| Love of the Common People | |
| Cover: | File:Love of the Common People Four Preps.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Four Preps |
| B-Side: | What I Don't Know Can't Hurt Me |
| Released: | January 21, 1967[1] |
| Recorded: | 1966 |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 2:35 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | Al De Lory |
| Prev Title: | Let's Call It a Day Girl |
| Prev Year: | 1966 |
| Next Title: | Draft Dodger Rag |
| Next Year: | 1967 |
"Love of the Common People" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins,[2] eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People,[3] but first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps.[4] The Four Preps' recording was not a hit, but, later in 1967, the Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4. In 1968, Irish artist Joe Dolan with backing group the Drifters recorded a version which hit the top 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, but did not chart elsewhere.
Soul group the Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the US Hot 100.[5] A year later, Nicky Thomas had a UK hit (No. 9) with a reggae-inspired version, and Paul Young had a No. 2 UK hit (and No. 1 in several European countries) in 1983 with his interpretation of the song.
The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and unemployment. There is a mention of "free food tickets," a reference to government food stamp and welfare programs, in the first line, and the lyrics also describe the subject family as having holes in their clothes, their roof and their shoes. The last verse advises the subject family to keep their faith strong and to maintain hope for improvement.
Nicky Thomas recorded a Joe Gibbs-produced reggae version of the song in 1970, which sold over 175,000 copies in the United Kingdom and reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] [7] It was Thomas's largest selling single, and, according to Steve Leggett of AllMusic, "practically defines the term 'pop reggae.'"[8]
| Love of the Common People | |
| Cover: | Paul Young Love of the Common People single cover.jpg |
| Caption: | Artwork for European releases, including the 1983 UK re-release |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Paul Young |
| Album: | No Parlez |
| Released: | 7 January 1983 7 November 1983 (re-release) |
| Genre: | Blue-eyed soul |
| Length: | 3:33 (7") 5:50 (12") 4:56 (Original Album) |
| Label: | CBS |
| Producer: | Laurie Latham |
| Prev Title: | Iron Out the Rough Spots |
| Prev Year: | 1982 |
| Next Title: | Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
In 1982, English singer Paul Young released his interpretation of "Love of the Common People" as a single, but initially it failed to chart. Only after Young's first and second solo hits in 1983, with "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and "Come Back and Stay", and the single's re-release did it become successful. The single peaked at No. 2 in the UK, and reached the No. 1 spot in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. This version also contained a solo by ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez.
| Chart (1983/1984) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 8 | |
| France (IFOP)[10] | 24 | |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11] | 8 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 45 | |
| US Cash Box[13] | 50 |
| Chart (1984) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] | 54 | |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] | 13 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] | 8 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] | 20 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] | 10 | |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[19] | 34 | |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] | 25 |
. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 922.
. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 922.
