Grandad (song) explained

Grandad
Type:single
Artist:Clive Dunn
B-Side:I Play the Spoons
Genre:Novelty, children’s music
Label:EMI Columbia
Producer:Peter Dulay, Ray Cameron

"Grandad" is a song written by Herbie Flowers and Kenny Pickett, and recorded by Clive Dunn.

While starring in the long-running BBC situation comedy Dad's Army, Dunn met bassist Herbie Flowers (later of Sky) at a party and on learning he was a songwriter challenged him to write a song for him. Flowers wrote "Grandad" with Creation vocalist Kenny Pickett.[1]

The song was released as a single in November 1970,[2] and, aided by promotion such as appearing on children's shows such as Basil Brush and DJ Tony Blackburn claiming it as his favourite record, in January 1971 reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks,[3] [4] during which time Dunn celebrated his 51st birthday, and went on to spend a total of 27 weeks on the chart.[3] Dunn never had another hit single, but he did release an album that featured "Grandad" and its B-side "I Play the Spoons", titled Permission to Sing Sir!

From 1979 to 1984, Dunn starred as Charlie "Grandad" Quick in a children's television show titled Grandad, although the series did not use the song as the theme tune.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grandad by Clive Dunn . Songfacts.com . 1 May 2014.
  2. Timeline . 1 . 7 . 17 July 2014 . Challenge.
  3. Book: Roberts, David . . Guinness World Records Limited . London . 19th . 2006 . 172 . 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Web site: 1971 The Number One Albums . Official Charts . 1 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110113135158/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all-the-number-ones-singles-list/_/1971 . 13 January 2011.