I'm a Man (The Spencer Davis Group song) explained
| I'm a Man |
| Cover: | Spencer Davis Group I'm a Man single cover.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the Spencer Davis Group |
| B-Side: | I Can't Get Enough of It |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 2:58 |
| Label: |
|
| Producer: | Jimmy Miller |
| Prev Title: | Gimme Some Lovin' |
| Prev Year: | 1966 |
| Next Title: | Time Seller |
| Next Year: | 1967 |
"I'm a Man" is a song written by Steve Winwood and record producer Jimmy Miller. It was first recorded in 1967 by the Spencer Davis Group; Winwood sang lead vocals and played keyboards. The song was a hit in the United Kingdom and the United States, reaching No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. It has been recorded by many other performers over the years, most successfully by Chicago, whose version charted at No. 8 in the UK in 1970 and No. 49 in the US in 1971.
Original song
The original recording was a Hammond organ-driven blues rock track released as a single by the Spencer Davis Group in early 1967, reaching No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] [5] In the US, it peaked at No. 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 48 in the magazine's Top Selling R&B Singles.[6] It was the last hit single by the band before the brothers Steve and Muff Winwood left to pursue their own separate careers. The song is included on the band's 1967 album, I'm a Man.
Chicago version
Chicago (then known as Chicago Transit Authority) recorded a cover version of "I'm a Man" for their 1969 debut album, The Chicago Transit Authority. When the band's popularity surged after their second album, "I'm a Man" was released as the B-side to a re-release of "Questions 67 and 68".
Radio stations ended up playing both sides, and "I'm a Man" reached No. 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971. In the UK, it reached No. 8[7] and No. 13 in Ireland.[8]
Chicago personnel:
- Terry Kath – lead vocals (first verse), backing vocals, guitar
- Peter Cetera – lead vocals (second verse), backing vocals, bass
- Robert Lamm – lead vocals (third verse), backing vocals, keyboards
- Danny Seraphine – drums, maracas
- Jimmy Pankow – cowbell, trombone
- Lee Loughnane – claves, trumpet
- Walt Parazaider – tambourine, tenor saxophone
Other cover versions
- Italian-American band Macho recorded a 17-minute disco rendition of the song in 1978, based loosely off of the Chicago arrangement. A shortened version was released as a single, and reached the top 10 of the Billboard Disco Action chart.[9]
- Yugoslav rock band Siluete recorded it in 1967 for the Yugoslav TV show Slovenian: Koncert za ludi mladi svet (A Concert for Young Crazy World). The video was shot in the Wild West town settings in the Avala Film Studios.[10]
- In 1987, Italian producer Gianfranco Bortolotti released a medley under his Club House alias, with "I'm a Man" being mixed with Mory Kanté's "Yé ké yé ké". In 1989 the single was licensed to Music Man Records in the UK and became a small hit peaking at number 69 in the British charts.[11] [12]
- Los Lonely Boys released a cover version on their album Forgiven.
- Ty Segall released a cover version on his album of covers Fudge Sandwich. [13]
VW Polo advertisement
Volkswagen aired a UK television commercial titled "Dog" in late winter 2008, which featured a dog miming singing "I'm a Man". The version used in the advertisement for the Polo was a cover version by a young British singer-songwriter, Charlie Winston. The Noam Murro-directed[14] advert received complaints from the RSPCA and over 750 viewers.[15] [16]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Unterberger . Richie . The Spencer Davis Group – I'm a Man Album Reviews, Songs & More AllMusic . AllMusic . 13 January 2023 . en.
- Book: Evans, Paul. The Spencer Davis Group. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 220.
- Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Ohio Players' "Fire" . . June 26, 2019 . ...plenty of great hard rock songs, like the Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m A Man,” were also great funk songs.... June 21, 2023.
- Web site: Official Singles Chart Results Matching: I'm a Man . Official Charts Company.
- Book: Roberts
, David
. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 103.
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn
. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 147.
- Web site: ChicagoSingles. Officialcharts.com. 28 October 2021.
- Web site: Jaclyn . Ward . The Irish Charts – All there is to know . Irishcharts.ie . 12 July 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement . 2 June 2009 .
- Web site: Disco Singles 1974–1980 . top40weekly.com . 11 December 2022 . 13 May 2017.
- Book: Fajfrić. Željko. Nenad. Milan. Istorija YU rock muzike od početaka do 1970.. 2009. Tabernakl. Sremska Mitrovica. 327.
- Web site: I'm a man/Ye ke ye ke | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company. Official Charts.
- Web site: CLUB HOUSE | full Official Chart History . Official Charts.
- Web site: Fudge Sandwich. AllMusic.
- Web site: VW Polo Dog . Glossy . 1 October 2016.
- Web site: RSCPA Complain About 'Abused' Dog in Volkswagen TV Advert – Let's Get Our Priorities Right Shall We? . O'Meara . Ryan . 29 March 2008 . K9 Magazine . 31 October 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080920122401/http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/448/rscpa-complain-about-abused-dog-in-volkswagen-tv-advert-lets-get-our-priorities-right-shall-we/ . 20 September 2008.
- News: Kiss goodbye to your sales, Stonewall tells 'homophobic' Heinz after advert is pulled. Judd. Terri. 25 June 2008. . 2 November 2008.
