"Stand Tall" is the title of an international hit single by
Burton Cummings
Burton Lorne Cummings (born December 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for leading The Guess Who during that band's most successful period from 1965 to 1975, and for a lengthy solo career.
Cummings has ...
, taken from his eponymous debut album. The song was released less than two years after "Dancin' Fool", the final hit single by the group for which Cummings had been lead singer,
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of "Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After c ...
.
The recording was issued as the album's lead single in the fall of 1976, spending 21 weeks on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and reaching number 10. It reached number 5 on the US
''Cash Box'' Top 100, and spent four weeks at number 4 in Canada. The track became a Gold record.
"Stand Tall" was an even bigger Adult Contemporary hit, reaching number 2 in the US and spending one week at number 1 in Canada.
It was kept from the number 1 position on the US AC chart by the
Captain and Tennille
Captain & Tennille were American recording artists whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinum ...
's hit, "
Muskrat Love
"Muskrat Love" is a soft rock song written by Willis Alan Ramsey. The song depicts a romantic liaison between two anthropomorphic muskrats named Susie and Sam. It was first recorded in 1972 by Ramsey for his sole album release ''Willis Alan Ram ...
".
While the song was climbing the charts,
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem (April 27, 1932 – June 15, 2014) was an American disc jockey, actor, and radio personality, who created and hosted several radio countdown programs, notably '' American Top 40''. He was the first actor to voice Nor ...
reported on ''
American Top 40
''American Top 40'' (previously abbreviated to ''AT40'') is an internationally syndicated, independent song countdown radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs. The program is currently hosted by Ryan Seacr ...
'' that shortly following Cummings' departure from
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of "Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After c ...
to pursue a solo career, his girlfriend of nine years left him for another man. "Stand Tall" was born from him taking his frustration, challenges and despondency to the piano and forging the melody there.
In his native Canada, Burton Cummings was nominated for the Juno Award as 1977 Composer of the Year for "Stand Tall".
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
External links
* {{YouTube, fv4auV-QOJ8, Burton Cummings - Stand Tall
1976 singles
1976 songs
Burton Cummings songs
Songs written by Burton Cummings
Song recordings produced by Richard Perry