Pop Archives

Bunny Walters - Home Isn’t Home Anymore (1973)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray)
New Zealand New Zealand
#18 NZ

Single on Impact by highly-regarded and popular Maori singer-guitarist (1953-2016), originally from the small North Island town of KatikatiBunny Walters was a star in New Zealand, with five charting records 1970-74 and frequent appearances on TV music shows.

For more on Bunny Walters see his biggest hits Brandy (1971, charted 1972, #4 NZ) and Take The Money And Run (1972, #2 NZ, #27 Melbourne), or browse all Bunny Walters records listed at this website.


Joe Dolan - Home Isn’t Home Anymore (1972)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray)
UK UK
Influential version

B-side on Pye. The A-side is Take The Money and Run. Both sides were covered by Bunny Walters.

Irish singer and entertainer Joe Dolan (1939-2007) was a former newspaper compositor who fronted The Drifters, the showband formed with his brother in 1960, later known as Joe Dolan & The Drifters.

Dolan had some 30 charting singles in Ireland in the 60s, 70s and 80s, including six #1s.

More details under Take The Money And Run.


Alan Garrity - Home Isn’t Home Anymore (1972)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray)
South Africa South Africa
#5 South Africa

Single on Gallo by Manchester-born singer resident in South Africa, popular in South Africa and Rhodesia.

Entered South African radio charts early 1973

Further reading: All of Alan Garrity’s charting singles are listed at SA Charts 1969-1989 Acts G at The South African Rock Encyclopedia.


Inga Sulin - Tyhjä koti (1969)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray - Virpi Kaartinen)
Finland Finland

Single on Blue Master by Inga Sulin (b.1945, aka Inga Sulin-Ahola), Finnish screen and stage actress, singer, dancer and teacher. Also on the album Kahdeksikko I (= eight, 1969), a collection of tracks by eight Finnish artists.

Finnish lyrics by Virpi Kaartinen, aka Virpi Säilä. Tyhjä koti means empty house.

Further reading: Inga Sulin at Finnish Wikipedia (or see English translation by Google Translate).


Joe Harris - Home Isn’t Home Anymore (1969)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray)
Belgium Belgium

Single on Arcade by Belgian singer.

Joe Harris (Georges Lisabeth 1943-2003) was from Bruges (Dutch: Brügge) in West Flanders, Belgium. His first record, as Joske Harris, was released when he was twelve. He later recorded as Joske Harry’s and with his band as Joe Harris and The Pink Umbrellas.

In the 1960s he tended to record in English but he switched to Dutch in the early 70s. His biggest hit was Drink Rode wijn (1975, #8 Belgium, #18 Netherlands).

Listen at Youtube.


Rex Gildo - Komm Doch Zu Mir (Home Isn’t Home Anymore) (1969)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray - Kurt Hertha)
Germany Germany

Track on Ariola album Rex by German acting and singing star Rex Gildo (Ludwig Franz Hirtreiter 1936-1999), one of Germany’s most popular stars in the 1960s (Discogs.com).

German lyrics by songwriter Kurt Hertha (1926-2007).


Heathmore - Home Isn’t Home Anymore (1969)

(Pete Callander - Mitch Murray)
UK UK
Original version

Single on Pye by singer and actor Johnny De Little (real name Brian King) who at this time was relaunching himself as Heathmore. (The South African issue showed his name as Heath More.)

According to publicity in New Musical Express 3 May 1969, Heathmore was discovered by Sandie Shaw when she saw him perform in a club in Northern England and referred him to her manager Eve Taylor.

Evie then took over. A song had to be found but after looking without success, Mitch Murray and Peter Callender were asked to write him a number. They came up with Home Isn’t Home Any More.

Sandie Shaw in NME 3 May 1969 via WRH

Original version? 45cat gives release dates of Joe Harris April 1969 and Heathmore 2 May 1969, but it seems more likely to me that Heathmore’s is the original version, as listed by COVER.INFO.