"Big Ship"
Cover of the single released in the Netherlands
Single by Cliff Richard
B-side"She's Leaving You"
Released23 May 1969 (1969-05-23)
Recorded22 April 1969[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenrePop
Length2:26
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Raymond Froggatt
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Good Times (Better Times)"
(1969) 		"Big Ship"
(1969) 		"Early in the Morning"
(1969)

"Big Ship" is a song by Cliff Richard, released as a single in May 1969. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Background and release

"Big Ship" was written by Raymond Froggatt and was close to being selected as Lulu's entry for the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. However, it was rejected in favour of "Boom Bang-a-Bang".[1] In January 1969, record producer Mickie Most wrote in Melody Maker that "Big Ship" was "a number one record ... not just here but all over the world" and was "strongly in line for a future record" by Herman's Hermits.[3] The band did record the song but it remained unreleased until its inclusion on the box set Into Something Good: The Mickie Most Years 1964–72.

Cliff Richard's manager Peter Gormley heard about the song and given the success of Richard's Eurovision song "Congratulations" the year before decided to get him to record a version. It was recorded with the Mike Vickers Orchestra, who performed all instrumentation on the track.[1] "Big Ship" was released as a single with the B-side "She's Leaving You", written by the Shadows' drummer Brian Bennett, who also conducted the orchestra that backs the song.[4]

Reception

Reviewing for Record Mirror, Peter Jones wrote that "the chorus, with organ and voices added, is dead commercial, and Cliff fills in the verses with his usual warmth and clarity. There Is a shanty-ish sort of feel to it and some excellent brass figures behind. Not his best, but better than most".[5] For New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described the song as having a "breezy air of light-hearted gaiety and vitality. Set to a rollicking nautical-flavoured score, with a vocal group joining in the chorus, it's a happy-go-lucky ditty in much the same mould as "Good Times"".[6]

Track listing

  1. "Big Ship" – 2:26
  2. "She's Leaving You" – 3:28

Charts

Chart (1969) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[7] 29
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 38
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 45
Denmark (IFPI)[11] 7
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 8
Singapore (Radio Singapore)[13] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 8

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "Making hit records for the Government" (PDF). Melody Maker. 18 January 1969. p. 13. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 24 May 1969. p. 9. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Top Singles" (PDF). New Musical Express. 24 May 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 2 August 1969". gosetcharts.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  8. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  9. ^ "Cliff Richard – Big Ship" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "Cliff Richard – Big Ship" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Bjørn er okay". Ekstra Bladet. 14 August 1969. p. 24.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Big Ship". Irish Singles Chart.
  13. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 23 August 1969. p. 88. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
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