Love of the Common People

One of first versions released in 1967, sung by The Four Preps

"Love of the Common People" is a folk ballad written and composed by John Hurley and his writing partner, Ronnie Wilkins,^[1] eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People,^[2] but first sung in January 1967 by The Four Preps.^[3] It had been covered ^[3] by The Everly Brothers, country singers Waylon Jennings and Lynn Anderson, Pennsylvania Sixpence and also Wayne Newton, all in 1967, The Simple Image, Leonard Nimoy, reggae legend Eric Donaldson and the Gosdin Brothers in 1968, Elton John and also soul group The Winstons, both in 1969, John Denver on his 1969 album Rhymes & Reasons, and Sandy Posey in 1970, the same year that reggae singer Nicky Thomas had a big hit in Europe with the song. It was also a hit in Ireland for showband star Joe Dolan. Wanda Jackson covered the song in 1971, as did Stiff Little Fingers and English pop singer Paul Young, both in 1982. In 2007 Bruce Springsteen covered it as part of his Seeger Sessions tour, releasing a live version of it as a bonus track on his Live in Dublin album.

Lyrics

The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and joblessness. There is a mention of "free food tickets," a reference to government food stamp and welfare programs, and the lyrics also describe the subject family as having holes in their clothes.

Nicky Thomas version

Nicky Thomas recorded a Joe Gibbs-produced reggae version of the song in 1970, which sold over 175,000 copies in the United Kingdom and reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4][5] It was Thomas's largest selling single, and, according to Steve Leggett of Allmusic, "practically defines the term 'pop reggae.'^[6]

Paul Young version

"Love of the Common People"
Artwork for European releases, including the 1983 UK re-release
Single by Paul Young
from the album No Parlez
B-side	"Behind Your Smile" "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" "It's Better to Have (And Don't Need)"
Released	1982 7 November 1983 (Re-release)
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Genre	Soft rock, Synthpop
Length	3:33 (7") 5:50 (12") 4:56 (Original Album)
Label	CBS
Writer(s)	John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins
Producer(s)	Laurie Latham
Paul Young singles chronology
"Iron Out the Rough Spots" (1982) "Love of the Common People" (1982) "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (1983)
Paul Young singles chronology "Come Back and Stay" (1983) "Love of the Common People" (re-release) (1983) "Everytime You Go Away" (1985)

In 1982 Paul Young released his interpretation of "Love of the Common People" as a single, but it, initially, failed to chart. It was only when Young had his first hit in 1983 with "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and the single was re-released that it became a big hit. The single peaked at #2 in the UK, and reached the number one spot in Ireland and the Netherlands. This version also contained a solo by influential ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez.

On Stiff Little Fingers's re-mastered Now Then... album, there is an interview with Jake Burns where he re-calls Paul Young met Stiff Little Fingers at one of their concerts in Dunstable in support of the album in which Young asked Burns whether Stiff Little Fingers were planning to release the song as a single. When Burns told them that they were not, Young asked if they minded him releasing it as a single. They said he could, not thinking the single would do well. Burns then says jokingly in the interview, "Pfft! Go ahead. You'll never get anywhere with that, mate. Yeah, number 2, that'll teach me!"

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

See also

• BRT Top 30 number-one hits of 1984
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1984
• List of number-one singles of 1983 (Ireland)
• List of number-one hits of 1984 (Italy)

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics