Hi Ho Silver Lining

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"Hi Ho Silver Lining"
Single by The Attack
ReleasedMarch 1967
LabelDecca: F 12578
Songwriter(s)Scott English, Larry Weiss

"Hi Ho Silver Lining" is a rock song, written by American songwriters Scott English and Larry Weiss and first released as a single in March 1967 by English band The Attack, then a few days later by Jeff Beck.[1] The Attack's version failed to chart, while Beck's recording reached the Top 20 of the singles chart in his native Britain in both 1967 and 1972, becoming his biggest solo hit. In the States, Beck's single failed to crack Billboard's Hot 100.

Background[]

Songwriters English and Weiss started writing a song together, with a chorus of "Hi ho silver lining", but no verses. When producer Mickie Most heard their early version, he suggested that it would be a hit and persuaded English to complete the lyrics. According to writer and musician Bob Stanley, English wanted to record a finished version of the song himself, so decided to deter Most by writing "the most unusable, stupid lyric he could think up, about flies in pea soup and beach umbrellas". To English's chagrin, Most liked the song, and had Jeff Beck record it.[2]

Jeff Beck version[]

"Hi Ho Silver Lining"
Jeffbecksilverbolero.jpg
Netherlands-only cover
Single by Jeff Beck
B-side"Beck's Bolero"
Released10 March 1967
Recorded19 January 1967
StudioDe Lane Lea Studios, London
GenreRock, psychedelic pop
Length2:53
LabelColumbia: DB 8151
Songwriter(s)Scott English, Larry Weiss
Producer(s)Mickie Most
Jeff Beck singles chronology
"Hi Ho Silver Lining" / "Beck's Bolero"
(1967) 		"Tallyman" / "Rock My Plimsoul"
(1967)

In May 1967 Beck's version peaked at no. 14 (for three consecutive weeks) on the UK singles chart during a then lengthy 14-week run. The single spent a further 11 weeks on the chart when reissued in the autumn of 1972, peaking at no. 17 (for three consecutive weeks) in December. In the States, Beck's single (released as "Hi-Ho Silver") peaked at no. 123 in May 1967. The song was not included on Beck's album Truth when first released in 1968, but featured as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue.

In 1983 , in an all-star jam with Steve Winwood and Simon Phillips, Beck performed "Hi Ho Silver Lining" live at the ARMS Charity Concert – a charity benefit show for multiple sclerosis – at London's Royal Albert Hall.[3] The song was resurrected for the "Together and Apart" Japanese and US tours with Eric Clapton in 2009 and 2010. According to Kate Mossman, writing in the New Statesman, Beck "has likened 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' to having a pink toilet seat hung around your neck for the rest of your life."[4]

Formats and track listings[]

1967 7" single (UK/Holland: Columbia DB 8151, New Zealand: Columbia DNZ 10497, Portugal: Columbia 8E 006-93925)

  • A. "Hi Ho Silver Lining" (English, Weiss) 2:53
  • B. "Beck's Bolero" (Page) 2:52

Chart positions[]

Chart (1967) Peak position
Irish Singles Chart[5] 17
UK Singles Chart[6] 14
Australian Go-Set Top 40 Singles Chart[7] 25

Personnel[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jeff Beck—Hi-Ho Silver Lining/Beck's Bolero". Headheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ^ Bob Stanley, "Music to visit", Record Collector, #507, July 2020, p.52
  3. ^ Union, Wonderful. "Official Site". Steve Winwood. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  4. ^ "The £7m fingers: how Jeff Beck became a guitar hero by saying no". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. ^ Top 50 Singles - 29 April 1967.
  6. ^ "Top 100 Singles - 13 May 1967". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Top 40 Singles - 21 June 1967". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
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