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Forever (Roy Wood song)

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"Forever"
Single by Roy Wood
B-side"Music To Commit Suicide By"
Released16 November 1973
Recorded1973
GenrePop music
Length4:09
LabelHarvest Records (HAR 5078)
Songwriter(s)Roy Wood
Producer(s)Roy Wood
Roy Wood singles chronology
"Dear Elaine"
(1973)
"Forever"
(1973)
"Goin' Down the Road"
(1974)
Official audio
"Forever" on YouTube

"Forever" is a 1973 single, which was written and produced by Roy Wood.[1] Wood played all of the musical instruments on the recording, as well as supplying lead and multi-tracked backing vocals. The song was globally published by Carlin Music Corp.[2][3]

The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] The single remained in the UK chart for 13 weeks, straddling the final month of 1973 and the start of the following year.[4] The single enjoyed a higher placing in the UK chart in January 1974, than Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday".[5][6] The A-side of the single's label bore the script "with special thanks to Brian Wilson and Neil Sedaka for their influence".[7] The track was also released as a single in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal and South Africa.[8]

Wood appeared with the song on BBC's Top of the Pops on three occasions: 20 December 1973, 3 January 1974 and 17 January 1974.[9]

"Forever" has appeared on numerous compilation albums,[10] including Wood's own Singles (1993, Connoisseur Records).[11] and Through the Years: The Best of Roy Wood.[12][13]

Reception

[edit]

Alexis Petridis, writing in The Guardian, described it as "a solo hit that imagined what it would be like if Neil Sedaka had joined The Beach Boys with beautiful results".[14]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1973/74) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 43
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 8

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 674. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  2. ^ "Forever / Music to Commit Suicide By by Roy Wood". Rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Roy Wood - Forever - 7" Single - Atlas Records". Atlasrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, England: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 610. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ "Roy Wood - The Enigmatic Wizard of Rock. (Tom Bates Derbyshire Peak District Author, Writer, Poet)". Aboutderbyshire.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Billboard". 9 February 1974. p. 43.
  7. ^ Petridis, Alexis (November 8, 2016). "Britain's lost pop genius: the glam rocker who hated being in the spotlight". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Roy Wood - Forever". Discogs.com. 16 November 1973. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. ^ "The Television & Radio Database - Top of the Pops". tvrdb.com.
  10. ^ "Forever - Roy Wood | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Singles - Roy Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 2 - The Record Producers, Roy Wood, Episode 2". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Through the Years: The Best of Roy Wood - Roy Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  14. ^ Petridis, Alexis (8 November 2016). "Britain's lost pop genius: the glam rocker who hated being in the spotlight". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  15. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 343. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.