Traces (song) explained

Traces
Cover:	Clasics IV traces.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Classics IV
Album:	Traces
B-Side:	Mary, Mary Row Your Boat
Released:	January 1969
Recorded:	1968
Genre:	Soft rock^[1] blue-eyed soul pop
Length:	2:45
Label:	Imperial
Producer:	Buddy Buie
Prev Title:	Stormy
Prev Year:	1968
Next Title:	Everyday With You Girl
Next Year:	1969

"Traces" is a 1968 song by the American rock band Classics IV. Released as a single in January 1969, the cut served as the title track off the album of the same name. Written by Buddy Buie, J. R. Cobb, and Emory Gordy Jr., the song peaked at No. 2 on 29 March 1969 on the Hot 100,^[2] as well as No. 2 on the Easy Listening music charts, making it the highest-charting single by the Classics IV.^[3] The song is noted for its use of an oboe, heard in the introduction, as well as a string section.

"Traces" received the honor of being listed in BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century at No. 32.^[4]

Chart history

Chart (1969)	Peak position
Canada RPM 100^[5]	2
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[6]	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[7]	2
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening^[8]	2

Cover versions

• Jane Morgan, on her 1969 LP of the same name, as well as releasing it as a single that same year.
• "Traces" is the opening track on Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra's album Traces of Love (1969).
• The Lettermen recorded it as a part of a medley, which also featured the song "Memories" (1969).
• Mel Torme (1969), on the album Rains Drops Keep Falling on my Head.
• Andre Kostelanetz recorded an instrumental version on a 1969 album of the same name.
• Soul singer Billy Paul, on his 1970 album Ebony Woman.
• Liberace (instrumental) on his 1970 album A Brand New Me.
• Harry James on his 1976 album The King James Version (Sheffield Lab LAB 3).
• Gloria Estefan covered the song in 1994.
• Guilherme Arantes recorded "Traces" in 1995.

Notes and References

1. [Colin Larkin (writer)|Larkin, Colin]
2. The Hot 100 Chart. .
3. Classics IV: Chart History. Billboard. August 12, 2014.
4. Web site: BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century . bmi.com . 13 December 1999 . 2014-08-12.
5. ""RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 5, March 31, 1969. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
6. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=7979& "Young Adult"
7. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006 . Joel Whitburn . 2007 . Record Research.
8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001 . Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research.