You're a Lady

"You're a Lady" is the debut single by British singer-songwriter Peter Skellern. Skellern's recording of the song was his first and biggest hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart, #7 on the Irish Singles Chart and #50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2] Skellern performed the song live on many occasions prior to his retirement in 2001.[3] It became a constant feature of his double act with Richard Stilgoe, and renditions of the song feature on their albums Who Plays Wins (1985)[4] and A Quiet Night Out (2000).[5]

"You're a Lady"
Single by Peter Skellern
from the album You're a Lady
B-side"Manifesto"
Released11 August 1972[1]
Recorded1972
Length4:39
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Peter Skellern
Producer(s)Peter Sames
Peter Skellern singles chronology
"You're a Lady"
(1972)		 "Our Jackie's Getting Married"
(1972)
Music video
"You're a Lady" at TopPop on YouTube
Not to be confused with You're a Woman or You're a Lady Now.

Background

Skellern wrote "You're a Lady" in the summerhouse at his home in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He kept his piano there so as not to bother anyone with his practice.[6] The song has been described as "a breathless love song".[6] Skellern's vocals and piano accompaniment are supplemented by the Congregation, a choral pop ensemble who had already had their own top ten UK hit with "Softly Whispering I Love You",[7] and by the Hanwell Band, heard unaccompanied in the introductory bars. Skellern once played with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain as a child, and he sought to recapture his "speechless amazement" at their sound by using the brass band on the record.[6] The euphonium, played by John Luckett, is prominently featured.[8] Skellern wanted the song to evoke the North of England, saying "I wanted people to see the wet cobblestones and the Lowry paintings when they heard 'You're a Lady'".[9]

The single was placed on Radio Luxembourg on a pay-for-play basis, but was then picked up by Terry Wogan on his BBC Radio 2 programme. The single went on to sell over 800,000 copies[10] and the song was also the first track on Skellern's 1972 album of the same name.[11] The song's great success and the demands that came with it led Skellern to a six-month period, a couple of years later, where he "got drunk every day".[9]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1972/73) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 2
Irish Singles Chart[13] 7
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 3
US Billboard Hot 100 50

Year-end charts
Chart (1972) Position
UK[14] 54

Cover versions

A French version of the song was released by folk singer Hugues Aufray with the title "Vous ma lady", and the following year the same version was released as a duet by Brigitte Bardot and Laurent Vergez.[15]

Other performers who have covered the song include:

References
  1. The Complete Decca Recordings (liner). Peter Skellern. Mint Audio. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. "Peter Skellern | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  3. "Nativity Music by Peter Skellern". The Aeolian Singers. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. "Stilgoe & Skellern – Who Plays Wins". discogs. 1985. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  5. "Stilgoe & Skellern – A Quiet Night Out". discogs. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. Thomas, Deborah (10 October 1972). "Peter Skellern: A Serious Pianist". Daily Mirror: 21. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 505. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. "Death of Peter Skellern". 4BarsRest. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  9. "NZ Live - Peter Skellern". RNZ. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2021. Peter Skellern plays from Roundhead Studios in Auckland on Afternoons with Jim Mora.
  10. "Peter Skellern Tribute with Sir Tim Rice - BBC Radio 2". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  11. "Peter Skellern – You're A Lady". discogs. 1973. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 276. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  14. admin (2021-03-29). "Year-End Chart 1972 – UK". YourMusicCharts. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  15. Brigitte Bardot complete discography on Brigitte Bardot, Initiales B.B., 3 CD box set, released in 1993 by Phonogram France and Philips, p. 30.
  16. Dafydd Rees; Luke Crampton (1991). Rock Movers & Shakers. ABC-CLIO. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-87436-661-7.
  17. "Telly Savalas – Telly". discogs. 1973. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  18. Who Sampled (s/f). Mocedades' "Como Siempre", cover of Peter Skellern's "You're a lady".
  19. "Peter Hofmann – Rock Classics 2". discogs. 1987. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  20. "Bart Peeters schrijft Valentijnslied voor Radio 2". radio2.be (in Dutch). 17 January 2019.
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