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"'''Kites'''" is a ballad written by [[Hal Hackady]] and [[Lee Pockriss]]. It was first recorded by American [[Contemporary folk music#Country folk|country folk]]-[[Singing|singing]] trio [[the Rooftop Singers]] as their last single in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/456526 |title=The Rooftop Singers - Kites / My Life Is My Own - Atco - USA - 45-6526 |website=45cat.com |date=7 October 1967 |accessdate=1 October 2016}}</ref> |
"'''Kites'''" is a ballad written by [[Hal Hackady]] and [[Lee Pockriss]]. It was first recorded by American [[Contemporary folk music#Country folk|country folk]]-[[Singing|singing]] trio [[the Rooftop Singers]] as their last single in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/456526 |title=The Rooftop Singers - Kites / My Life Is My Own - Atco - USA - 45-6526 |website=45cat.com |date=7 October 1967 |accessdate=1 October 2016}}</ref> |
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The song then became a hit for British psychedelic band [[Simon Dupree and the Big Sound]], a group of the Shulman brothers, who went on to form the [[progressive rock]] band [[Gentle Giant]]. Their first releases had not been successful and they looked to their manager, John King, for inspiration. He suggested "Kites", which he had obtained from Robbins' Music. It was not their preferred style but King insisted.<ref>{{citation |title=Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste |author=Paul Stump |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-946719-61-7 |page=18}}</ref> |
The song then became a hit for British [[Psychedelic music|psychedelic]] band [[Simon Dupree and the Big Sound]], a group of the Shulman brothers, who went on to form the [[progressive rock]] band [[Gentle Giant]]. Their first releases had not been successful and they looked to their manager, John King, for inspiration. He suggested "Kites", which he had obtained from Robbins' Music. It was not their preferred style but King insisted.<ref>{{citation |title=Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste |author=Paul Stump |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-946719-61-7 |page=18|publisher=SAF Publishing }}</ref> |
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The song was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] using unconventional instruments such as a wind machine and included a spoken interlude in Chinese, composed of "sweet nothings"<ref>For a brief discussion and possible translation, see: {{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-25618,00.html|title=In the 1967 hit "Kites" by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, a girl speaks in an apparent Chinese dialect. Does anyone know what it means? (Notes and Queries)|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> and performed<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~peterkin/simon_dupree_trivia.htm|title=Simon Dupree - Trivia stories about the band|last=Dupree|first=Peter O'Flaherty, Bass Player with Simon|website=homepages.ihug.co.nz|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> by the actress [[Jacqui Chan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp93337/jacqui-chan|title=Person - National Portrait Gallery|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> a friend of the band. The spoken words are in Mandarin, a language which she did not usually speak. One translation is: "I love you, I love you, My love is very strong. It flies high like a kite before the wind, Please do not let go of the string." |
The song was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] using unconventional instruments such as a wind machine and included a spoken interlude in Chinese, composed of "sweet nothings"<ref>For a brief discussion and possible translation, see: {{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-25618,00.html|title=In the 1967 hit "Kites" by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, a girl speaks in an apparent Chinese dialect. Does anyone know what it means? (Notes and Queries)|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> and performed<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~peterkin/simon_dupree_trivia.htm|title=Simon Dupree - Trivia stories about the band|last=Dupree|first=Peter O'Flaherty, Bass Player with Simon|website=homepages.ihug.co.nz|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> by the Chinese-Trinidadian actress [[Jacqui Chan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp93337/jacqui-chan|title=Person - National Portrait Gallery|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> a friend of the band. The spoken words are in Mandarin, a language which she did not usually speak. One translation is: "I love you, I love you, My love is very strong. It flies high like a kite before the wind, Please do not let go of the string." |
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The single reached number 8 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in late 1967<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |
The single reached number 8 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in late 1967<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |
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| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 |
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 |
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| page= 173}}</ref> and, as an example of the early [[psychedelic rock]] style, it has since appeared on many compilations, especially those themed around psychedelia.<ref>See, for example, {{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Psychedelic-Years/release/574962|title=Various - The Psychedelic Years|website=Discogs|year=1990 |language=en|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> Music historian Paul Stump called it "one of the first pop singles to employ a bank of keyboards simultaneously for melodic and colouristic purposes".<ref name=StumpHist>{{cite book |last=Stump |first=Paul |title=The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock |date=1997 |publisher=Quartet Books Limited |isbn=0-7043-8036-6 |page=100}}</ref> The specific keyboards featured are [[Organ (musical instrument)|organ]], [[mellotron]], [[piano]], and [[vibraphone]].<ref name=StumpHist/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/simon-dupree-big-sound-kites-like-sun.html |title=OPULENT CONCEPTIONS: SIMON DUPREE AND THE BIG SOUND - Kites |accessdate=20 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204119/http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/simon-dupree-big-sound-kites-like-sun.html |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref> |
| page= 173}}</ref> and, as an example of the early [[psychedelic rock]] style, it has since appeared on many compilations, especially those themed around psychedelia.<ref>See, for example, {{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Psychedelic-Years/release/574962|title=Various - The Psychedelic Years|website=Discogs|year=1990 |language=en|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> Music historian Paul Stump called it "one of the first pop singles to employ a bank of keyboards simultaneously for melodic and colouristic purposes".<ref name=StumpHist>{{cite book |last=Stump |first=Paul |title=The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock |date=1997 |publisher=Quartet Books Limited |isbn=0-7043-8036-6 |page=100}}</ref> The specific keyboards featured are [[Organ (musical instrument)|organ]], [[mellotron]], [[piano]], and [[vibraphone]].<ref name=StumpHist/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/simon-dupree-big-sound-kites-like-sun.html |title=OPULENT CONCEPTIONS: SIMON DUPREE AND THE BIG SOUND - Kites |accessdate=20 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204119/http://expo67-cavestones.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/simon-dupree-big-sound-kites-like-sun.html |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref> |
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[[The Associates (band)|The Associates]], under the name of 39 Lyon Street, released a [[cover version]] of "Kites" as a single in 1981, a re-recorded version exclusive to the 12" version of the single "[[Breakfast (Associates song)|Breakfast]]" was released as its [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] under their own name in 1985.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thequietus.com/articles/27807-associates-perhaps-review-reissue | title=The Quietus | Features | Maybe, Possibly? A Look Back at Perhaps by the Associates| date=12 February 2020}}</ref> Israeli rock band [[Nikmat HaTraktor]] had a hit with a [[Hebrew]] version of the track, taken from their 1990 self-titled debut album. Finnish musician [[Kirka]] had a similar local hit in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://psychedelicsight.com/kites-simon-dupree/|title=No. 58: 'Kites'|date=17 June 2019|website=Psychedelic Sight}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100506/http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~peterkin/ Simon Dupree & The Big Sound] |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100506/http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~peterkin/ Simon Dupree & The Big Sound fansite] |
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{{authority control}} |
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Latest revision as of 18:25, 11 September 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2016) |
| "Kites" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound | |
| B-side | "Like the Sun Like the Fire" |
| Released | October 27, 1967 |
| Genre | |
| Label | Parlophone |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | David Paramor |
"Kites" is a ballad written by Hal Hackady and Lee Pockriss. It was first recorded by American country folk-singing trio the Rooftop Singers as their last single in 1967.[1]
The song then became a hit for British psychedelic band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, a group of the Shulman brothers, who went on to form the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Their first releases had not been successful and they looked to their manager, John King, for inspiration. He suggested "Kites", which he had obtained from Robbins' Music. It was not their preferred style but King insisted.[2]
The song was recorded at Abbey Road using unconventional instruments such as a wind machine and included a spoken interlude in Chinese, composed of "sweet nothings"[3] and performed[4] by the Chinese-Trinidadian actress Jacqui Chan,[5] a friend of the band. The spoken words are in Mandarin, a language which she did not usually speak. One translation is: "I love you, I love you, My love is very strong. It flies high like a kite before the wind, Please do not let go of the string."
The single reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1967[6] and, as an example of the early psychedelic rock style, it has since appeared on many compilations, especially those themed around psychedelia.[7] Music historian Paul Stump called it "one of the first pop singles to employ a bank of keyboards simultaneously for melodic and colouristic purposes".[8] The specific keyboards featured are organ, mellotron, piano, and vibraphone.[8][9]
The Associates, under the name of 39 Lyon Street, released a cover version of "Kites" as a single in 1981, a re-recorded version exclusive to the 12" version of the single "Breakfast" was released as its B-side under their own name in 1985.[10] Israeli rock band Nikmat HaTraktor had a hit with a Hebrew version of the track, taken from their 1990 self-titled debut album. Finnish musician Kirka had a similar local hit in 1968.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Rooftop Singers - Kites / My Life Is My Own - Atco - USA - 45-6526". 45cat.com. 7 October 1967. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Paul Stump (2003), Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste, SAF Publishing, p. 18, ISBN 978-0-946719-61-7
- ^ For a brief discussion and possible translation, see: "In the 1967 hit "Kites" by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, a girl speaks in an apparent Chinese dialect. Does anyone know what it means? (Notes and Queries)". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Dupree, Peter O'Flaherty, Bass Player with Simon. "Simon Dupree - Trivia stories about the band". homepages.ihug.co.nz. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Person - National Portrait Gallery". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 173. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ See, for example, "Various - The Psychedelic Years". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ a b Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. p. 100. ISBN 0-7043-8036-6.
- ^ "OPULENT CONCEPTIONS: SIMON DUPREE AND THE BIG SOUND - Kites". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "The Quietus | Features | Maybe, Possibly? A Look Back at Perhaps by the Associates". 12 February 2020.
- ^ "No. 58: 'Kites'". Psychedelic Sight. 17 June 2019.
External links
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