The Wonder of You
Encyclopedia
"The Wonder of You" is a song
written
by Baker Knight
. In 1959
, Ray Peterson
released it as a single
. The song became a Top 40 hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at #25. That same year it was recorded by Ronnie Hilton
in the United Kingdom
, his version reaching #22 on the UK Singles Chart
. The Ray Peterson record briefly re-entered the Hot 100 in 1964. In the early 1960s, the Platters also recorded this song, which appeared on a 1970s compilation "The Platters--30 Golden Hits". In 1969, The Sandpipers
recorded an album of the same name
including the song. An album of instrumentals of the same name
by Nelson Riddle
was also released in 2000.
released it as a single on April 20, 1970. Its b-side
song was "Mama Liked the Roses". In the U.S.
, both songs charted at #9 together in the spring of 1970, though "The Wonder of You" was one of his most successful records in the UK
ever, topping the UK Singles Chart
for six weeks in the summer of that year. This was the 59th Top 40 hit of his career. "The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs he would play live in concert
, never recording it in a studio
. Presley's version also reached number 37 on the US Country Singles chart, and number one on the easy listening chart.
It was the first of three singles during his lifetime that were recorded live in concert in Las Vegas, Nevada
in February 1970.
Football
team Port Vale
who run out to the song at the start of their home matches, the supporters also periodically chant altered lyrics to the song. The song is also sung by the club's fans
throughout their matches. Arsenal
also adopted the song as their club anthem and played it at the beginning of every home match.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Baker Knight
Baker Knight
Baker Knight was an American songwriter and musician from Birmingham, Alabama.He was born Thomas Baker Knight Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama to Thomas Baker Knight Sr. and his wife Mary Knight. His father died in 1939 at the age of 32, and because of his mother's poor health Knight was raised mainly...
. In 1959
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
, Ray Peterson
Ray Peterson
Ray Peterson was an American pop music singer who was best remembered for singing "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Corrine, Corrina" in the 1960s.-Career:...
released it as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The song became a Top 40 hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at #25. That same year it was recorded by Ronnie Hilton
Ronnie Hilton
Ronnie Hilton was an English singer and radio presenter. According to his obituary in The Guardian newspaper, "Hilton was one of those 1950s vocalists whose career coincided with rock and roll's 1956 onslaught on the ballad dominated hit parade...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, his version reaching #22 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The Ray Peterson record briefly re-entered the Hot 100 in 1964. In the early 1960s, the Platters also recorded this song, which appeared on a 1970s compilation "The Platters--30 Golden Hits". In 1969, The Sandpipers
The Sandpipers
The Sandpipers were an American easy listening trio/quartet, who carved a niche in 1960s folk rock. They are best remembered for their cover version of "Guantanamera", which became a transatlantic Top 10 hit in 1966, and their Top 20 hit "Come Saturday Morning" from the soundtrack of the film The...
recorded an album of the same name
The Wonder of You (The Sandpipers album)
The Wonder of You was an LP album featuring The Sandpipers, released by A&M Records in May 1969. The catalog numbers were SP 4180 in the United States and AMLS 935 in the United Kingdom...
including the song. An album of instrumentals of the same name
The Wonder of You (Nelson Riddle album)
The Wonder of You was an album of instrumentals performed by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra, released on June 21, 2000 by Direct Source.-Track listing:#The Wonder of You 3:16#In the Arms of Love 2:19...
by Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
was also released in 2000.
Elvis Presley version
Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
released it as a single on April 20, 1970. Its b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
song was "Mama Liked the Roses". In the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, both songs charted at #9 together in the spring of 1970, though "The Wonder of You" was one of his most successful records in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ever, topping the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for six weeks in the summer of that year. This was the 59th Top 40 hit of his career. "The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs he would play live in concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, never recording it in a studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
. Presley's version also reached number 37 on the US Country Singles chart, and number one on the easy listening chart.
It was the first of three singles during his lifetime that were recorded live in concert in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in February 1970.
Popularity in Football
The song has been adopted by EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
who run out to the song at the start of their home matches, the supporters also periodically chant altered lyrics to the song. The song is also sung by the club's fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
throughout their matches. Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
also adopted the song as their club anthem and played it at the beginning of every home match.
Other recordings
Uruguayan punkabilly band Rudos Wild recorded the song for their album "Psychos With Wax!" in 2007.See also
- List of number-one singles of 1970 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles from the 1970s (UK)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1970 (U.S.)