"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (Lowry's Song)" is a folk song[1] by English duo Brian and Michael.[2] It was released as their first single in late 1977 on Pye Records,[3] and is from their 1978 debut album, The Matchstalk Men. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for 3 weeks in April 1978.[4] As the song is their only major hit, the duo remain as one-hit wonders in the UK, although one more single titled "Mama" briefly made the UK charts at No. 93 in 1983.[5]

"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" was a tribute to the artist L. S. Lowry, who had died in February 1976. For the song, Michael Coleman drew on his own memories of Salford and Ancoats as well as the paintings of Lowry. St Winifred's School Choir appeared on the record, singing the children's song "The Big Ship Sails on the Alley-Alley-O", which was sung by children in the Salford area with reference to the Manchester Ship Canal. The single spent three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, with a total of 19 weeks on the chart. The B-side of the record is the track "The Old Rocking Chair". Coleman received the Ivor Novello award for 'The Outstanding Lyric of the Year'.[6]

See also

• List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1970s

References

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