Let The Heartaches Begin by Long John Baldry

Album: Let the Heartaches Begin (1967)

Charted: 1

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This was written by John McLeod and Tony Macaulay. The latter commented on this ballad in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "It was very like The Drifters and John McLeod's arrangement is excellent. He makes a fairly ordinary song sound great and also Long John Baldry sings it extraordinarily well, thanks to three-quarters of a bottle of Courvoisier."
Tony Macaulay wrote four other UK #1s: Also in 1967 he wrote "Baby Now That I've Found You" for the Foundations, again with John McLeod. In 1970 he teamed up with Barry Mason to pen "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" for Edison Lighthouse. In 1976 he wrote "Don't Give Up On Us" for David Soul on his own, and in 1977 he penned "Silver Lady" for David Soul together with Geoff Stephens.
At 6 feet 7 inches tall, Long John Baldry was the tallest artist to have a UK #1 hit until 6-foot-9 Christano Spiller topped the chart in 2000 with "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)."
Long John Baldry sung with numerous blues groups during the 1960s, including the Hoochie Coochie Men with Rod Stewart, Steampacket (with Brian Auger and Rod Stewart) and Bluesology (whose pianist, Reg Dwight, adopted the surname John in his honor when going solo as Elton John). The latter's song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is about an instance when Baldry (referred to as 'Sugar Bear' in the song) advised Elton not to get married. This was Baldry's first UK chart entry and he recorded three more UK Top 40 hits, "When The Sun Comes Shining Thru (#29 in 1968), "Mexico" (#15 in 1968) and "It's Too Late Now" (#21 in 1969). In 1980 he had a Top 5 hit in Australia with a version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" together with Canadian singer Kathi MacDonald. Baldry died of a severe chest infection on July 21, 2005.

Comments: 3

Tim from Schaumburg, IlLong John is alive and well, living in england
Roman from Barrie, OnI saw Long John at a club and his presence on stage was as overwhelming as his singing and performing. Within a matter of four easy steps he could move from the very back of the stage to the very front making Michael Jackson's
"moonwalk" look like baby steps. In respect to saving Elton John,the buzz forty odd years ago was that he convinced Elton not to gas himself into eternity via a gas oven.
Ian from Durand, IlR.I.P. Dr.Robotnick

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