Wildflower (Skylark song)
Encyclopedia
"Wildflower" is a song written by Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson in 1972. First performed by the Canadian band Skylark
, it has been covered by many artists and more recently has been sampled
in a number of hip hop
songs.
. "Wildflower" was a song which Edwards composed after reading Richardson's poem; the song was included on the band's demo tape. Barry De Vorzon
, by 1972 an established music business name, heard the demo tape and was convinced that the song would be a big hit. After the demo was rejected by several studios, an executive at Capitol Records
signed the band and the song was included on their eponymous first album. The initial single released from the album was not successful. Rosalie Trombley
, a music director at CKLW
, a Canadian radio station in Windsor, Ontario
, played "Wildflower", at that time an album cut, repeatedly for three months in an effort to satisfy the Canadian government's requirements for Canadian content
. During that period, it was the only radio station in North America
to have the song on its playlist. Capitol decided to release the song in neighboring Detroit
as a regional release, where it became a huge soul
hit before breaking out nationally and crossing over to the pop charts. Eventually "Wildflower" spent 21 weeks on the Billboard pop charts. The song proved to be extremely popular in Canada as well; it ultimately peaked at number 10 on the RPM
Top Singles chart, and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Total sales of the single exceeded one million copies, and was included on their second album as well, at the request of Capitol Records executives who sought to capitalize on the song's success. Ultimately, the song was their only single to chart in the United States.
, Hank Crawford
, Johnny Mathis
, Lisa Fischer
, Gary Morris
, New Birth
, The O'Jays
and Lana Wolf
. The Gary Morris version of the song was released as a single in 1986, and reached number 21 on the RPM
Adult Contemporary chart in February of that year. The Hank Crawford recording of "Wildflower" was sampled by Tupac Shakur
on his song "Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
" and by Kanye West
and Paul Wall
on their song "Drive Slow
"; Jamie Foxx
sampled the New Birth
recording on his song "Unpredictable
". This track was used by a young Eminem
on the The Slim Shady EP
in 1997 with the track "No One's Iller". The Hank Crawford cover was also more recently sampled by Boi-1da
on the Lil Wayne
Feature "Miss Me
" from labelmate Drake
's debut album Thank Me Later
and in 2009 by J. Cole for his track "Dreams" from his mixtape The Warm Up
.
Skylark (Canadian band)
Skylark was a former Canadian pop/rock band active from 1971–1973 and based in the Pacific Northwest. The band formed from one of Ronnie Hawkins' backup groups and signed with Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three singles...
, it has been covered by many artists and more recently has been sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
in a number of hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
songs.
Skylark recording
Doug Edwards was a member of Skylark, and Dave Richardson was a friend of band member and organizer David FosterDavid Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
. "Wildflower" was a song which Edwards composed after reading Richardson's poem; the song was included on the band's demo tape. Barry De Vorzon
Barry De Vorzon
Barry De Vorzon is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and composer. His first composing big hit was the rock song "Dreamin'," sung by Johnny Burnette in 1960, although he had a number-one hit previously called "Just Married," which he wrote for Marty Robbins in 1958...
, by 1972 an established music business name, heard the demo tape and was convinced that the song would be a big hit. After the demo was rejected by several studios, an executive at Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
signed the band and the song was included on their eponymous first album. The initial single released from the album was not successful. Rosalie Trombley
Rosalie Trombley
Rosalie Trombley was a music director of AM Top 40 powerhouse CKLW aka "The Big 8". Her influence not only affected the direction of CKLW but also led to an annual award named after her, and she was the subject of the song 'Rosalie' by Bob Seger.-CKLW:...
, a music director at CKLW
CKLW
CKLW is a 50,000 watt AM radio station broadcasting on 800 kHz and located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and serving Windsor and Detroit. Additionally, its signal can be heard as far west as Belding, Michigan; as far east as Batavia, New York; as far south as Edgewood, Kentucky; and as far...
, a Canadian radio station in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, played "Wildflower", at that time an album cut, repeatedly for three months in an effort to satisfy the Canadian government's requirements for Canadian content
Canadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
. During that period, it was the only radio station in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to have the song on its playlist. Capitol decided to release the song in neighboring Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
as a regional release, where it became a huge soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
hit before breaking out nationally and crossing over to the pop charts. Eventually "Wildflower" spent 21 weeks on the Billboard pop charts. The song proved to be extremely popular in Canada as well; it ultimately peaked at number 10 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Top Singles chart, and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Total sales of the single exceeded one million copies, and was included on their second album as well, at the request of Capitol Records executives who sought to capitalize on the song's success. Ultimately, the song was their only single to chart in the United States.
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 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... |
9 |
| RPM Top Singles (Canada) RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
10 |
| RPM Adult Contemporary (Canada) RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
1 |
Other versions
"Wildflower" has been covered by many artists, including Color Me BaddColor Me Badd
Color Me Badd was an R&B vocal group that was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. The original members of the group were Bryan Abrams ; Mark Calderon ; Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton...
, Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Lisa Fischer
Lisa Fischer
Lisa Fischer is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register, Fischer has been recognized as one of...
, Gary Morris
Gary Morris
Gary Gwyn Morris is an American country music artist who charted a string of countrypolitan-styled hit songs throughout the 1980s....
, New Birth
New Birth (band)
New Birth is an American funk and R&B group, originally conceived in Detroit, Michigan by former Motown songwriter/producer and veteran musician Vernon Bullock, and co-founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Vernon, with former Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua, and music industry veterans, Tony...
, The O'Jays
The O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1963 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert , Walter Williams , William Powell , Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005...
and Lana Wolf
Lana Wolf
Lana Wolf sang with many international artists, among which are The Trammps, George McCrae, Londonbeat, Frans Bauer, René Froger, Gerard Cox and Linda, Roos and Jessica as well as with the Metropole Orchestra....
. The Gary Morris version of the song was released as a single in 1986, and reached number 21 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Adult Contemporary chart in February of that year. The Hank Crawford recording of "Wildflower" was sampled by Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
on his song "Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
" and by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Paul Wall
Paul Wall
Paul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as...
on their song "Drive Slow
Drive Slow
"Drive Slow" is a song by American rap artist Kanye West. It was released on June 6, 2006 as the fifth and final single of West's second studio album, Late Registration. The song contains a sample of Hank Crawford's "Wildflower" and features Paul Wall and GLC, with back-up vocals provided by singer...
"; Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
sampled the New Birth
New Birth (band)
New Birth is an American funk and R&B group, originally conceived in Detroit, Michigan by former Motown songwriter/producer and veteran musician Vernon Bullock, and co-founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Vernon, with former Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua, and music industry veterans, Tony...
recording on his song "Unpredictable
Unpredictable (song)
"Unpredictable" is the title track from Jamie Foxx's second album, Unpredictable and was released as the first single from the album in 2005...
". This track was used by a young Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
on the The Slim Shady EP
The Slim Shady EP
The Slim Shady EP is a debut EP by American rapper Eminem, released on the Detroit-based record label Web Entertainment in 1997. The Slim Shady EP was released on cassette, vinyl, and CD .Eminem first introduced his "Slim Shady" persona on this EP,...
in 1997 with the track "No One's Iller". The Hank Crawford cover was also more recently sampled by Boi-1da
Boi-1da
Matthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
on the Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
Feature "Miss Me
Miss Me
"Miss Me" is the third single by Canadian recording artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate and Young Money founder Lil Wayne. Produced by Drake's long-time collaborators Boi-1da and 40, the track was released as the third official single from his debut...
" from labelmate Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
's debut album Thank Me Later
Thank Me Later
Thank Me Later is the debut studio album of Canadian recording artist Drake, released June 15, 2010, on Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Motown Records...
and in 2009 by J. Cole for his track "Dreams" from his mixtape The Warm Up
The Warm Up
The Warm Up is the second official mixtape from Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper J. Cole. All of the songs, except for three , are featureless. Other popular songs on the mixtape are "Can I Live", and "Grown Simba". J...
.
External links
- Home page for "Wildflower" (publisher's site)