Yesterday's Gone
Encyclopedia
"Yesterday's Gone" is the title of a hit single by Chad & Jeremy which was released in 1963.
The song was written in 1962 by Chad Stuart who comprised Chad & Jeremy with Jeremy Clyde
. Stuart
shares the song's writing credit with Wendy Kidd, the manager of a band Stuart belonged to at the time of
the song's writing; according to Stuart, Kidd was given the songwriting credit in return for allowing him
to compose "Yesterday's Gone" on her piano. Kidd also facilitated Stuart's being hired as a staff writer
at Rogers Music who published "Yesterday's Gone" although the song remained unrecorded until Stuart and Clyde
began performing as a duo eventually recording "Yesterday's Gone" in July 1963 in a session at Abbey Road Studios
produced and arranged by John Barry
who'd discovered Chad & Jeremy at a London club and signed them to Ember Records
, a newly formed independent label in which Barry was a partner.
Released 27 September 1963, "Yesterday's Gone" entered the UK Top 50 on the chart dated 30 November 1963 and
remained on the chart for seven weeks with a #37 peak; the followup single "Like I Love You Today" was released in January 1964 with no evident reaction. Chad Stuart would recall: "There was just no way a little independent label could compete in those days...John Barry bought himself out of his contract and we were stuck. I think we would've broken up then and there except for the fact that Noel Rogers, who published 'Yesterday's Gone' fenced it off to this other company in America called World Artists" referring to the Pittsburgh-based World Artists Records who gave the track its US release in March 1964. ("Yesterday's Gone" had already had one international release: by Australia's Festival Records in February 1964, which was not a success.)
In the United States, "Yesterday's Gone" would become a beneficiary of the "British Invasion
" craze, entering the Billboard Hot 100
in May 1964 to share the Top 40 that summer with such fellow "Brit hits" as "A World Without Love" and "Nobody I Know" by Peter and Gordon, "Bad to Me" and "Little Children" by B. J. Kramer & the Dakotas
, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers and "Can't You See That She's Mine" by
the Dave Clark 5. "Yesterday's Gone" did not join these last-named records in the Top Ten instead peaking at #21 but it has proven the equal of these higher ranking hits as a touchstone of the "British Invasion" sound. Chad & Jeremy would subsequently place three singles in the US Top 20 but only their one Top Ten hit: "A Summer Song
", rivals "Yesterday's Gone" as the duo's signature song.
The American success of "Yesterday's Gone" occasioned a re-release of the track in Australia
where it charted over the summer of 1964 with a #26 peak, and also a major label cover in the UK, where in March 1964
Pye Records
released a version of "Yesterday's Gone" recorded by the Overlanders
with Tony Hatch
producing; the Overlanders' version did not chart in the UK but as picked up by Hickory Records
for US release in May
1964 became a regional hit reaching #75 that July, marking the only Billboard Hot 100 appearance of the Overlanders which
preceded that group's sole charting in their native UK (with the #1" Michelle
") by almost two years.
"Yesterday's Gone" has also been recorded by the Boxmasters
, the Browns
, Brenda Lee
and the Osborne Brothers. A mid-1960s recording by the Bee Gees is featured on their 1998 Brilliant From Birth compilation CD. Translated as "Pas Aujourd'hui", "Yesterday's Gone" charted in France at #94 in France for Les Missiles in the autumn of 1964.
The song was written in 1962 by Chad Stuart who comprised Chad & Jeremy with Jeremy Clyde
Jeremy Clyde
Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde is an English actor and musician. The son of Lady Elizabeth Wellesley, he made his first public appearance as a pageboy at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1953...
. Stuart
shares the song's writing credit with Wendy Kidd, the manager of a band Stuart belonged to at the time of
the song's writing; according to Stuart, Kidd was given the songwriting credit in return for allowing him
to compose "Yesterday's Gone" on her piano. Kidd also facilitated Stuart's being hired as a staff writer
at Rogers Music who published "Yesterday's Gone" although the song remained unrecorded until Stuart and Clyde
began performing as a duo eventually recording "Yesterday's Gone" in July 1963 in a session at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
produced and arranged by John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
who'd discovered Chad & Jeremy at a London club and signed them to Ember Records
Ember Records
Ember Records was the name of two record labels of the 1950s and 1960s, one American and one British.-1950s to 60s:In the late 1950s, the eccentric avid jazz fan Jeffrey Kruger, owner of the famous Flamingo Jazz Club, was looking for a new challenge...
, a newly formed independent label in which Barry was a partner.
Released 27 September 1963, "Yesterday's Gone" entered the UK Top 50 on the chart dated 30 November 1963 and
remained on the chart for seven weeks with a #37 peak; the followup single "Like I Love You Today" was released in January 1964 with no evident reaction. Chad Stuart would recall: "There was just no way a little independent label could compete in those days...John Barry bought himself out of his contract and we were stuck. I think we would've broken up then and there except for the fact that Noel Rogers, who published 'Yesterday's Gone' fenced it off to this other company in America called World Artists" referring to the Pittsburgh-based World Artists Records who gave the track its US release in March 1964. ("Yesterday's Gone" had already had one international release: by Australia's Festival Records in February 1964, which was not a success.)
In the United States, "Yesterday's Gone" would become a beneficiary of the "British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
" craze, entering 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...
in May 1964 to share the Top 40 that summer with such fellow "Brit hits" as "A World Without Love" and "Nobody I Know" by Peter and Gordon, "Bad to Me" and "Little Children" by B. J. Kramer & the Dakotas
Billy J. Kramer
Billy J. Kramer is a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer. In the 1960s he was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, and he recorded several original Lennon and McCartney compositions.-Early life and career:He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of...
, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers and "Can't You See That She's Mine" by
the Dave Clark 5. "Yesterday's Gone" did not join these last-named records in the Top Ten instead peaking at #21 but it has proven the equal of these higher ranking hits as a touchstone of the "British Invasion" sound. Chad & Jeremy would subsequently place three singles in the US Top 20 but only their one Top Ten hit: "A Summer Song
A Summer Song
"A Summer Song" is the title of a 1964 Top Ten hit by Chad & Jeremy; the song was written by group member Chad Stuart with Clive Metcalfe and Keith Noble....
", rivals "Yesterday's Gone" as the duo's signature song.
The American success of "Yesterday's Gone" occasioned a re-release of the track in Australia
where it charted over the summer of 1964 with a #26 peak, and also a major label cover in the UK, where in March 1964
Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
released a version of "Yesterday's Gone" recorded by the Overlanders
The Overlanders (band)
The Overlanders were a British music group active during the 1960s.-Career:Originally playing folk songs, the band found success hard to come by during the beat era and so converted to a more mainstream sound...
with Tony Hatch
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
producing; the Overlanders' version did not chart in the UK but as picked up by Hickory Records
Hickory Records
Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several...
for US release in May
1964 became a regional hit reaching #75 that July, marking the only Billboard Hot 100 appearance of the Overlanders which
preceded that group's sole charting in their native UK (with the #1" Michelle
Michelle (song)
"Michelle" is a love ballad by The Beatles, mainly written by Paul McCartney, with the middle eight co-written with John Lennon. It is featured on their Rubber Soul album. The song departs from most of The Beatles' other recordings in that some of the lyrics are in French...
") by almost two years.
"Yesterday's Gone" has also been recorded by the Boxmasters
The Boxmasters
The Boxmasters are an American country rock/rockabilly band founded in Bellflower, California in 2007. It features actor Billy Bob Thornton on drums and vocals with J.D. Andrew on Rhythm Guitar , Danny Baker aka. Unknown Hinson on guitars, Brad Davis Vocals and Lead Guitar, and vocals as well as...
, the Browns
The Browns
The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also...
, Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
and the Osborne Brothers. A mid-1960s recording by the Bee Gees is featured on their 1998 Brilliant From Birth compilation CD. Translated as "Pas Aujourd'hui", "Yesterday's Gone" charted in France at #94 in France for Les Missiles in the autumn of 1964.