The Styrous® Viewfinder: Lady Godiva

June 21, 2024

20,000 vinyl LPs 366: Peter and Gordon ~ Lady Godiva

vinyl LP front cover

cover photo by Roland Young

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Today is the birthday of Peter Asher who is an English guitarist, singer, manager and record producer. He was born on June 21, 1944, and came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the pop music vocal duo Peter and Gordon before going on to a career as a manager and record producer, and instrumental in the recording careers of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt among others.

This is a nice album by the guys but it is not their best. However, I love this album simply for one song, Lady Godiva! It is in the style of Herman's Hermits, the Beatles (not surprising considering their collaborations) or Harry Nilsonn, in particular, Daddy's Song, which he wrote for the film, Head, by the Monkees in which Davy Jones danced with Toni Basil (link below); it is bouncy and happy with some great instrumentation that includes an infectious banjo played by Peter Asher.

Peter and Gordon ~ Lady Godiva

vinyl LP back cover

back cover photos by Rod Dyer

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Who was Lady Godiva? She is mainly remembered for a legend dating back to at least the 13th century, in which she rode naked – covered only by her long hair – through the streets of Coventry to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation that her husband, Leofric, imposed on his tenants. The name "Peeping Tom" for a voyeur originates from later versions of this legend, in which a man named Thomas watched her ride and was struck blind or dead.

Lady Godiva by John Collier, c. 1897

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry

Lady Godiva was originally released as a single; it only made it to No. 16 in the UK but it became one of the duo's greatest successes in the United States, rising to No. 6 in December 1966.

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Lady Godiva, written by Mills*, Leander* - 2:26
A2 - The Exodus Song, written by Ernest Gold, Pat Boone - 2:57
A3 - Young And Beautiful, written by Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver - 2:55
A4 - When I Fall In Love, written by Edward Heyman, Victor Young - 3:06
A5 - A Taste Of Honey, written by Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow - 2:35
A6 - Baby I'm Yours, written by McCoy* - 2:39

Side 2:

B1 - Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, written by Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain - 2:04
B2 - Morning's Calling, written by Gordon Waller, Peter Asher - 2:51
B3 - Start Trying Someone Else, written by Gordon Waller, Peter Asher - 3:28
B4 - If I Fell, written by John Lennon-Paul McCartney* - 2:17
B5 - Till There Was You, written by Meredith Willson - 2:02

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville

Credits:

    Photography By [Cover] – Roland Young (3)
    Photography By [Liner] – Rod Dyer
    Producer – John Burgess

Notes:

"New Improved Full Dimensional Stereo"

1st catalog number appears on labels, the 2nd appears on the cover

All selections are ASCAP, except A1 & B4, which are BMI

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Rights Society: ASCAP
    Rights Society: BMI
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): ST-X-1-2664
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): ST-X-2-2664
    Matrix / Runout (Stamped Side A): ST1-2664-W1 0
    Matrix / Runout (Stamped Side B): ST2-2664-W1 0

Peter & Gordon – Lady Godiva
Label:    Capitol Records – ST-2664, Capitol Records – ST 2664
Format:    Vinyl, LP, Stereo, Jacksonville Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genre:    Rock
Style:    Pop Rock

Viewfinder links:

Peter Asher

Toni Basil

Herman's Hermits

Davy Jones

Peter and Gordon

Linda Ronstadt

James Taylor

Gordon Waller

Net links:

YouTube links:

Lady Godiva