| Western Union | |
| Cover: | Western_Union_-_The_Five_Americans.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the Five Americans |
| Album: | Western Union/Sound of Love |
| B-Side: | Now That It's Over |
| Released: | January 1967 |
| Genre: | Pop rock |
| Length: | 2:20 |
| Label: | Abnak |
| Producer: | Dale Hawkins |
| Chronology: | The Five Americans |
| Prev Title: | If I Could |
| Prev Year: | 1966 |
| Next Title: | Sound of Love |
| Next Year: | 1967 |
"Western Union" is a 1967 song by the American rock band the Five Americans. The single peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1967. It also reached number 7 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart that same month.
In a March 1967 interview that appeared in Michael Oberman's "Top Tunes" column in the Evening Star newspaper (Washington, D.C.), Norman Ezell, guitarist for the group, explained how they came up with "Western Union." "Mike Rabon, our lead guitar player, was just fooling around with his guitar when he came up with a unique sound," Norman said. "It sort of reminded us of a telegraph key. That's when we decided to write 'Western Union.[1]
The song tells of a Dear John letter being communicated by telegram, a service of Western Union.
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Go-Set[2] | 19 |
| France (SNEP)[3] | 37 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[4] | 4 |
| Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[5] | 10 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[6] | 10 |
| UK (Record Retailer)[7] | 55 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[8] | 7 |
| US Record World 100 Top Pops[9] | 6 |
| Chart (1967) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (RPM)[10] | 81 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 58 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100[12] | 82 |
In 1967, the Strangers' recording reached number 30 in Australia.