"Band of Gold" is a

traditional pop Traditional pop (also known as classic pop and pre-rock and roll pop) is Western culture, Western pop music that generally pre-dates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The most popular and enduring songs from this era of music are known ...

song, with music by Jack Taylor and lyrics by Bob Musel. It was published in 1955. The biggest hit version was recorded by

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

in 1955. This version reached number 5 on the pop chart in the United States. Another recording was done in 1955 by singer Kit Carson (born Liza Morrow) that reached number 17 on the Top 100, and there was also a British cover by

Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...

. Cherry re-recorded the song for his album, '' There Goes My Everything'', in 1968. Singer

Mel Carter Mel Carter (born April 22, 1939, Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American singer and actor. He is best known for his 1965 million-selling recording, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Biography At age 16 Carter studied singing with vocalist Little Jimmy Sc ...

recorded the song in two different versions, once in

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lyndo ...

and again in

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

. The latter version peaked at number 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and went to number one on the

Easy Listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

chart, where it remained for two weeks in May 1966.

In popular culture

's recording of "Band of Gold" was the first song played after the opening credits in the first episode of the first season of AMC's Emmy-winning television series ''

Mad Men ''Mad Men'' is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television. It ran on the cable network AMC from July 19, 2007, to May 17, 2015, lasting for seven seasons and 92 episodes. Its fict ...

'', and also appears in Mad Men's sixth season finale. * Cherry's recording is also among the pop and rock hits sampled in the early break-in comedy rock hit "The Flying Saucer (Parts 1 & 2)" by Buchanan & Goodman in 1956.

References

{{authority control 1955 songs 1955 singles 1966 singles Don Cherry songs Mel Carter songs Songs with lyrics by Robert Musel

In popular culture

See also

References