Sister Golden Hair
| "Sister Golden Hair" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by America | ||||
| from the album Hearts | ||||
| B-side | "Midnight" | |||
| Released | March 19, 1975 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 1975 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, soft rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:16 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. 8086 | |||
| Writer(s) | Gerry Beckley | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| America singles chronology | ||||
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"Sister Golden Hair" is a song written by Gerry Beckley and recorded by the band America for their fifth album Hearts (1975). It was their second single to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the top position for just one week.[2]
Contents
Background
The lyrics were largely inspired by the works of Jackson Browne. Beckley commented, "[Jackson Browne] has a knack, an ability to put words to music, that is much more like the L.A. approach to just genuine observation as opposed to simplifying it down to its bare essentials... I find Jackson can depress me a little bit, but only through his honesty; and it was that style of his which led to a song of mine, "Sister Golden Hair," which is probably the more L.A. of my lyrics... [It] was one of the first times I used 'ain't' in a song, but I wasn't making an effort to. I was just putting myself in that frame of mind and I got those kind of lyrics out of it."[3] Although the song is a message from a man to his lover, explaining that he still loves her despite being not ready for marriage, the title was initially inspired by the mothers of all three members of the group, all of whom were blondes.[citation needed]
Other versions
- Arto Sotavalta (fi) released a version as a single in 1978 entitled "Sisar Hento Valkoinen" for which Sotavalta was the lyricist.
- Declan Galbraith released a version on his 2007 album, You and Me.
- The Dandy Warhols released a version as a bonus track on their 2008 album, ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols....
- Ilse DeLange released a version on her 2009 concert album, Live in Ahoy.
- Andrew McMahon released a version as a bonus track to his 2013 album, The Pop Underground.
- Gulliver (fi) released a version for their 1978 album Ou jee entitled "Voi Mua Poika Rukkaa"
- Midtown
In popular culture
America's version was featured in the 2001 episode of The Sopranos, "Another Toothpick".[4]
Chart positions
Weekly charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[5] | 28 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 26 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 1 |
| US Easy Listening (Billboard)[8] | 5 |
| US Cash Box Singles Chart | 2 |
| US Record World Singles Chart | 1 |
| US Radio & Records Singles Chart | 1 |
| Preceded by | Billboard Hot 100 number-one single June 14, 1975 |
Succeeded by "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Corbett, John (May 29, 2004). America Revisited - Part 3, AccessBackstage.com.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – America – Sister Golden Hair". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – America – Sister Golden Hair". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ↑ "America – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for America. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
