Samson and Delilah (Middle of the Road song) explained

Samson and Delilah
Cover:	Middle of the Road Samson and Delilah.jpg
Caption:	Cover of the single released in the Netherlands
Type:	single
Artist:	Middle of the Road
Album:	Acceleration
B-Side:	Try a Little Understanding
Released:	January 1972
Recorded:	October 1971
Studio:	RCA Studios, Rome
Genre:	Bubblegum pop
Length:	3:04
Label:	RCA Victor
Producer:	Giacomo Tosti
Prev Title:	Sacramento (A Wonderful Town)
Prev Year:	1971
Next Title:	Bottoms Up
Next Year:	1972

"Samson and Delilah" is a song by Scottish band Middle of the Road, released as a single in January 1972. It peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's final charting single there.

Release

"Samson and Delilah" was first released in January 1972 in France with the B-side "Sacramento (A Wonderful Town)". Elsewhere, "Sacramento" had been released as the A-side with a different B-side. "Samson and Delilah" was then released in the Netherlands and Germany in March 1972 with the B-side "The Talk of All the U.S.A.". It was released in the UK on 30 June 1972 with the B-side "Try a Little Understanding".^[1]

Track listings

7" (UK)

1. "Samson and Delilah" – 3:04
2. "Try a Little Understanding" – 3:22

7" (France)

1. "Samson and Delilah" – 2:48
2. "Sacramento (A Wonderful Town)" – 2:48

7" (Europe)

1. "Samson and Delilah" – 2:48
2. "The Talk of All the U.S.A." – 3:13

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Argentina (Escalera a la Fama)^[2]	2
Denmark (IFPI)^[3]	5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[4]	15
France (IFOP)^[5]	2
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[6]	24
Malaysia (Rediffusion)^[7]	5
Mexico (Radio Mil)^[8]	5
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)^[9]	7
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[10]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)	Position
Argentina (CAPIF) ^[11]	20
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[12]	17
France (IFOP)^[13]	32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	19
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[16]	9

Cover versions

• In February 1972, French singer Sheila released a French-language version, titled "Samson et Dalilah", which became a top-ten hit in France and peaked at number 12 in Wallonia.^{[17] [18]}
• In March 1972, Dutch duo Big Secret released a version of the song as their debut single, which peaked at number 17 on the Dutch Single Top 100 and number 13 on the Dutch Top 40.^{[19] [20]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Middle of the Road (page 2). 2021-11-24. rockfiles.co.uk.
2. Hits of the World. Billboard. 50. 3 June 1972. 25 November 2021.
3. 4 May 1972. Hitlisten. Ekstra Bladet. 29.
4. Web site: Timo. 13 August 2015. Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit MEN - MIK. 2021-11-24. Sisältää hitin.
5. Web site: InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque artiste commençant par M. Infodisc.fr . 2021-11-24.
6. Spinetoli, John Joseph. Artisti In Classifica: I Singoli: 1960-1999. Milano: Musica e dischi, 2000
7. Hits of the World. Billboard. 56. 20 May 1972. 24 November 2021.
8. Hits of the World. Billboard. 46. 19 August 1972. 25 November 2021.
9. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
10. Web site: SA Charts 1969–March 1989. 17 November 2021.
11. ARGENTINA - Top 50 Singles of 1972. Cashbox. 1972-12-30. 21 February 2024.
12. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1972. Ultratop. 25 November 2021.
13. Web site: TOP - 1972. 2021-11-30. top-france.fr.
14. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1972. Dutch Top 40. 25 November 2021.
15. Web site: Jaaroverzichten - Single 1972. www.dutchcharts.nl. 25 November 2021.
16. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de . . offiziellecharts.de . 25 November 2021.
17. Web site: TOP Hebdo. 2021-11-25. www.top-france.fr.
18. Web site: Sheila - Samson et Dalila - ultratop.be. 2021-11-25. www.ultratop.be.
19. Web site: Big Secret - Samson And Delilah. 2021-11-25. dutchcharts.nl.
20. Web site: Big Secret - Samson And Delilah. 2021-11-25. Top40.nl. nl.