A Summer Song (1964)

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By:
Chad and Jeremy.

Chad Stuart (born December 10, 1941) and Jeremy Clyde (born March 22, 1941) met while attending London's Central School of Speech and Drama. They became friends, and, after Stuart taught Clyde to play guitar, they formed a folk duo.

After earning a fan following at a local coffeehouse called Tina's, in 1963 John Barry (who had a #13 UK hit with "James Bond Theme") signed them to the independent label Ember Records, on which they released their debut single, "Yesterday's Gone", which made the U.K. Top 40.

"A Summer Song" was produced by Barry and Shel Talmy (who usually worked with rock musicians such as the Who and the Kinks.)

The melody of the verses bears some resemblance to Buddy Holly's "Words of Love", a song which at that time was covered by the Beatles and released on their album Beatles For Sale.

"A Summer Song" was Chad and Jeremy's biggest American hit. However, they were often compared to (and confused with) another British pop duo: Peter and Gordon. Both were most popular during the British Invasion.

Chad and Jeremy's follow-up singles "Willow Weep For Me" and "Before and After" reached the top 20, and altogether Chad and Jeremy had seven US top 40 hits between 1964 and 1966. They disbanded in 1969, but continue to this day to reunite for live shows.

Chart positio
n: #7 (US).

"A Summer Song" ranks at #50 on the Top 100 singles of 1964.

The Top Ten Songs: October 17, 1964 (US Billboard Hot 100).
  1. "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (Manfred Mann)
  2. "Dancing in the Street" (Martha and the Vandellas)
  3. "Oh, Pretty Woman" (Roy Orbison)
  4. "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" (Gale Garnett)
  5. "Last Kiss" (J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers)
  6. "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)" (Shangri-Las)
  7. "A Summer Song" (Chad and Jeremy)
  8. "It Hurts to Be in Love" (Gene Pitney)
  9. "When I Grow Up to Be a Man" (Beach Boys)
  10. "Let It Be Me" (Betty Everett and Jerry Butler)

Written by: Clive Metcalfe, Ken Noble, and Chad Stuart.

Metcalfe was a British musician and student of schools such as Southampton Art College and Chelsea School of Art, and played bass guitar as a member of the 1965 band The Architectural Abdabs. After Metcalfe left the group, changed their name to Pink Floyd.

Noble is credited as co-writer on another Chad and Jeremy song, "The Truth Often Hurts The Heart".

Also by:
Skeeter Davis; The Lettermen.

My two cents:
This was one of my favorite songs while growing up. I can picture myself riding in the back seat of the family car, looking out the window and hearing the words of this song. Especially the section that goes:

They say that all good things must end someday
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No, no, no, no


Beautiful! Even as a kid, those words spoke to me. I later rediscovered it in the 1998 film Rushmore. I'm not a fan of the film itself, but it's great that this song and so many oldies are being kept alive due to their inclusion in movies and on TV shows and commercials. Maybe that's how you first heard this song...?

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