ALL KINDS OF DANA #2 - Who Put The Lights Out 1971

Of all the videos in all the world, this has to be my favourite. It comes from the German monthly TV programme Disco that ran for 12 years. Dana was the only artiste to bookend that long-running series, appearing in the opening show with this song on February 13, 1971, and the closing show with I Feel Love Comin' On on November 22, 1982. As for the shows in-between, she is nowhere to be seen!

Who Put The Lights Out followed All Kinds of Everything up the UK charts, reaching #14 on March 13, 1971 - the same week that Frank Sinatra made #25 with I Will Drink The Wine. Both songs were written by Paul Ryan, famous for writing the epic Eloise for his twin brother Barry in 1968. He also wrote Dana's follow-up, Today, which somehow failed to chart.

I missed Dana first time round. Her Eurovision victory, subsequent film/TV/panto/concert/chart appearances, and later Catholic music success - interrupted by a 5 year stint as a Member of the European Parliament - all passed me by. If it wasn't for Lights Out I'd still be in the dark about her. Since its radio debut its chorus has never left me, and often comes to mind when I see a light go out. Curiosity forced me to buy The Best of Dana CD in 2004, just to hear this track. Not expecting to play the whole album, I got a surprise when I did because, of all the singers in all the world, Dana suddenly became my favourite.

I would have been quite happy with just that one excellent album, but everything I buy with her name on it is excellent, be it A-sides, B-sides, LPs, CDs or books. As for videos, she now has over 100 uploads on YouTube, enough to make a do-it-yourself Best of Dana DVD, because there isn't one to buy. Just like there isn't a CD box set. Although she's worth it, it's not easy being a Dana fan, especially if you've thrown away your record player!

Below are the lyrics to Who Put The Lights Out, as memorable as the melody. So sing it aloud - please feel free.

I hear there's a song in the air
So sing it aloud - please feel free
Shout it aloud, I don't care
You laughed at me and you'll do it again and again

Now suddenly I realise
The sun won't shine in my eyes
It hurt me, but now I can see
You lied to me and you'll do it again and again and again

Who put the lights out
Who put the lights out
Many years ago
Many years ago

Who put the lights out
Who put the lights out
Many years ago
Many years

Time - they say it's a healer of pain
A pain that we knew once as love
I won't let it happen again
I loved you so, but that was years and years ago

Many years ago
We laughed away the tears
Many years ago
We laughed away those years away

Who put the lights out
Who put the lights out
Many years ago
Many years ago

Who put the lights out
Who put the lights out
Many years ago
Many years
Years and years and years and years ago

The UK Top 30 for March 13, 1971:

01. Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
02. Paul McCartney - Another Day
03. George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
04. Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
05. Perry Como - It's Impossible
06. Mixtures - Pushbike Song
07. T.Rex - Hot Love
08. Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
09. Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
10. The Supremes - Stoned Love
11. Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
12. Chairmen Of The Board - Everything's Tuesday
13. Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
14. DANA - WHO PUT THE LIGHTS OUT
15. Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Forget Me Not
16. Clive Dunn - Grandad
17. New World - Rose Garden
18. Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - (Come 'round Here) I'm The One You Need
19. Badfinger - No Matter What
20. Elton John - Your Song
21. Dawn - Candida
22. Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman
23. The Byrds - Chestnut Mare
24. The Partridge Family - I Think I Love You
25. Frank Sinatra - I Will Drink The Wine
26. Weathermen - It's The Same Old Song
27. Jackie Lee - Rupert
28. Frank Sinatra - My Way
29. The Kinks - Apeman
30. Tom Jones - She's A Lady

Of all the videos in all the world, my second favourite also features Dana - filmed shopping and sightseeing in London. It was broadcast on German TV on February 13, 1971, the same day she appeared on Disco with WPTLO. Will be uploaded on her birthday, followed in November by Isn't it a Pity. Until then there's her live performance of a song called The Magnificent Sanctuary Band to look forward to.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1970
• All
• Kinds
• of
• Everything
• Eurovision
• Dana
• Rosemary
• Scallon
• Irish
• Fairytale
• Cold
• Christmas
• Please
• Tell
• Him
• That
• Said
• Hello
• Totus
• Tuus
• Lady
• Knock
• Paul
• and
• Barry
• Ryan

[Iwillfollowyou]

DANA is doing a sponsored walk on Aug 13 with her family and friends in memory of Sue Sheard, her childrens nanny who sadly died last year. If you'd like to join them in the idyllic Mourne Mountains and/or make a donation to the Galway Hospice Foundation, visit her dana-music website NOW :)

[eugenm]

If you can help, please send me this info : who wrote the song, and is there a score available ?

[Iwillfollowyou]

@eugenm

Hello eugenm, you can buy this Paul Ryan song in sheet music form from amazon.co.uk (next to Search: All Departments, type in the song title). Good luck!

[uomepics]

I also remember this from 40 years ago. At the time I was a supervisor in a workshop where loads of ladies sat assembling the original Sinclair calculators. (what rubbish they were at £70!!!) Most afternoons they would play this lovely song on the radio and all the ladies would sing along with it while they worked. One late, dark afternoon while they were singing to it I flicked all the lights off. That made them all jump! Ha Ha .

[Cazz1612]

This is a wonderful song which I hear tonight for the first time in over 40 years! It was being played on the radio during my stay in a maternity home after giving birth to my daughter and it always made me come out in goose bumps with its beautiful melody and lyrics. As it didn't climb too high in the charts it seemed to have disappeared, so pleased I have found it.

[Glamagal20091]

I forgot to mention...I love this!

[0101mhy]

Man, I've been looking for this for years!

[proto1type]

@Iwillfollowyou : Thank you so much for posting this. I know Dana had this as her follow up to "All Kinds of Everything" and remember hearing it often played on good old Radio Luxembourg. What memories !!! Lovely song, beautifully sung by a pretty Irish girl.

[eugenm]

Wow ! Thank you ! ... I wish you all the best !