Recorded - 1966
Released - June 7, 1967 (US), June 23, 1967 (UK)
#1 for weeks of October 21, 28 & November 4, 11 and 18, 1967.
There is one major aspect of the American Billboard charts that I haven't touched upon yet, and that is the end of year charts. Originating in 1959, these were a list of 100 singles from each year ranked in order by sales and chart play. These lists function exactly like the list of #1 singles in a sense that there's a mix of classic songs, buried gems, and terrible songs. However, one major issue I have with the year end list is that they are only a representation of what was popular that year, and thus, don't account for longevity or future relevance.
Now, the reason for such a big intro is that the next song I'm reviewing, "To Sir With Love", by Lulu, was ranked at #1 on the year end chart. Really? Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad song, it's a good one actually. It's just that when you ask someone to name a list of songs that best represent a very colorful year of artsier music, "To Sir With Love" doesn't exactly fit the bill. On the other hand, the film that the song originated from does show a more progressive outlook on the world, and unlike, "The Happening", the song "To Sir With Love" doesn't come across as dated.
Lulu is a singer of Scottish decent, and her music style was pop with a capitol P. Countless websites refer to her as "The perky Scottish lass", and judging by what I've seen from videos, she does come across as having a very friendly personality. Although the bulk of her material is pop, some of her earliest work from 1964 actually is more rock-based. One of those early songs, "I'll Come Running", actually really rocks, and she was only sixteen when she sang it too.
In 1966, Lulu was selected to sing the title song of an upcoming film called To Sir With Love. Written by Don Black and Mark London, and with previous chart toppers The Mindbenders on rock instrumentation, the song ended up being used in the film's climax with both Lulu and The Mindbenders making an appearance. The use of a lush string arrangement certainly make this sound like a film number, but again, there aren't any phoned in "Hip" lyrics or instrumentation unique to this time period.
Lulu's vocals for "To Sir With Love" are also among her best. With liberal use of vocal melisma and a louder dynamic range during the chorus, it still amazes me that she was only eighteen when she sang this, an age that in today's pop age seems to be reserved for rebellious former Disney stars with little vocal talent.
Unfortunately, I'm not as knowledgeable with the rest of Lulu's catalog, although I will say that her 1969 British #1 "Boom Bang-a-Bang", recorded for the Eurovision Song Contest, is rather cheesy. She ended up marrying Bee Gee Maurice Gibb around this same time and she ended up appearing in a pretty lousy film of theirs called Cucumber Castle. Today, Lulu still performs, although her work remains tied to the "Oldies" label.
Final Verdict - I don't consider "To Sir With Love" to be the top single of 1967, especially not when we have songs like "Light My Fire" or "Sunshine Of Your Love". However, the song has a nice music and vocal melody and doesn't come off at all as dated. I'd say it does deserve a listen, although you should probably watch the film the song originates from to fully appreciate it.
Coming Up Next - "Incense And Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Until Next Time, To you readers from Dr. Rock, I bid you goodnight -
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