"Darlin'" is a song written in 1970 by English sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer. It was first released under the title "Darling" by the British country band Poacher in 1978. It was later a chart hit for Frankie Miller and David Rogers. The track was subsequently recorded by numerous artists including Tom Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Smokie and Johnny Reid.
| "Darling" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Poacher | |
| Released | 1978 |
| Length | 3:18 |
| Label |
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| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stewart Blandamer |
| Producer(s) | Barry Kingston |
British country band Poacher formed in Warrington, England, in 1977. They competed in the sixth series of New Faces, a British television talent show. "Darling" was released as their debut single in 1978, produced by Barry Kingston and released through his label RK Records in the United Kingdom.[1] Songwriter Oscar Stewart Blandamer wrote the track in 1970. Producer David Mackay picked up the song for Scottish singer-songwriter Frankie Miller, who recorded it for his album Falling in Love (1979).[2]
| "Darlin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Frankie Miller | ||||
| B-side | "Drunken Nights in the City" | |||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Rock / Blues | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stuart Blandamer | |||
| Frankie Miller singles chronology | ||||
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| Official video | ||||
| "Darlin'" on YouTube | ||||
Miller recorded the song in 1978 and had an international hit with it. It reached number 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, and 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It also reached the Top Ten (#8) in Australia in 1979.
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 8 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 28 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 7 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[8] | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] | 2 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 6 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts)[11] | 5 |
| "Darlin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by David Rogers | ||||
| B-side | "How Long Has It Been" | |||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Label | Republic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Oscar Stewart Blandemer | |||
| Producer(s) | Dave Burgess | |||
| David Rogers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A country music version was recorded by the American singer David Rogers. Released on the Republic label, it was never included on an album.
Rogers' recording was a relatively minor hit reaching #18 on the Billboard country singles charts.[12]
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Country Songs[13] | 18 |
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Country Songs[14] | 19 |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[citation needed] | 3 |
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] | 57 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[16] | 3 |
Barbara Mandrell released a cover version in 1979, which served as the B-side to her number one single "Years."[17]
In 1980 the song was one of two by Bonnie Raitt included on the soundtrack of the film, Urban Cowboy. It was not released as a single, although her other contribution, Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dance was issued to Country radio. It failed to crack the Top 40 on the chart, peaking at #42.
In 1981 Welsh pop singer Tom Jones released the song as a single from his Mercury Records album Darlin'. Jones' rendition also reached the country music Top 20, peaking at #19 there in addition to reaching number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[18]
The British band Smokie recorded a cover version in their 2000 covers album Uncovered.
In 2004 singer Bonnie Tyler released a version of the song on her album Simply Believe.
In 2007 Canadian singer Johnny Reid also released a version of the song on the album Kicking Stones. His version peaked at number 57 on the Canadian Hot 100.
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