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Brad Kyle's avatar

That was purty, MK! I'd not heard it before! It seems to have been written (by Byron Hill and Tony Hiller, co-writer of a couple hits for '70s group, Brotherhood of Man) just for her.

You mentioned sounding somewhat like her...when I was doing my elementary school teaching just over a dozen years ago, we had a music teacher whose singing voice sounded astoundingly similar to Murray's! It was so remarkable, I suggested she somehow find a way to monetize it....tribute show, cruise line gig...anything! She, of course, was a Murray fan, but it was uncanny how similar to Ann she sounded!

I actually ran into that gal about a month ago at a local eatery (she recognized me first, but I remembered her)!

MK Piatkowski's avatar

I saw who the songwriters were but I don't know anything about Brotherhood of Man. Please educate me!

Brad Kyle's avatar

First, there's this cover of a 5th Dimension hit by Brotherhood of Man, as I profiled that song's writer, Dorothea Joyce: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/dissecting-a-hit-dorothea-joyce-and

The two '70s hits for BofM were "United We Stand" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZB96cvBjy8, released in 1970, written by Tony HIller and Peter Simons. It became the band's first hit, peaking at #13 in the U.S., #9 in Canada, and #10 in the U.K.

In 1976, Hiller was keen for Brotherhood of Man to make an impact in the UK and decided to put "Save Your Kisses for Me" forward to the A Song for Europe competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi42zcOM5rw. The song (written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Leewon), won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest. It became a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in many countries, including the UK, where it became the biggest-selling song of the year.

There ya go, MK! Your BofM primer! Enjoy!

MK Piatkowski's avatar

Thanks! I do know United We Stand and Save Your Kisses for Me, just didn't know the artist. Also didn't know that the UK did win Eurovision once upon a time. The things we learn!

Brad Kyle's avatar

And, of course you know the Eurovision is how and where we first learned of ABBA, as their "Waterloo" won the '74 prize for Sweden. Ya, shure!!

MK Piatkowski's avatar

Eurovision is quite the event.