They Dont Know --- Tracey Ullman Cover 80s

"They Don't Know" is a song written by Kirsty MacColl. MacColl recorded it in 1979. It became popular on radio in the United Kingdom reaching #2 on the Airplay chart; however, complications involving a strike at her distributors prevented the single from being shipped and promoted properly, preventing release of the single. MacColl's version of "They Don't Know" thus failed to appear on the official UK Singles Charts, which are entirely sales-based.

Although the song was not taken from an album, it later appeared on MacColl's compilation Galore


In 1983, Tracey Ullman included a version on her debut album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. This song was the album's most successful single, charting in the top ten of various national charts. MacColl performed backing vocals on Ullman's version and keeping her original "bay-ay-be-ee" in the middle of the song, which went to #2 in the U.K., #8 in the U.S., and became the theme song for the final three seasons of Ullman's later television series Tracey Takes On. The song was referenced in a PSA by Ullman and Chris Burke about Down syndrome.

The video for "They Don't Know" featured a cameo from Paul McCartney; at the time Ullman was filming a minor role in McCartney's film Give My Regards To Broad Street.

It is sometimes erroneously reported that Ullman's version of "They Don't Know" simply uses the backing track from MacColl's original single. In fact, the two versions are quite audibly different; Ullman's version (produced by Peter Collins) is in a different key (C, as opposed to the original's B), features a very slightly faster tempo, a somewhat different arrangement and a noticably different guitar solo to MacColl's version, which was produced by Liam Sternberg.

The confusion may stem from the fact that Ullman did use a previously-existing MacColl backing track when recording her own version of MacColl's "Terry" in 1984. (Both versions of "Terry" were co-produced by MacColl.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• They
• Don't
• Know
• Kirsty
• MacColl
• 1979
• Tracey
• Ullman
• Paul
• McCartney
• 80s
• music
• 4846steven
• yt:quality=high
• singer
• sings
• acoustic
• 1983

[cheyennebritbrat]

i LOVE your choice of songs, theyre ones that i never hear lovely covers of,..it sounds so different,,,brings whole new m eaning to the song, just so sweet...thumbs up!

[4846steven]

@cheyennebritbrat thank you my friend

[gsrdtg]

your the real deal man....nice job

[FatknackerMacca]

Very nice indeed, well done.

[alexandraxxxxxx]

I could never image anyone doing a better version than kirsty's.....this is so amazing guys...steven your voice sounds so beautiful ....applause applause.....

great to hear again....

[astr0al3x]

Very smooth: Love the style you add to the song.

[phulme61]

Yes my talented friends a beautiful cover - thanx for uploading !

[prinsallan]

Superb!

[OnionTrollsAlliance]

I love your cover - well done! Thanks also for the background info.

[Crazynetkev]

What a great cover of this song! Who are you guys?