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Peter and Gordon

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Peter and Gordon
Peter and Gordon publicity photo, 1965.
Peter and Gordon publicity photo, 1965.
Background information
GenresPop
Years active1960s, 2000s
LabelsColumbia (EMI)
Capitol (US)
Past membersPeter Asher
Gordon Waller
Websitewww.peterandgordon.net

Peter and Gordon were a British pop duo, composed of Peter Asher (b. 1944) and Gordon Waller (1945–2009), who achieved international fame in 1964 with their first single, the million-selling transatlantic No.1 smash "A World Without Love". The duo had several subsequent hits in the British Invasion era.

History

Peter Asher and his sister Jane were child actors in the 1950s. They played siblings in a 1955 episode of the television series The Adventures of Robin Hood. Jane Asher dated The Beatles' Paul McCartney between 1963 and 1968, and Peter and Gordon recorded several songs written by McCartney but credited to Lennon–McCartney. Those hits included "A World Without Love" (US & UK No.1), "Nobody I Know" (US No.12; UK No.10), "I Don't Want To See You Again" (US No.16, but not a hit in the UK), and "Woman".

With "Woman", McCartney used the pseudonym Bernard Webb to see whether he could have a hit song without his name attached. First pressings of the US Capitol single listed the composer as "A. Smith". The song reached No.14 in the US and No.28 on the British charts in 1966. Peter and Gordon also recorded the John Lennon-penned Lennon–McCartney song, "If I Fell", which was previously recorded by The Beatles and released on their 1964 album, A Hard Day's Night.

Other hits for the duo included "I Go to Pieces" (US No.9, but not a hit in the UK), written by Del Shannon and given to Peter and Gordon after the two acts toured together. This was facilitated by Del Shannon's manager Irving Micahnik, of Embee and Bigtop records. Irving Micahnik and Harry Balk discovered Del Shannon and they signed away their rights to "I Go to Pieces" hoping to lure Peter and Gordon to their Detroit label; unfortunately all they did was lose the royalties they would have earned from the song. The duo also recorded remakes of Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" (US No.14 and UK No.2 in 1965), and The Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is To Love Him", retitled "To Know You Is To Love You" (US No.24 and UK No.5 in 1965).

Peter and Gordon had their last hit in Britain in late 1966 with "Lady Godiva", which reached No.16 there (and No.6 in the US), whilst their success lasted into 1967 in the US, with "Knight in Rusty Armour" and "Sunday for Tea" both registering in the upper reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 that year.

Peter and Gordon performing in 2005

Peter Asher subsequently became head of A&R for Apple Records. He continued his career as a recording executive in California, where he managed and produced Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Asher also produced recordings for Cher, 10,000 Maniacs, and Diana Ross. His daughter, Victoria Asher, is a member of the alternative group Cobra Starship.

In August 2005, Peter and Gordon reunited onstage for the first time in more than 30 years, as part of two tribute concerts for Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five in New York City. This was followed by full concerts at The Fest for Beatles Fans (formerly Beatlefest) conventions that began the following year. Paul McCartney heard about the reunion shows and sent a message to congratulate them on reuniting.

In the spring of 2007 and 2008, Peter and Gordon were featured performers in the Flower Power concert series at Disney's EPCOT in Florida. Also in 2007, they performed as part of Love-In: A Musical Celebration (www.loveinthemusical.com), a tribute to the music of the 1960s, which was filmed at the Birch North Park Theatre in San Diego, California, and released on DVD in March 2009. On 21 August 2008, they performed a free concert on the pier in Santa Monica, California.

The pair played numerous times at the 50 Winters Later celebration, in February 2009, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. This was held in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the Surf Ballroom.[1]

They subsequently performed in Chicago, New Jersey and at the Festival for Beatles Fans convention in Las Vegas, 1 and 2 July 2009, where, according to a report by journalist Peter Palmiere for Beatlefan magazine, the pair were the performing highlight of the convention. Peter and Gordon told Palmiere at the Las Vegas Festival for Beatles Fans that they were to perform at the 2006 Adopt-A-Minefield show with Paul McCartney but the show was subsequently cancelled by McCartney, due to his impending divorce from Heather Mills.

Gordon Waller died of a heart attack on 17 July 2009 at the age of 64.

Million sellers

"World Without Love", "Nobody I Know", "True Love Ways", and "Lady Godiva" each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs.[2]

Discography

Singles

A-side, B-side United Kingdom United States
Release date Record number Chart position Album Release date Record number Chart position Album
"A World Without Love”
b/w "If I Were You” 		28 February 1964 Columbia DB 7255 1 Peter and Gordon 27 April 1964 Capitol 5175 1 A World Without Love
"Nobody I Know”
b/w "You Don't Have To Tell Me” 		29 May 1964 Columbia DB 7292 10 A: Non-album track
B: Peter and Gordon 		15 June 1964 Capitol 5211 12 A: I Don't Want To See You Again
B: A World Without Love
"I Don't Want To See You Again”
b/w "I Would Buy You Presents” 		9 September 1964 Columbia DB 7356 A: In Touch With Peter & Gordon
B: Non-album track 		21 September 1964 Capitol 5272 16 A: I Don't Want To See You Again
B: Knight In Rusty Armour
"I Go To Pieces”
b/w "Love Me Baby” 		20 November 1964 Columbia DB 7407 A: I Go To Pieces
B: The Best Of Peter & Gordon 		December 1964 Capitol 5335 9 A: I Go To Pieces
B: I Don't Want To See You Again
"True Love Ways”
b/w "If You Wish” (from I Go To Pieces) 		23 March 1965 Columbia DB 7524 2 The Best Of Peter & Gordon March 1965 Capitol 5406 14 True Love Ways
"There's No Living Without Your Loving” /
"A Stranger With A Black Dove” 		— — A: Woman
B: Peter & Gordon '66 		April 1965 Capitol 5650 50
130 		A: Woman
B: Knight In Rusty Armour
"To Know You Is To Love You”
b/w "I Told You So” 		11 June 1965 Columbia DB 7617 5 The Best Of Peter & Gordon June 1965 Capitol 5461 24 True Love Ways
"Baby I'm Yours”
b/w "When The Black of Your Eyes Turn To Grey” 		15 October 1965 Columbia DB 7729 19 A: Non-album track
B: Hurtin' 'N' Lovin' 		— — A: Non-album track
B: True Love Ways
"Don't Pity Me”
b/w "Crying In The Rain” 		— — Hurtin' 'N' Lovin' October 1965 Capitol 5532 83 True Love Ways
"Woman”
b/w "Wrong From The Start” 		11 February 1966 Columbia DB 7834 28 Woman 10 January 1966 Capitol 5579 14 Woman
"To Show I Love You”
b/w "Don't Pity Me” 		June 1966 Columbia DB 7951 A: Non-album track
B: Hurtin' 'N' Lovin' 		May 1966 Capitol 5684 98 A: Knight In Rusty Armour
B: True Love Ways
"Lady Godiva”
b/w "The Town I Live In" (first US pressings)
"Morning's Calling" (UK & second US pressings) 		9 September 1966 Columbia DB 8003 16 A: Non-album track
B: Peter & Gordon '66 		September 1966 Capitol 5740 6 A & 2nd US B: Lady Godiva
First US B: Non-album track
"Knight in Rusty Armour”
b/w "The Flower Lady” 		November 1966 Columbia DB 8075 Non-album tracks November 1966 Capitol 5808 15 Knight In Rusty Armour
"Sunday For Tea”
b/w "Start Trying Someone Else" (UK)
"Hurtin' Is Lovin'" (US) 		February 1967 Columbia DB 8159 February 1967 Capitol 5864 31 A: In London For Tea
UK B: Lady Godiva
US B: True Love Ways
"The Jokers”
b/w "Red, Cream And Velvet” 		May 1967 Columbia DB 8198 May 1967 Capitol 5919 97 In London For Tea
"Greener Days”
b/w "Never Ever” 		— — 30 December 1967 Capitol 2071 Hot Cold & Custard
"I Feel Like Going Out”
b/w "The Quest For The Holy Grail” 		April 1968 Columbia DB 8398 — —
"You've Had Better Times”
b/w "Sipping My Wine” 		12 July 1968 Columbia DB 8451 July 1968 Capitol 2214 118
"I Can Remember (Not Too Long Ago)”
b/w "Hard Time, Rainy Day” 		May 1969 Columbia DB 8585 May 1969 Capitol 2544 Non-album tracks

Albums

  • A World Without Love (1964)
  • I Don't Want to See You Again (1964)
  • I Go to Pieces (1965)
  • True Love Ways (1965)
  • Sing and Play Hits of Nashville (1966)
  • Woman (1966)
  • Best of (1966)
  • Lady Godiva (1967)
  • Knight in Rusty Armour (1967)
  • In London for Tea (1967)
  • Hot, Cold & Custard (1967)

Albums (Capitol-EMI, Canada)

  • A World Without Love (S)T 2115
  • I Don't Want To Be Around You Again (S)T 2230
  • I Go To Pieces (S)T 2334
  • True Love Ways (S)T 2368
  • Sing and Play the Hits of Nashville (S)T 2430
  • Woman (S)T 2477
  • The Best of Peter And Gordon (S)T 2549
  • Lady Godiva (S)T 2664
  • Knight in Rusty Armour (S)T 2729
  • In London For Tea (S)T-2747 (1967)

References

  1. ^ "January 28 – February 2, 2009". 50 Winters Later. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 180, 194 & 203. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.


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