Lovely Day: Difference between revisions
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*1998: American gospel singer [[Kirk Franklin]], cover version from his album ''[[The Nu Nation Project]]'' (titled "Gonna Be a Lovely Day") |
*1998: American gospel singer [[Kirk Franklin]], cover version from his album ''[[The Nu Nation Project]]'' (titled "Gonna Be a Lovely Day") |
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*1998: American rap duo [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince]], sampled original song on their track "Lovely Daze" from their [[Greatest Hits (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince album)|greatest hits album]] |
*1998: American rap duo [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince]], sampled original song on their track "Lovely Daze" from their [[Greatest Hits (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince album)|greatest hits album]] |
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*1999: British Jazz-funk band [[Shakatak]], cover version from their album ''Magic''. |
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*1999: American rappers [[Too Short]], [[Ant Banks]] and [[Rappin' 4-Tay]], sampled original song on their track "Playa's Holiday" from Banks' album ''Derty Werk'' |
*1999: American rappers [[Too Short]], [[Ant Banks]] and [[Rappin' 4-Tay]], sampled original song on their track "Playa's Holiday" from Banks' album ''Derty Werk'' |
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*2000: Finnish rapper [[Seremoniamestari]] covered original song on his track "Ihana päivä" from the album Omin sanoin |
*2000: Finnish rapper [[Seremoniamestari]] covered original song on his track "Ihana päivä" from the album Omin sanoin |
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Revision as of 06:50, 16 April 2011
| "Lovely Day" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "It Ain't Because of Me Baby" |
"Lovely Day" is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers. Published in 1977 (see 1977 in music), the song was written by Withers and Skip Scarborough and appears on Withers' 1978 album Menagerie.
Released as a single in late 1977, "Lovely Day" peaked at #6 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US in early 1978.[1] It also made the Top 10 in the United Kingdom, where the song reached #7 on the British single chart.[2] Withers' version of "Lovely Day" has been re-released as a single in the United Kingdom at least twice since the song's first chart run; in 1987 the song charted again at #92, while a version credited as the "Sunshine Mix" made the British Top 10 in 1988, rising to #4.[3] This remix was done by a Dutch DJ named Ben Liebrand. In 1997, song was used on the Tetley Tea Advert. It was also remixed by Canada's MC Mario from the original Sun Factory album back in 2000.
Producer Clarence McDonald also arranged the original 1977 version of the song and played keyboards. Guitars were played by Ray Parker, Jr., Jerry Knight played bass, and Russell Kunkel played drums.[4]
Towards the end of the song, Withers holds a note for 18 seconds. This is believed to be the second-longest note in UK chart history, behind Morten Harket of a-ha's 20-second note in "Summer Moved On".[5]
Covers and samples
"Lovely Day" has been covered and sampled numerous times since Withers' original recording. These alternate versions of the song span many different musical genres, including R&B, pop, jazz, gospel, dance, and rap.
One of the more notable versions of this song was performed by The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. featuring Michelle Visage and was included on the Whitney Houston's soundtrack to the 1992 film The Bodyguard. This mostly rap version was titled "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day", and it reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[1] and #44 on the Billboard R&B chart, in addition to spending three weeks atop the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 1992 and January 1993.[6]. This version also reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart.[7]
Other uses of the song include:
- 1978: American jazz guitarist Wilbert Longmire, cover version from his album Sunny Side Up
- 1979: British jazz fusion group Morrissey-Mullen, cover version from their album Cape Wrath
- 1983: British pop group Central Line, cover version from their album Breaking Point (this version reached #81 on the UK Singles Chart[8])
- 1985: Italian singer, Mike Francis, cover version from his 1985 album Features.
- 1992: British entertainer, Des O Connor, cover version from his Portrait album.
- 1994: American gospel group Out of Eden, cover version from their album Lovin' the Day
- 1998: American gospel singer Kirk Franklin, cover version from his album The Nu Nation Project (titled "Gonna Be a Lovely Day")
- 1998: American rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, sampled original song on their track "Lovely Daze" from their greatest hits album
- 1999: British Jazz-funk band Shakatak, cover version from their album Magic.
- 1999: American rappers Too Short, Ant Banks and Rappin' 4-Tay, sampled original song on their track "Playa's Holiday" from Banks' album Derty Werk
- 2000: Finnish rapper Seremoniamestari covered original song on his track "Ihana päivä" from the album Omin sanoin
- 2002: British DJ's Brancaccio & Aisher, sampled original song on their track "It's Gonna Be...(A Lovely Day)" (this version reached #40 on the UK Singles Chart[9] as well as hitting #1 on both the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart[10] and the UK Official Dance Chart)
- 2002: American contemporary gospel group Take 6, cover version from their album Beautiful World
- 2003: American R&B singer Luther Vandross featuring rapper Busta Rhymes, cover version from Vandross' Grammy Award-winning album Dance with My Father
- 2004: American rappers Twista and Anthony Hamilton, sampled original song on their track "Sunshine" from Twista's album Kamikaze
- 2006: American pop band Maroon 5, cover version from the soundtrack to the Luke Wilson film Hoot (this version features backing vocals by Bill Withers)
- 2006: American jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, with American pop singer Taylor Dayne and Brazilian singer/songwriter Joyce instrumental cover version from his album Smoke & Mirrors
- 2006: New Age/Contemporary jazz French keyboardist Philippe Saisse covered the song with his "Philippe Saisse Acoustique Trio" from the album "Body and Soul Sessions."[11][12]
- 2007: American R&B singer Diana Ross, cover version from her album I Love You
- 2007: American rapper Swizz Beatz, sampled original song on his track "Take a Picture" from the album One Man Band Man
- 2007: American rapper Z-Ro, sampled original song on his track "A Lovely Day," which features Lil' Flip & Big Shasta. The song was on Z-Ro's album King Of Tha Ghetto: Power
- 2008:Drummer Russ Kunkel and his group Chateau Beach covered the song from the 2008 album "Rivage."[13]
- 2008:Urban jazz bassist Michael Manson presented his version from the album "Up Front."[14][15]
- 2009: American saxophonist Elan Trotman covered the song from his album "This Time Around."[16][17]
- 2010: American rapper LL Cool J, sampled original song on his track "LLovely Day."
- 2010: This song featured in the film 127 Hours during the scene where James Franco (Aron Ralston) on the second day of his horrific ordeal, makes a pulley to release the rock trapping his arm. This song also features in the soundtrack of the movie.[18]
- 2011: R&B Singer Jill Scott covered this song in one of her last recordings with Hidden Beach Recordings. [19]
See also
References
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- ^ 1978 UK chart info at chartstats.com
- ^ 1988 UK chart info at chartstats.com
- ^ Musicians credited at discogs.com
- ^ Longest note in UK Chart history at everyhit.com
- ^ 1992 Hot Dance Club Play chart info at billboard.com
- ^ 1992 cover version UK chart info at chartstats.com
- ^ 1983 cover version UK chart info at chartstats.com
- ^ 2002 cover version UK chart info at chartstats.com
- ^ 2002 Hot Dance Club Play chart info at billboard.com
- ^ "Body and Soul Sessions overview". Allmusic.com.
- ^ "The Body and Soul Sessions - Philippe Saisse". JazzTimes.com.
- ^ "Rivage overview". Allmusic.com.
- ^ "Up Front overview". Allmusic.
- ^ "March 2008". SmoothViews.com.
- ^ "Elan Trotman - This Time Around". Smooth-jazz.de.
- ^ "Elan Trotman". thesmoothjazzride.com.
- ^ Grimm, Becca (2010-10-29). "Sigur Rós, Bill Withers, Many More Featured on 127 Hours Soundtrack". Paste Magazine.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Gail Mitchell (2011-4-5). "Hidden Beach Slates New Jill Scott Album For Spring". "Billboard Magazine".
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