Wondrous Place

"Wondrous Place"
Single by Billy Fury
B-side"Alright, Goodbye"
Released2 September 1960 (1960-09-02)
Recorded24 June 1960[1]
StudioDecca Studios, London
GenrePop[2]
Length2:26
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack Good
Billy Fury singles chronology
"That's Love"
(1960) 		"Wondrous Place"
(1960) 		"A Thousand Stars"
(1960)

"Wondrous Place" is a song written by Jeff Lewis and Bill Giant and first released by American singer Jimmy Jones on his debut album Good Timin in May 1960. English singer Billy Fury released a version as a single in September 1960.

Fury's version peaked at number 25 on the Record Retailer Top 50, now seen as the UK Singles Chart, in October 1960[3] and the song gained further recognition nearly forty years later in 1999 when Fury's version was used on a UK television advertisement for the Toyota Yaris. Two versions were then re-released as singles: a 1983 re-recording by K-tel (as the official advert release), which peaked at number 83 on the singles chart, and the original single version by Deram Records (who had released The 40th Anniversary Anthology six months earlier), which peaked at number 98.[3]

Track listing

7": Decca / F 11267

  1. "Wondrous Place" – 2:26
  2. "Alright, Goodbye" – 2:04

CD: K-tel / TOY9051-2 (1999)

  1. "Wondrous Place"
  2. "It's Only Make Believe"
  3. "Last Night Was Made for Love"

CD: Deram / 882 267-2 (1999)

  1. "Wondrous Place" – 2:23
  2. "Halfway to Paradise" – 2:26
  3. "Jealousy" – 2:45

Other cover versions

  • In 1962, American singer Rod Lauren released a cover of the song as a single.[4]
  • In 1963, singer Aart Brouwer issued a Dutch-language cover version, retitled Vies
  • In 1965, The Cherokees released a version on a Columbia record
  • In 1966, English-born singer Tony Barber released a cover of the song as a single.[5]
  • In 1990, English band Guana Batz covered the song on their album Electra Glide in Blue.[6]
  • In 1996, American musician Marshall Crenshaw covered the song on his album Miracle of Science.[7]
  • In 2008, English supergroup The Last Shadow Puppets released a cover of the song as a B-side to their debut single "The Age of the Understatement".[8]
  • In 2008, Australian singer Jason Donovan covered the song on his album Let It Be Me.[9]
  • In 2011, English singer-songwriter Alice Gold released a cover of the song as a single, which was used in an advert for beer brand Carling.[10]
  • In 2022, The Drug Store Romeos also released a version, which was used in an Apple commercial in 2023.

References

  1. ^ "Billy Fury". www.nic.fi. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2015). "Billy Fury - "Wondrous Place". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 109.
  3. ^ a b "Billy Fury | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  4. ^ "Rod Lauren – A Wondrous Place (1962, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  5. ^ "Tony Barber – Wondrous Place (1966, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1966. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  6. ^ "Guana Batz – Electra Glide In Blue (1990, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  7. ^ "Marshall Crenshaw – Miracle Of Science (1996, CD)". Discogs. 9 June 1996. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  8. ^ "The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement (2008, CD)". Discogs. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  9. ^ "Jason Donovan – Let It Be Me (2008, CD)". Discogs. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  10. ^ LifeReply, New Single Review; Alice Gold-Wondrous Place « Love Music; Love (10 November 2011). "Alice Gold; Wondrous Place". Love Music; Love Life. Retrieved 2021-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)


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