"1900 Yesterday" is a song written by John Cameron and Lee Simmons. The song was originally released by Betty Everett in 1969 on the album There'll Come a Time.[3]
| "1900 Yesterday" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Liz Damon's Orient Express | |
| from the album Liz Damon's Orient Express | |
| B-side | "You're Falling In Love" |
| Released | 1970 |
| Genre | Easy listening |
| Length | 2:35 |
| Label | Makaha |
| Songwriter(s) | John Cameron & Lee Simmons[1][2] |
| Producer(s) | George J.D. Chun |
"1900 Yesterday" was a hit single in 1970 and 1971 for the Liz Damon's Orient Express.[1][2] Liz Damon's version was originally released as a single on the Hawaii based Makaha label, before White Whale acquired the worldwide distribution rights in December 1970.[4] In 1971, the song was released on the album Liz Damon's Orient Express.[5]
The song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 33,[6] while reaching No. 4 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[7][8] No. 29 on the Cash Box Top 100,[9] No. 15 on Canada's RPM 100,[10] and No. 16 on RPM's "MOR Playlist".[11]
The song was ranked No. 21 on Billboard's year-end ranking of 1971's "Top Easy Listening Singles".[12]
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening | 4 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 29 |
| US Record World The Singles Chart[13] | 31 |
| US Record World Top Non-Rock[14] | 5 |
| Canada - RPM 100 | 15 |
| Canada - RPM MOR Playlist | 16 |
The lines that precede the song's title -- "Like smoke from a cigarette/Dreams that you soon forget"—appear in the 1966 song "Fading Away,"[citation needed] written by Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, and Bobby Rogers of the Motown act The Miracles, and first recorded by The Temptations for their 1966 album Gettin' Ready.[citation needed]
The single and the album were the last records released by White Whale Records.[citation needed]