Wonderful World (Sam Cooke song): Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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It was first attributed to the pseudonym "Barbara Campbell" |
It was first attributed to the pseudonym "Barbara Campbell" who was Sam's high school sweetheart, and it was first recorded by Cooke in [[1959 in music|1959]] for his 1960 album, ''[[The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke]]''. The song was released as a single in the spring of [[1960 in music|1960]], reaching #12 in the US and #27 in the UK. A bouncy love song, the lyrics have the singer disavowing knowledge of academic subjects (the song is often referred to informally by its first line, "Don't know much about history"), but affirming the object of his affection "but I do know that I love you". [[Herman's Hermits]] had major hit with an uptempo version of the song (omitting one verse) in the mid-1960s, which reached #4 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK. The Hermits' version was, according to singer [[Peter Noone]] and guitarist Keith Hopwood, done as a tribute to Cooke upon his death. |
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In 2004, the song was placed 373rd in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's [[List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]. |
In 2004, the song was placed 373rd in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's [[List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]. |
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Revision as of 16:03, 23 August 2010
| "Wonderful World" | |
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| B-side | "Along the Navajo Trail" |
| "Wonderful World" | |
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| Song |
"Wonderful World" (sometimes referred to as "(What a) Wonderful World", but unrelated to the Louis Armstrong song "What a Wonderful World") is a soul song that was written in the late 1950s by soul music pioneer Sam Cooke, along with songwriters Lou Adler and Herb Alpert.
History
It was first attributed to the pseudonym "Barbara Campbell" who was Sam's high school sweetheart, and it was first recorded by Cooke in 1959 for his 1960 album, The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke. The song was released as a single in the spring of 1960, reaching #12 in the US and #27 in the UK. A bouncy love song, the lyrics have the singer disavowing knowledge of academic subjects (the song is often referred to informally by its first line, "Don't know much about history"), but affirming the object of his affection "but I do know that I love you". Herman's Hermits had major hit with an uptempo version of the song (omitting one verse) in the mid-1960s, which reached #4 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK. The Hermits' version was, according to singer Peter Noone and guitarist Keith Hopwood, done as a tribute to Cooke upon his death.
In 2004, the song was placed 373rd in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Popular culture
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (September 2009) |
The song is used in the classic college movie Animal House (1978) in the well known lunchroom scene.
After a Greg Chapman cover of the song was featured prominently in the 1985 film Witness. "Wonderful World" gained further exposure, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it appeared in a well-remembered 1986 advertisement for Levi's 501 jeans. As a result, the song became a hit in the UK, reaching #2 in re-release. In a 2005 poll by the UK's Channel Four, the song was voted the 19th greatest song ever to feature in a commercial.[1]
The song was also included in the 1983 film Breathless.
In 2002, the Herman's Hermits version was considered as the title song of the BBC panel game show QI, but due to copyright issues, was ultimately dropped in favour of an original tune by British composer Howard Goodall.
The original Sam Cooke version of the song comprised the title soundtrack of the 2005 film Hitch.
The author Kenneth C. Davis writes a series of books entitled Don't Know Much About, referencing this song.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by many other artists including: Richard Marx,
Greg Chapman
Art Garfunkel (who performed a cover of the song on his 1977 album Watermark, with harmonies by James Taylor and Paul Simon) This version went to number one on the Easy Listening charts and went to number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100 [2].
Johnny Nash had a UK hit with his cover of the song in 1976.
British a cappella group The Flying Pickets covered the song on the album The Original Flying Pickets.
It was also covered by Otis Redding on his album Otis Blue.
Bryan Ferry on Another Time, Another Place (1974).
David Bromberg covered the song on the 1975 album Midnight on the Water.
It was covered on the 1980 album Boys Only by UK power pop band The Boys.
The track was covered by Terence Trent D'Arby as a "B-side" on a rare 7" vinyl EP in the late 1980s.
Steven Houghton covered the song on his 1997 self titled album.
Michael Bolton covered the song on his 1999 album Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2.
It was again covered in 2005 by Scottish crooner Jim Diamond on The Blues Shoe EP.
In August 2008, a parody version of the song was featured in a high-profile political advertisement from the Barack Obama for President campaign. The lyrics were altered to satirize John McCain's lack of knowledge on economic issues ("Don't know much about industry...").
Jesse Malin covered the song on his 2008 covers album On Your Sleeve.
Joan Baez frequently includes an acoustic version of the song in her concerts.
Rod Stewart on Soulbook (2009).
Rockapella often has been know to perform this piece form time to time as an encore.
Chart performance
Sam Cooke version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | US Black Singles Chart | #2 |
| 1960 | US Pop Singles Chart | #12 |
| 1960 | UK Singles Chart | #27 |
| 1986 | The Netherlands | #1 [3] |
| 1986 | UK Singles Chart | #2 |
Herman's Hermits version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Pop Singles Chart | #4 |
| 1965 | UK Singles Chart | #7 |
Art Garfunkel version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Adult Contemporary | #1 |
| 1978 | Pop Singles Chart | #17 |
Johnny Nash version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | UK Singles Chart | #25 |
Personnel
Sam Cooke version
- Written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler, and Herb Alpert.
- Produced by Sam Cooke.
- Instrumentation by Rene Hall (arrangement), Adolphus Asbrook (bass), Ronald Selico (drums), and Cliff White (guitar).
- Background vocals by Lou Rawls.
- Engineering by Deano Lappas.
References
- Wolff, Daniel J., S. R. Crain, Clifton White, and G. David Tenenbaum (1995). You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke. William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-12403-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ "Coke theme is top of the pops". The Manchester Evening News. 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 99.
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 21, 1986". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- Articles with trivia sections from September 2009
- 1958 songs
- 1960 singles
- Sam Cooke songs
- Otis Redding songs
- Songs produced by Mickie Most
- Herman's Hermits songs
- Simon and Garfunkel songs
- James Taylor songs
- Richard Marx songs
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Songs written by Sam Cooke