(Cat Stevens)
Australia
#10 Sydney #30 Melbourne #11 Brisbane #5 Adelaide
Single on Melbourne label Fable.
Co-charted in Sydney and Adelaide with Jimmy Cliff’s UK release. Entered the Australian charts between 30 October 1970 and 9 January 1971 depending on the city.
This was released a few days after the Radio Ban ended on 24 October 1970, one of many Fable cover versions of British releases at that time.
See under The Mixtures – In The Summertime for more background on the Radio Ban.
Fourth House was singer Danny Robinson backed by studio musicians. Produced by Fable’s founder and owner Ron Tudor.
Danny Robinson had been lead singer with innovative Melbourne heavy rock band the Wild Cherries. He later joined another former Wild Cherry, Rob Lovett, in The Virgil Brothers after the departure of Mal McGee, yet another former Wild Cherry.
Sources, further reading:
1. Milesago’s Fourth House page has detailed background to the recording of this
song. See also its Wild Cherries page.
2. The 1970 Radio
Ban at Wikipedia.
3. Milesago’s pages on Fable and Ron Tudor.
(Cat Stevens)
UK
#11 USA
On the November 1970 Island album Tea For The Tillerman, also released as a single in the US January 1971.
The song was apparently written about Patti D’Arbanville, the US actress who had inspired the song Lady D’Arbanville on Mona Bone Jakon (1970).
(Cat Stevens)
UK
#8 UK #10 Sydney #5 Adelaide
Single on Island 31 July 1970, produced by Cat Stevens, entered the UK charts 8 August 1970.
Co-charted in Sydney and Adelaide with Australian version by Fourth House.
Jimmy Cliff (b.1944) is a Jamaican reggae singer popular in Europe, Africa and Latin America. He starred in The Harder They Come (1972), inspired by his song Many Rivers To Cross, heard on the soundtrack.
Sources: 1. The release date is from 45cat.com. 2. Chart data from The Guinness book of British hit singles.
(Cat Stevens)
UK
Original version
Single on MCA-U.K., produced by Mike Leander.
Chris Simmons had been lead singer of London band Jon, an “obscure four-piece” (Joynson) that released two singles in 1967.
This version of Wild World and the Jimmy Cliff version were released days apart at the end of July 1967. Until somebody corrects it, I’m going with 45 cat’s entries for the discs which have Chris Simmons out on 24 July and Jimmy Cliff’s on 31 July.
(Cat Stevens)
UK
Later version
#5 UK #25 USA #12 Sydney #7 Melbourne #6 Brisbane #5 Adelaide #5 NZ
Single on 10 Records, on Virgin in USA, also on 1988 Virgin album Maxi Priest.
Maxi Priest: reggae star with crossover into modern R&B, London-born with Jamaican background, original name Max Elliott (b. 1962).
Further reading: Maxi Priest biography by Steve Huey at All Music.
(Cat Stevens)
USA
Later version
#12 USA #30 Adelaide
Single from 1993 Atlantic album Bump Ahead by US “shredder” pop metal band (Greg Prato)
Further reading: Mr Big biography by Greg Prato at All Music.
Pop Archives
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…