Peter and Gordon - True Love Ways

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In June 1964, Peter & Gordon became the very first British Invasion act after the Beatles to take the number one spot on the American charts with "A World Without Love." That hit, and their subsequent successes, were due as much or more to their important connections as to their talent. Peter Asher was the older brother of Jane Asher, Paul McCartney's girlfriend for much of the 1960s. This no doubt gave Asher and Gordon Waller access to Lennon-McCartney compositions that were unrecorded by the Beatles, such as "A World Without Love" and three of their other biggest hits, "Nobody I Know," "I Don't Want to See You Again," and "Woman" (the last of which was written by McCartney under a pseudonym). But Peter & Gordon were significant talents in their own right, a sort of Everly Brothers-styled duo for the British Invasion that faintly prefigured the folk-rock of the mid-'60s. In fact, when Gene Clark first approached Jim McGuinn in 1964 about working together in a group that would eventually evolve into the Byrds, he suggested that they could form a Peter & Gordon-styled act.

Asher and Waller had been singing together since their days at Westminster School for Boys, a private school in London. "A World Without Love" was their biggest and best hit, one that sounded very much like the Beatles' more pop-oriented originals. Their other two 1964 hits, "Nobody I Know" and "I Don't Want to See You Again," were pleasant but less distinguished. Sounding like McCartney-dominated Beatle rejects (which, in fact, they were), the production employed a softer, more acoustic feel than the hits by the Beatles and other early British Invasion guitar bands. "I Don't Want to See You Again" used strings, as would several of the duo's subsequent hits, which became increasingly middle-of-the-road in their pop orientation.

Some scattered folky B-sides showed that Asher and Waller may have been capable of developing into decent songwriters, but like many of the less talented British Invaders, their lack of songwriting acumen and ability to move with the times would eventually work against them. They did continue to hit the charts for a couple of years, with updates of the oldies "True Love Ways" (Buddy Holly) and "To Know You Is to Love You" (a variation of the Teddy Bears' "To Know Her Is to Love Her"). There was also a Top Ten cover of Del Shannon's "I Go to Pieces," and the brassy, McCartney-penned "Woman." The overtly cute and British novelty "Lady Godiva," though, became their last big hit in late 1966.

After Peter & Gordon broke up in 1968, Asher became an enormously successful producer, first as the director of A&R at the Beatles' Apple Records (where he worked on James Taylor's first album). Relocating to Los Angeles, in the 1970s he was one of the principal architects of mellow Californian rock, producing Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.

~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• british
• rock

[ProudKansan08]

So beautiful!! Usually I don't like remakes of the already perfect one that came out before, but this is just as beautiful as Buddy Holly's version.

[John1948Ten]

@ProudKansan08 Yes, both versions are great. They are different enough that one doesn't need to try to rate them against each other. Both stand alone quite well.

[TCall2004]

@John1948Ten - there was a Buddy Holly tribute on PBS the other night. A gentleman named Raul Malo sung this song and did a beautiful job of it.

[John1948Ten]

@TCall2004 I heard about that special twice today. I wish I had watched it.

[musicalrich1]

John1948Ten, Thanks for the extensive research on Peter & Gordon. I knew a lot about them & even saw them in Cleveland, OH in April 1966, but you have even stumped me with your comments. Good job!

[John1948Ten]

@musicalrich1 Thanks Rich. As far as the comments go - I just look them up online and put them with the video. And I learn as I go.

[mpzhank]

Beautiful...rest in peace Gordon.

[TheLuckylady54]

This is my all-time favorite slow dance tune -- it was then, and it still is. These two guys were terrific!

[TonyHickschick]

A very grand cover on a great classic

[wjarcs]

it is a great song,, the real true love ways,,, thnx to the duo performer.

[TCall2004]

@fogologo100 - Er, 64 isn't really old. Not in this day and age.

[TCall2004]

@rjdippin - I saw a recent photo of Jane. She looks pretty good!

[TCall2004]

@John1948Ten - I'm sure it will be rerun. It's supposed to be shown a couple of times in December.

[aocleasa]

I STILL HAVE THIS SONG, ITS MY COLLECTIONS OF THE OLDIES AND I LOVE IT. WISH I COULD GO BACK TO 60'S. IM A FILPINO AND THIS SONG IS IMMORTAL.

[btaleonard02]

Simply beautiful. Great song and a perfect rendition. RIP Gordon.

[rareone2369]

While I do like P&G they did not do this song very well compared to Bobby Vee and Buddy Holly.