Story (Andy Williams album)Love Story is an album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released in February 1971 by Columbia Records. It made its first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated February 20, 1971, and remained on the album chart for 33 weeks, peaking at number three...
album, which first charted a month earlier, in February 1971, and another Carpenters hit, "(They Long to Be) Close to You(They Long to Be) Close to You" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
", was recorded for the album that entered the charts in November 1970, The Andy Williams ShowThe Andy Williams Show (album)The Andy Williams Show is an album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released in the fall of 1970 by Columbia Records. It made its first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated November 14, 1970, and remained on the album chart for 17 weeks, peaking at number 81. It...
.
- "Little Boy" appears on the 1962 album by The Kingston TrioThe Kingston TrioThe Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
entitled Something Special.
- The First EditionThe First EditionThe First Edition was a country music/rock band. Its stalwart members being Kenny Rogers , Mickey Jones and Terry Williams...
recorded "If Wishes Were Horses" for their 1967 self-titled debut albumThe First Edition (album)The First Edition is the debut album by the group The First Edition. Kenny Rogers sang the lead vocals on two tracks "Just Dropped In ", and "Dream On"...
.
- The "Today Medley" is made up of two songs named "Today", the first of which can be found on singer/songwriter John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
's 1967 album Looks at LifeLooks at LifeLooks at Life is singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist John Hartford's debut album. It essentially set the pattern for all of his RCA albums over the next four years. a combination of dry wit and superb musicianship, delivered with a warm conversational baritone...
. The other "Today" comes from the 1964 film Advance to the RearAdvance to the RearAdvance to the Rear is a light-hearted 1964 western comedy film set in the American Civil War. It stars Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens and Melvyn Douglas and is directed by George Marshall. The film is based on the 1957 novel Company of Cowards by Jack Schaefer, with the film having that title in...
, where it was performed by The New Christy Minstrels, who entered the song on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the issue of the magazine dated April 18, 1964, and reached number 17 over the course of 13 weeks. The next issue brought their debut with the song on the Easy Listening chart, where they spent 12 weeks and got as high as number four. Jimmie Rodgers charted the song as an Easy Listening hit as of the October 12, 1968, issue and got to number 19 during a nine-week stay while he also "bubbled underBubbling Under Hot 100 SinglesThe Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
" the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number 104.
- Suzi Jane Hokum was the first artist to have any chart success with "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
" when she briefly appeared on the CountryHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
singles chart for two consecutive weeks at number 75 in BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's August 30 and September 6 issues from 1969. Even though the Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head album was not released until 1970, Williams's date of recording "Reason to Believe" comes almost 6 months before Hokum's chart entry and over two years before the song's first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
as a number 62 hit for Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
from July 1971. Songwriter Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
's original recording was made for his 1966 debut album, Tim Hardin 1Tim Hardin 1Tim Hardin 1 is the debut album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1966 on Verve Records.-History:Tim Hardin 1 contains one of his most well-known and frequently covered songs, "Reason to Believe" — most notably a hit by Rod Stewart in 1971. Some of the songs were demos that ended up on the...
.
- Williams was also ahead of the first chart entry for "Simple Thing As Love", a number 45 CountryHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
hit for Roy ClarkRoy ClarkRoy Linwood Clark is an American country music musician and performer. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre...
from April 1971. This John HartfordJohn HartfordJohn Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
tune originally appeared on the songwriter's 1968 release, The Love AlbumThe Love Album (John Hartford album)The Love Album is John Hartford's third LP, released in 1968. Like all of his RCA recordings, it was reissued in 2002 as part of a "twofer" CD, combined with his fourth album, Housing Project.-Track listing:#"Why Do You Do Me Like You Do?"...
.
- "Both Sides NowBoth Sides Now- Personnel : * Joni Mitchell — vocals * Mark Isham — trumpet, solo* John Anderson — oboe * Julie Andrews — bassoon * Nick Bucknall — clarinet * Stan Sulzmann — clarinet, flute * Philip Todd — clarinet, flute and alto flute...
" was first charted as a non-album single by Harpers BizarreHarpers BizarreHarpers Bizarre was an American pop-rock band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/Sunshine Pop sound and their remake of Simon & Garfunkel's "The 59th Street Bridge Song ."- Career :...
when they "bubbled underBubbling Under Hot 100 SinglesThe Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
" the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number 123 for two weeks that began in the issue dated June 15, 1968. In the June 22 issue, their version also entered the magazine's ranking of the 40 most popular Easy Listening singles, where it reached number 38 during its three weeks there. Judy CollinsJudy CollinsJudith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
entered the popBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in the November 9, 1968, issue with the song and peaked at number eight over the course of 11 weeks, and her rendition began an Easy Listening chart run on November 16 that lasted 13 weeks and got as high as number three. On March 12, 1969, the song earned her a GrammyGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Folk PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk RecordingThe Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording was awarded from 1960 to 1986. During this time the award had several minor name changes:*From 1960 to 1961 the award was known as Best Performance - Folk...
, and on January 17, 1970, it entered the UK singles chart for the first time and spent 11 weeks there, ranking as high as number 14. In the meantime, DionDion DiMucciDion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
released the song with the title "From Both Sides Now" and reached number 91 during his two weeks on the Hot 100 that began on April 26, 1969.
- Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
debuted his single for "Can't Help Falling in LoveCan't Help Falling in Love"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
" on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the issue dated December 4, 1961, close on the heels of the November 22 release of Blue HawaiiBlue HawaiiBlue Hawaii is a 1961 musical film set in the state of Hawaii and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The movie opened at no...
, the film in which Presley performs it. The song was on the survey for 14 weeks, one of which was spent at number two, and eventually entered the then-smaller list of the 20 most popular Easy Listening hits on January 13, 1962. The nine weeks there were highlighted by six weeks in the number one position, and another journey to number one began on February 3, when the song entered the UK singles chart for its first of 20 weeks there, four of which were in the top spot. The single was awarded Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of AmericaRecording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on March 30, 1962 and Platinum certification on March 27, 1992. Williams's release of the song was right behind that of Al MartinoAl MartinoAl Martino was an American singer and actor. He had his greatest success as a singer between the early 1950s and mid 1970s, being described as "one of the great Italian American pop crooners", and also became well known as an actor, particularly for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The...
, who entered the Hot 100 in the Billboard issue for February 7, 1970, and lasted eight weeks there, peaking at number 51. The following issue marked Martino's debut on the now 40-position Easy Listening chart, where he also lasted eight weeks but was able to get to number five.
Personnel
- Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
- vocals - Dick GlasserDick GlasserRichard Eugene "Dick" Glasser was a singer, songwriter, and record producer....
- producer - Mason WilliamsMason WilliamsMason Williams is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his guitar instrumental "Classical Gas". He is also a comedy writer, known for his writing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Saturday Night Live...
- side two concept ("Little Boy/If Wishes Were Horses", "Today Medley", "Reason to Believe", "Simple Thing As Love", "Both Sides Now": conceived by Mason Williams) - Al Capps - arranger, conductor
- Peter Romano - engineer
- Rafael O. Valentin - engineer
- Keats Tyler - front and back cover photos
- Peter James Samerjan - inside photo