Rock of Ages: Two songs from number one on this week in history - The Beatles & Adamski





1963 The Beatles – From Me To You

1990 Adamski, featuring Seal – Killer

THIS was the second number one single for the Fab Four – depending on which chart you refer to,
On February 22, 1963, Please Please Me was number one on the singles’ charts compiled by the New Musical Express (the most recognised chart at the time) and the Melody Maker. The confusion arises because it only reached number two on the Record Retailer chart, which later became the UK Singles Chart.
Anyway, From Me To You enjoyed seven weeks at number one, having knocked How Do You Do It? by city rivals Gerry & The Pacemakers off the top spot.
And the song which eventually knocked the mop tops off the top? I Like It by Gerry & The Pacemakers!
Interestingly, From Me To You – the title of which was said to have been inspired by the New Musical Express’s letters’ page From You to Us – was one of the last songs to be credited to McCartney–Lennon as, soon afterwards, the now legendary Lennon–McCartney became the accepted order.
Paul McCartney was later quoted as saying: “The thing I liked about From Me To You was that it had a very complete middle. It went to a surprising place. The opening chord of the middle section of that song heralded a new batch for me. That was a pivotal song. Our songwriting lifted a little with that song.”
I’LL always have a soft spot for this – it was the first tune to get people on the dancefloor at my wedding reception (no, me and the missus couldn’t be bothered with a “first dance” song ).
Ah, what a great night – May 26, 1990 – that was in the executive lounge at Everton Football Club (though the biggest hit of the night on the dancefloor was Step On by the Happy Mondays, which we made the DJ play several times).
The catchy Killer’s chorus included the lines “Solitary brother, is there still a part of you that wants to live?/Solitary sister, is there still a part of you that wants to give?”
I know, it’s not your typical wedding reception song, is it?
It was written by Adam Tinley, aka Adamski, and Seal – and announced the latter’s arrival on the world stage.
Taken from the album Dr Adamski’s Musical Pharmacy, it knocked Madonna’s Vogue off the top, before being replaced itself by the Englandneworder World Cup ditty World In Motion.
Seal released his own version the following year, reaching number eight.

Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk