It's Sad to Belong

"It's Sad to Belong" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and performed by England Dan & John Ford Coley on their 1977 album, Dowdy Ferry Road. Called a "timeless classic",[1] it peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the easy listening chart.[2] It was one of the earlier pop hits in Goodrum's career.[3]

"It's Sad to Belong"
Single by England Dan & John Ford Coley
from the album Dowdy Ferry Road
B-side"The Time Has Come"
ReleasedApril 1977
Recorded1976
Genre
Length2:54
LabelBig Tree Records
Songwriter(s)Randy Goodrum
Producer(s)
England Dan & John Ford Coley singles chronology
"Nights Are Forever Without You"
(1976)		 "It's Sad to Belong"
(1977)		 "Gone Too Far"
(1977)

"It's Sad to Belong" was released in May 1977[4] through Big Tree Records, with the b-side "The Time Has Come".[5] It became one of "a string of hit singles" that England Dan & John Ford Coley had in the mid-1970s.[6][7]

The song topped the adult contemporary (then called "easy listening") chart for five consecutive weeks from June 25 to July 23.[8][9] It also appeared on the top 40 "rack singles" list on June 7.[10] On December 24, it ranked #3 on Billboard's end-of-the-year easy listening chart.[11]

Background

"It's Sad to Belong" is the second track on Dowdy Ferry Road. It is one of only two songs on the album not written by either singer.[12]

The song has been called "bittersweet", telling the story of a married man falling in love with another woman and knowing they cannot be together.[1] Dale Van Atta of the Deseret News observed that it is "the universal divorce anthem - about the alleged monotony of monogamy" and that the duo "[reduces] it to a simple, peaceful chorus" (referring to the line, Yes, it's sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along).[13]

Billboard described the song as a "sweetly catchy ballad."[14] Cash Box said "The strong point is their seamless harmony, easing a catchy chorus through several refrains."[15] Record World said that "the latest single by this duo deals with the 'trying to love two' theme in a way that should find listeners in pop, MOR and country formats in short order."[16]

It is still performed in concerts by the surviving member of the duo, John Ford Coley.[1]

Chart performance

Other versions

B.J. Thomas recorded a version of "It's Sad to Belong" in 1977 on his eponymous LP.[24]

See also

References
  1. Martinez-Belen, Crispina. "MYMP's pre-Valentine show". mb.com.ph, February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 86.
  3. Minting, Will. "Jay Graydon & Randy Goodrum interview, October 2008". ejazznews.com, November 1, 2008. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  4. Nite, Norm N. Rock On: The Modern Years: 1964 - Present, Volume 2 (Crowell, 1980), p. 152.
  5. Koenig, John. Goldmine Records & Prices (Krause Pubns Inc, 2006).
  6. "Dan Seals to perform Friday". The Sumter Daily Item, November 16, 1985, p. 128.
  7. "Singer at Doniphan". The Southeast Missourian, May 28, 1986, p. 2.
  8. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications).
  9. Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (Billboard Books, 2000), p. 214.
  10. Billboard, June 18, 1977.
  11. Billboard, December 24, 1977.
  12. "Dowdy Ferry Road - England Dan & John Ford Coley". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  13. Van Atta, Dale. "Patented simplicity on the 'Dowdy Ferry Road'". The Deseret News, June 10, 1977, p. 20.
  14. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 14, 1977. p. 70. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  15. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 7, 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  16. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 7, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3692." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 6, 1977.
  18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3675a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 30, 1977.
  19. "England Dan John Ford Coley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. "England Dan John Ford Coley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  21. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: Week Ending July 23, 1977". Cashbox. July 23, 1977.
  22. "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 14, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  23. "The Cashbox Year-End Charts: 1977". Cashbox. December 31, 1977.
  24. Discogs - B.J. Thomas 1977
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