Sunday, August 25, 2013

Record #0478: Lady Willpower / Daylight Stranger – GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP

4-44547 (original) USA, May 21, 1968
Words & Music bySide AJerry Fuller; Side B – Gary Puckett, Fuller
Musicians: Gary Puckett (lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Dwight Bement (bass), Gary Withem (keyboards), Paul Wheatbread (drums and percussion), possibly James Burton (rhythm guitar), The Sid Sharp Strings (strings), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Jerry Fuller at Columbia Recording Studios (?), Hollywood, CA, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US AC #26, UK #5

1968 was the pinnacle in this band's chart success. Just a couple of months before this single, the group had a US #2 with "Young Girl". The follow-up for this single ("Over You") was also a Top 10 hit, reaching US #7. All three were written by Jerry Fuller.

Jerry Fuller has had quite a career as a producer and a songwriter. Among other hit songs he wrote "Travelin' Man" (US #1, UK #2 in 1961) for Ricky Nelson (sold 6 million copies), "A Woman's Touch" (US Country #16 in 1982) for Tom Jones and "Show and Tell" for Johnny Mathis (US AC #36 in 1973) covered by Al Wilson (US #1, US AC #3, US R&B #10, UK #51 in 1973) and Peabo Bryson (US R&B #1 in 1989).

When I first heard the title song, the first two things that came to my mind were Tom Jones (for the voice) and The Four Seasons (for the song). Although I like The Four Seasons and Tom Jones is kind of ok, this is really not for me. But hey, this is a Pacific Northwest group, so extra points for that. :)

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

No comments:

Post a Comment