Love of the Common People

"Love of the Common People"
Single by The Four Preps
B-side	"What I Don't Know Can't Hurt Me"
Released	January 21, 1967
Recorded	1966
Genre	Pop
Length	2:35
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins
Producer(s)	Al De Lory
The Four Preps singles chronology
"Let's Call It a Day Girl" (1966) "Love of the Common People" (1967) "Draft Dodger Rag" (1967)

"Love of the Common People" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People, but first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps. The Four Preps' recording was not a hit, but, later in 1967, the Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4. In 1968, Irish artist Joe Dolan and backing grouping the Drifters recorded a version which hit the top 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, but did not chart elsewhere.

Soul group the Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the US Hot 100. A year later, Nicky Thomas had a UK hit (No. 9) with a reggae-inspired version, and Paul Young had a No. 2 UK hit (and No. 1 in several European countries) in 1983 with his interpretation of the song.

Lyrics

The lyrics tell a bleak story of poverty and unemployment. There is a mention of "free food tickets," a reference to government food stamp and welfare programs, in the first line, and the lyrics also describe the subject family as having holes in their clothes, their roof and their shoes. The last verse advises the subject family to keep their faith strong and to maintain hope for improvement.

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 on the UK Singles Chart. It was Thomas's largest selling single, and, according to Steve Leggett of AllMusic, "practically defines the term 'pop reggae.'"

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	7 January 1983 7 November 1983 (re-release)
Genre	Blue-eyed soul
Length	3:33 (7") 5:50 (12") 4:56 (Original Album)
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	John Hurley Ronnie Wilkins
Producer(s)	Laurie Latham
Paul Young singles chronology
"Iron Out the Rough Spots" (1982) "Love of the Common People" (1983) "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (1983)
"Come Back and Stay" (1983) ""Love of the Common People" (re-release)" (1983) "Everytime You Go Away" (1985)

In 1982, English singer Paul Young released his interpretation of "Love of the Common People" as a single, but initially it failed to chart. Only after Young's first and second solo hits in 1983, with "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and "Come Back and Stay", and the single's re-release did it become successful. The single peaked at No. 2 in the UK, and reached the No. 1 spot in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. This version also contained a solo by ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other versions

• Soul group the Winstons recorded their version in 1969, where it peaked at No. 54 on the Hot 100.
• It was also a top 10 hit in Ireland for showband star Joe Dolan in 1968.
• Waylon Jennings recorded a version on the eponymous album in 1967.
• Leonard Nimoy recorded a version on his second album Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy in 1968.
• John Denver recorded a version on his album Rhymes & Reasons.
• Stiff Little Fingers recorded a version which appears on their album Now Then..., released in 1982.
• Elton John recorded a version which appears on his covers album Chartbusters Go Pop, released in 1994.

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)