Darlin' (Poacher song)

"Darlin'" is a song written in 1970 by English sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer. It was first released under the title "Darling" by the British country band Poacher in 1978. It was later a chart hit for Frankie Miller and David Rogers. The track was subsequently recorded by numerous artists including Tom Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Smokie and Johnny Reid.

"Darling"
Single by Poacher
Released1978
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)Oscar Stewart Blandamer
Producer(s)Barry Kingston

Background

British country band Poacher formed in Warrington, England, in 1977. They competed in the sixth series of New Faces, a British television talent show. "Darling" was released as their debut single in 1978, produced by Barry Kingston and released through his label RK Records in the United Kingdom.[1] Songwriter Oscar Stewart Blandamer wrote the track in 1970. Producer David Mackay picked up the song for Scottish singer-songwriter Frankie Miller, who recorded it for his album Falling in Love (1979).[2]

Frankie Miller version
"Darlin'"
Single by Frankie Miller
B-side"Drunken Nights in the City"
Released1978
Recorded1978
GenreRock / Blues
Songwriter(s)Oscar Stuart Blandamer
Frankie Miller singles chronology
"Be Good to Yourself"
(1977)		 "Darlin'"
(1978)		 "When I'm Away from You"
(1979)
Official video
"Darlin'" on YouTube

Miller recorded the song in 1978 and had an international hit with it. It reached number 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, and 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It also reached the Top Ten (#8) in Australia in 1979.

Weekly charts
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 7
Norway (VG-lista)[8] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 6
West Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 5

Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for "Darlin'"
Chart (1979) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 52

David Rogers version
"Darlin'"
Single by David Rogers
B-side"How Long Has It Been"
Released1979
GenreCountry
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)Oscar Stewart Blandemer
Producer(s)Dave Burgess
David Rogers singles chronology
"When a Woman Cries"
(1978)		 "Darlin'"
(1979)		 "You Are My Rainbow"
(1979)

A country music version was recorded by the American singer David Rogers. Released on the Republic label, it was never included on an album.

Rogers' recording was a relatively minor hit reaching #18 on the Billboard country singles charts.[13]

Charts
Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Country Songs[14] 18

Other cover versions

Tom Jones
Chart (1981) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Country Songs[15] 19
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 3

Johnny Reid
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 57
Canada Country (Billboard)[17] 3

Other artists

Barbara Mandrell released a cover version in 1979, which served as the B-side to her number one single "Years."[18]

In 1980 the song was one of two by Bonnie Raitt included on the soundtrack of the film, Urban Cowboy. It was not released as a single, although her other contribution, Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dance was issued to Country radio. It failed to crack the Top 40 on the chart, peaking at #42.

In 1981 Welsh pop singer Tom Jones released the song as a single from his Mercury Records album Darlin'. Jones' rendition also reached the country music Top 20, peaking at #19 there in addition to reaching number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[19]

The British band Smokie recorded a cover version in their 2000 covers album Uncovered.

In 2004 singer Bonnie Tyler released a version of the song on her album Simply Believe.

In 2007 Canadian singer Johnny Reid also released a version of the song on the album Kicking Stones. His version peaked at number 57 on the Canadian Hot 100.

References
  1. "Poacher Biography by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. "Oscar Stewart Blandamer – Bio". casabland.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 366. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Swiss Singles Chart.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  13. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  14. "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of May 12, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  15. "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of June 20, 1981". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  16. "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  18. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  19. Whitburn, p. 216
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