Summary
"Darlin'" is a song written in 1970 by English sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer. It was first released under the title "Darling" by the British country band Poacher in 1978. It was later a chart hit for Frankie Miller and David Rogers. The track was subsequently recorded by numerous artists including Tom Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Smokie and Johnny Reid.
| "Darling" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Poacher | |
| Released | 1978 |
| Length | 3:18 |
| Label |
|
| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stewart Blandamer |
| Producer(s) | Barry Kingston |
Background edit
British country band Poacher formed in Warrington, England, in 1977. They competed in the sixth series of New Faces, a British television talent show. "Darling" was released as their debut single in 1978, produced by Barry Kingston and released through his label RK Records in the United Kingdom.[1] Songwriter Oscar Stewart Blandamer wrote the track in 1970. Producer David Mackay picked up the song for Scottish singer-songwriter Frankie Miller, who recorded it for his album Falling in Love (1979).[2]
Frankie Miller version edit
| "Darlin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Frankie Miller | ||||
| B-side | "Drunken Nights in the City" | |||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Rock / Blues | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stuart Blandamer | |||
| Frankie Miller singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official video | ||||
| "Darlin'" on YouTube | ||||
Miller recorded the song in 1978 and had an international hit with it. It reached number 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, and 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It also reached the Top Ten (#8) in Australia in 1979.
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 8 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 28 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 7 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[8] | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] | 2 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 6 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts)[11] | 5 |
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] | 52 |
David Rogers version edit
| "Darlin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by David Rogers | ||||
| B-side | "How Long Has It Been" | |||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Label | Republic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stewart Blandemer | |||
| Producer(s) | Dave Burgess | |||
| David Rogers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A country music version was recorded by the American singer David Rogers. Released on the Republic label, it was never included on an album.
Rogers' recording was a relatively minor hit reaching #18 on the Billboard country singles charts.[13]
Charts edit
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Country Songs[14] | 18 |
Other cover versions edit
Tom Jones edit
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Country Songs[15] | 19 |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[citation needed] | 3 |
Johnny Reid edit
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] | 57 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[17] | 3 |
Other artists edit
Barbara Mandrell released a cover version in 1979, which served as the B-side to her number one single "Years."[18]
In 1980 the song was one of two by Bonnie Raitt included on the soundtrack of the film, Urban Cowboy. It was not released as a single, although her other contribution, Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dance was issued to Country radio. It failed to crack the Top 40 on the chart, peaking at #42.
In 1981 Welsh pop singer Tom Jones released the song as a single from his Mercury Records album Darlin'. Jones' rendition also reached the country music Top 20, peaking at #19 there in addition to reaching number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[19]
The British band Smokie recorded a cover version in their 2000 covers album Uncovered.
In 2004 singer Bonnie Tyler released a version of the song on her album Simply Believe.
In 2007 Canadian singer Johnny Reid also released a version of the song on the album Kicking Stones. His version peaked at number 57 on the Canadian Hot 100.
References edit
- ^ "Poacher Biography by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Oscar Stewart Blandamer – Bio". casabland.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 366. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Frankie Miller – Darlin'". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Frankie Miller – Darlin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of May 12, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Hot Country Songs – Week of June 20, 1981". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Johnny Reid Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ Whitburn, p. 216