![NoMilkToday](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/NoMilkToday.jpg)
"No Milk Today" is a song that was written by
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the co-lead singer and bassist of the art rock band 10cc. He has been the band's only constant member since its formation in 1972. Before 10cc ...
and originally recorded by British pop band
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat, rock and pop group formed in 1964 in Manchester, originally called Herman and His Hermits and featuring lead singer Peter Noone. Produced by Mickie Most, the Hermits charted with number ones in the UK a ...
. It was first released as a single by the
Mancunian group in the UK in October 1966 and, with the B-side "My Reservation's Been Confirmed", enjoyed chart success, peaking at No. 7 in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
Although not released as a single in the US ("
Dandy
A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance. A dandy could be a self-made man who strove to imitate an aristocratic lifestyle desp ...
" was released in its place with the same B-side), it was popular enough to become a moderate hit when it was released there as the B-side to "
There's a Kind of Hush", reaching No. 35 in 1967 (the A-side reaching No. 4). It was also a major hit in many European countries.
Music and lyrics
The song, which is dominated by its downcast reflective verses in A-minor and neatly complemented by its interjecting upbeat chorus in A-major, was the second major song Gouldman wrote for Herman's Hermits (the previous being "
Listen People
"Listen People" is a song written by Graham Gouldman and performed by Herman's Hermits. The song was produced by Mickie Most. It was featured on their 1966 album, ''Volume 2: The Best of Herman's Hermits''.
It reached #1 in Canada, #3 on both the ...
", a US #3).
The lyrics refer to the practice, common at the time, of
milkmen delivering fresh milk in bottles to residential houses each morning. The love interest of the song's protagonist has just moved out, so the household needs less milk. The notice in front of the house, asking the milkman not to leave the usual bottle, while seeming mundane to passers-by ("how could they know just what this message means?"), symbolises to the singer himself the break-up of his relationship ("the end of all my dreams").
Gouldman wrote the song for
The Hollies
The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke (singer), Allan Clarke and Graham ...
after he saw a "no milk today" notice outside a friend's house one day, and his father observed that could be for various reasons.
The single was the first track for which the band employed a string section.
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 July 18, 1792) was a Scottish-American naval captain who was the United States' first well-known naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. He made many friends among U.S political elites ( ...
, later of
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
fame, was credited for introducing the chimes during the song, publicly praised by
Peter Noone
Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone (born 5 November 1947) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actor. He was the lead singer "Herman" in the 1960s pop group Herman's Hermits.
Early life
Noone was born in Davyhulme, Lancashir ...
.
Recordings
Later the song was recorded by Gouldman himself as the sole single (released with "The Impossible Years") from his 1968 debut album ''
The Graham Gouldman Thing
''The Graham Gouldman Thing'' is the debut album by singer-songwriter Graham Gouldman, later a founding member of 10cc.
Overview
Prior to the album's recording Graham Gouldman had established himself as a hit singles songwriter, with his most ...
'' and, in 2006, it was included on the compilation album ''
Greatest Hits ... And More'', released by Gouldman's own band
10cc
10cc are an English rock band formed in Stockport in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme – who had written and recorded together since 1968. The group featured t ...
.
The song was extensively used in a 2009 commercial campaign for the Norwegian milk company
Tine. It was also used for a commercial of the Dutch milk company Coberco in the 1990s.
A German version "Brötchen und Milch" was released by the Oldenburg beat group
The Four Kings
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
on the Metronome label in 1966.
The Spanish rendering "Todo Cambió" was recorded in 1967 by
Lita Torelló
Lita or LITA may refer to:
People
* Lita (given name)
*Lita (wrestler) (born 1975), American professional wrestler
*Adriana Lita, Materials scientist
* Leroy Lita (born 1984), Congo football player
* Selina Jahan Lita, Bangladesh Awami League poli ...
(
es).
"No Milk Today" has also been included in the official ''
Sons of Anarchy
''Sons of Anarchy'' is an American action crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter for FX. Originally aired from September 3, 2008 to December 9, 2014, ''Sons of Anarchy'' follows the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club ope ...
'' soundtrack, covered by frequent soundtrack contributor
The Forest Rangers, featuring folk singer
Joshua James. The cover appeared in the first episode of season 3.
The
ex YU and Serbian band
Riblja Čorba
Riblja Čorba ( sr-Cyrl, Рибља Чорба, pronounced ; translation: lit. ''Fish Stew'') is a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1978. The band was one of the most popular and most influential acts of the Yugoslav ...
produced a hard rock cover in Serbian, "Danas nema mleka", a protest song criticizing the
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević (, ; 20 August 1941 – 11 March 2006) was a Yugoslav and Serbian politician who was the president of Serbia within Yugoslavia from 1989 to 1997 (originally the Socialist Republic of Serbia, a constituent republic of ...
regime, for their 1993 album ''
Zbogom, Srbijo''. Inspired by the title of the original, the Serbian cover turns the meaning around and opens up with the lyrics "Danas nema mleka, danas nema hleba" ("today there is no milk, today there is no bread"), criticizing the heavily declined standard of living in Serbia at the time.
See also
*
Herman's Hermits discography
References
{{authority control
1966 songs
1966 singles
Herman's Hermits songs
Song recordings produced by Mickie Most
Songs written by Graham Gouldman
Royal Gigolos songs
Milk in culture