Love of the Common People

"Love of the Common People" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins,[2] eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People,[3] but first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps.[4] The Four Preps' recording was not a hit, but, later in 1967, the Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4. In 1968, Irish artist Joe Dolan and backing grouping the Drifters recorded a version which hit the top 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, but did not chart elsewhere.[5]

For the album by Waylon Jennings, see Love of the Common People (album).
"Love of the Common People"
Single by The Four Preps
B-side"What I Don't Know Can't Hurt Me"
ReleasedJanuary 21, 1967[1]
Recorded1966
GenrePop
Length2:35
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins
Producer(s)Al De Lory
The Four Preps singles chronology
"Let's Call It a Day Girl"
(1966)		 "Love of the Common People"
(1967)		 "Draft Dodger Rag"
(1967)

Soul group the Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the US Hot 100.[6] A year later, Nicky Thomas had a UK hit (No. 9) with a reggae-inspired version, and Paul Young had a No. 2 UK hit (and No. 1 in several European countries) in 1983 with his interpretation of the song.

Lyrics

The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and unemployment. There is a mention of "free food tickets," a reference to government food stamp and welfare programs, in the first line, and the lyrics also describe the subject family as having holes in their clothes, their roof and their shoes. The last verse advises the subject family to keep their faith strong and to maintain hope for improvement.

Nicky Thomas version

Nicky Thomas recorded a Joe Gibbs-produced reggae version of the song in 1970, which sold over 175,000 copies in the United Kingdom and reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[7][8] It was Thomas's largest selling single, and, according to Steve Leggett of AllMusic, "practically defines the term 'pop reggae.'"[9]

Paul Young version
"Love of the Common People"
Artwork for European releases, including the 1983 UK re-release
Single by Paul Young
from the album No Parlez
B-side
Released7 January 1983
7 November 1983 (re-release)
GenreBlue-eyed soul
Length3:33 (7")
5:50 (12")
4:56 (Original Album)
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)John Hurley
Ronnie Wilkins
Producer(s)Laurie Latham
Paul Young singles chronology
"Iron Out the Rough Spots"
(1982)		 "Love of the Common People"
(1983)		 "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"
(1983)
"Come Back and Stay"
(1983)
""Love of the Common People"
(re-release)"
(1983)
"Everytime You Go Away"
(1985)

In 1982, English singer Paul Young released his interpretation of "Love of the Common People" as a single, but initially it failed to chart. Only after Young's first and second solo hits in 1983, with "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and "Come Back and Stay", and the single's re-release did it become successful. The single peaked at No. 2 in the UK, and reached the No. 1 spot in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. This version also contained a solo by ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez.

Weekly charts
Chart (1983/1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 1
France (IFOP)[15] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 10
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[19] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 45
US Cash Box[23] 50

Year-end charts
Chart (1984) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[24] 54
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 10
Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30] 25

Other versions

See also

References
  1. Date of Release in hitparade.ch
  2. "The Four Preps - Love Of The Common People". 45cat.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. John Hurley Sings about People, John Hurley, with Ronnie Wilkins. RCA Records LSP-4355, 1970
  4. Finnis, Rob; Rounce, Tony (2010). You Heard It Here First! Volume 2 (CD booklet). London: Ace Records Ltd. p. 3. CDCHD 1250.
  5. "Joe Dolan".
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 922.
  7. "Love of the Common People - Nicky Thomas". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  8. Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 292
  9. Leggett, Steve "Love of the Common People: The Best of Nicky Thomas Review, AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 6 December 2009
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 347. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  12. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  14. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  15. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Paul Young" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  16. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love of the Common People". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  18. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  19. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Y)". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  20. "Paul Young – Love of the Common People". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  22. "Paul Young - Chart History". Billboard Hot 100. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  23. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 30, 1984". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  24. "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  25. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1984". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  26. "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1984". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  28. "Dutch Jaaroverzichten Single 1984". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  29. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1984". GfK Entertainment Charts (in German). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  30. "Top 100 1983". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  31. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 922.
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