"Flying Machine"
Cover of the single released in Germany
Single by Cliff Richard
B-side"Pigeon"
Released25 June 1971 (1971-06-25)
Recorded20 March 1971[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenrePop rock
Length3:02
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Georg Hultgreen
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Silvery Rain"
(1971) 		"Flying Machine"
(1971) 		"Sing a Song of Freedom"
(1971)

"Flying Machine" is a song by British singer Cliff Richard, released as a single in June 1971. It peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Richard's first UK single to not make the Top 30.[2]

Release

"Flying Machine" was written by Norwegian musician Georg Kajanus (then known as Georg Hultgreen), who had been a member of folk rock band Eclection and who would go on to be the lead singer of Sailor. He recorded a demo version on acetate, which Richard listened to and recorded his version in March 1971. It was arranged by and features the orchestra of Norrie Paramor. Hultgreen also features on Richard's version playing the flute.[1] It was released as a single with the B-side "Pigeon", which was written by Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett and features the Nick Ingman Orchestra.[3]

Hultgreen recorded his own proper version in 1972 as part of Kajanus Pickett (with Phil Pickett), which was released on their sole album Hi Ho SIlver!.[4] His original demo version was later released on the 2006 album Kajanus (Revealed).[5]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 8797

  1. "Flying Machine" – 3:02
  2. "Pigeon" – 2:45

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1971) Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[6] 4
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 35
Malaysia (Rediffusion)[8] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 37

References

  1. ^ a b "Cliff Richard Song Database – Song Details (Flying Machine)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
  2. ^ a b "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "Cliff Richard – Flying Machine". 45cat. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  4. ^ "Kajanus Pickett – Hi Ho Silver (1972, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  5. ^ "Georg Kajanus – Kajanus (Revealed) (2006, Pre-Commercial Release, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  6. ^ "Hitlisten". Ekstra Bladet. 23 September 1971. p. 34.
  7. ^ "Cliff Richard – Flying Machine" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 9 October 1971. p. 45. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
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