DISK Days of Pearly Spencer PARLOPHONE.jpg (697x684)". Davidmcwilliams.com . Retrieved 20 June 2014.

Ironically, David McWilliams's recording of the song, first made in 1967, was never a British chart hit. A quarter-of-a-century elapsed before a cover version by Marc Almond of Soft Cell entered the British Top Ten, reaching number four. Having his first single, "God and My Country", flop, McWilliams entered a Belfast recording studio to record some demos. Around that time, Mervyn Solomon overheard his tapes, and was impressed enough to telephone his brother Phil Solomon. Because McWilliams was already signed to CBS, who manufactured Major Minor's recordings, Phil Solomon offered to take McWilliams off their hands. The offer was accepted, and Solomon took McWilliams with him to London to record the song. Originally, the song was a poignant ballad. [3] The title was presumably a play of words on a line from the Victorian hymn, "We rest on thee", "the gates of pearly splendour". Mandy Bingham recorded 'The Days of Pearly Spencer' in just one take at the Millbank studios in Lisburn, and such was the emotion of the day, and her haunting and spine-chilling delivery, that even producer Michael Mormecha said he had goosebumps. Days of Pearly Spencer (song by David McWilliams) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com . Retrieved 12 September 2020.

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A recording by English singer Marc Almond titled " The Days of Pearly Spencer", with an additional verse written by Almond giving the song a more optimistic tone, [22] reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Ireland in 1992. In a review from the parent album Tenement Symphony, Ned Raggett of AllMusic called it 'the surprise U.K. hit single of the bunch, the gentle and (for Trevor Horn) understated "The Days of Pearly Spencer", another '60s cover given the Almond treatment to good effect'. [23] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1992) A tribute to Irish singer/songwriter David McWilliams". Davidmcwilliams.com . Retrieved 19 June 2014.

A French language version also exists by French 1960s singer Frank Alamo titled "Je connais une chanson" about an impossible love. The video clip created for the song contains footage of the singer playing his guitar on the wharf close to the Oudegracht, the main canal in the centre of Utrecht, the Netherlands, easily recognizable for those who live(d) in that city.a b c d e f g "David McWilliams – Obituaries, News – The Independent". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 . Retrieved 1 June 2014. The Days Of Pearly Spencer was based on a homeless man in Ballymena who was befriended by David McWilliams. The song reflected the writer's deep humanity and his empathy with those who live on the margins of society. David McWilliams was quiet and self-effacing. He was ill at ease in the world of showbusiness and he had an intense dislike for the glitter and hype of the music industry. He was more at home playing in the Fourways Inn, Ballymena, than in the Royal Albert Hall. As well as being an accomplished musician, David McWilliams was a talented footballer who, in different circumstances, might have joined a Cregagh-born contemporary, George Best, in the professional ranks. Signed by Linfield FC from amateur side Harryville, he immediately became the first-team goalkeeper. Unfortunately, an ankle injury kept him out of the game for four months by which time his musical career had taken off. Richie Unterberger described the song as "[McWilliams's] best song, with a dark edge, swirling violins, and an effective dab of psychedelia in the megaphone-distorted vocals on the song's chorus." [10] In 2002, The Independent called the song "dreamy". [3] In 2012, Stuart Bailie of Radio Ulster called "Harlem Lady", the A-side, a "quality tune" and "Pearly Spencer" a "remarkable record". [4] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1967–1968)

Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol.80, no.9. 2 March 1968. p.44 . Retrieved 13 September 2020. Days of Pearly Spencer" (or in later releases " The Days of Pearly Spencer") is a 1967 song written and originally performed by Northern Irish singer-songwriter David McWilliams, [1] [2] and included on his second album David McWilliams Vol. 2. [3] Although it charted in several countries in continental Europe and in Australia, the original version was not a chart success in either the United Kingdom or Ireland. The song was rerecorded by McWilliams with a new arrangement in his album Working for the Government (1987). In 1992, a cover version by English pop singer Marc Almond reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Ireland. Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol.80, no.17. 27 April 1968. p.53 . Retrieved 13 September 2020.His début single God and My Country was issued in 1966, and in 1967 The Days of Pearly Spencer was released. Featuring distorted vocals through the use of a megaphone as in The New Vaudeville's Band Winchester Cathedral, the record won David McWilliams much-deserved recognition. The BBC refused to play the record, however, because of Solomon's involvement in the offshore radio station Radio Caroline, and thus the record failed to chart in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland. [3] In continental Europe, the song topped the French Singles Chart, reached number two on the Belgian Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the Dutch Singles Chart. [4] In Australia, the song spent two weeks at number 32 on Go-Set's national top 40, [8] reaching number 10 in Brisbane. [9] The song was rereleased on three occasions and remains a staple of "oldies" radio stations. [3]