The Days of Pearly Spencer

[George 1978]

I refer to that David McWilliams masterpiece that we hardly ever get to hear on the radio these days - such a unique song.

I always have visions of McWilliams being unable to make it to the recording studio in order to sing the chorus due to being in a traffic jam or something, and so he has to telephone his record producer to ask him whether he can sing the chorus down the phone line which is what he does. I suppose that it is a similar concept to how a lot of late 1970s songs are made such as ELO's Telephone Line and Blondie's Hanging on the Telephone.

What do other people think about that song?

[Richard1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

I remember wondering why it sounded like it was sung down a phone line.

Queen created a similar effect for one of their album tracks by using a steel dust bin as an echo chamber, with a speaker in the bottom & a microphone hung over the top.

Marc Almond's cover didn't try this effect.

[beccabear67]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

Even though it was coming about around the same time I was in 1967 I know the song. For some reason when I think about it I also think about 'Kites' by Simon Dupree (later Gentle Giant). Orchestral psychedilia?

You can see and watch David McWilliams on youtube, classic early 'video' for Pearly Spencer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDa-6P5ze7I

Another classic telephone call themed song is 'Long-Distance Runaround' by Yes.

[tex]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

Even though it was coming about around the same time I was in 1967 I know the song. For some reason when I think about it I also think about 'Kites' by Simon Dupree (later Gentle Giant). Orchestral psychedilia?

You can see and watch David McWilliams on youtube, classic early 'video' for Pearly Spencer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDa-6P5ze7I

Another classic telephone call themed song is 'Long-Distance Runaround' by Yes.

Love kites, one of my faves from the 60s ..... In letters of red on a snow white kite i will write i love you and send it soaring high above you for all to see...killer lyrics!

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

I thought it was from the 1970s, probably 1974 - I tried to look for it on a charts website but couldn't find any information that it had charted in the UK.

[tex]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

I thought it was from the 1970s, probably 1974 - I tried to look for it on a charts website but couldn't find any information that it had charted in the UK.

Nah, much earlier...1967

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

It sounds too modern to be a 1960s hit to be honest.

[tex]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

It sounds too modern to be a 1960s hit to be honest.

Sorry George are you thinking of Kites or The days of Pearly spencer?

[HG]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

It was covered by Marc Almond in 1991 which is the version I know

[Richard1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

The original wasn't a hit partially because the BBC refused to play it due to David McWilliams having connections to Radio Caroline.

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

Sorry George are you thinking of Kites or The days of Pearly spencer?

No, I am saying that the original version sounds too modern to be a 1960s hit - in other words, it sounded ahead of its time.

However, as Richard and HG have both just reminded me, there was that Marc Almond cover version which didn't have that on - I couldn't quite remember who had that version of it.

[tex]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

No, I am saying that the original version sounds too modern to be a 1960s hit - in other words, it sounded ahead of its time.

However, as Richard and HG have both just reminded me, there was that Marc Almond cover version which didn't have that on - I couldn't quite remember who had that version of it.

Ah, so you were refering to the latter....i was refering to kites

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

I was around for the latter.

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

Thinking about it, I am sure I saw the video for the song, probably on YouTube, where McWilliams goes into a phone box and sings the chorus.

[George 1978]

Re: The Days of Pearly Spencer

Sorry George are you thinking of Kites or The days of Pearly spencer?

The latter.