An older piece of writing on an enigmatic and perhaps reluctant Pop Star in the 1970's.
Sometimes a song really makes an immediate and lasting impression.
In the case of the 1972 chart single “You’re a Lady” by the singer, songwriter Peter Skellern I found a sort of inner peace which for a lad of 9 years old as I was at the time was something truly special and endearing.
Even at the time of its release in the UK it was regarded as retro and when pitted against the rest of that year’s summer crop of singles many would not have given it a chance of doing anything.
There was strong competition from the Glam Rockers of T Rex, The Sweet and Slade. Shiny toothed, cutesy and clean living performers such as Donny Osmond ,David Cassidy and The Carpenters were part of an American invasion of ballads and pop tunes not to mention the superstars of that decade in Bowie, Simon and Garfunkel, Alice Cooper, Bread and the perennial Elvis Presley.
Skellern had composed a song for piano which could be regarded as being well off trend although not unlike another Brit in the charts, Gilbert O’Sullivan who had by that time enjoyed a lot of success including a Stateside chart topper with “Alone again, naturally”.
What made Skellern’s composition quite unique was the accompaniment by a brass band, the revered but now discontinued Hanwell Band with the outcome being a poignant melody and wistful tone that really caught the attention of the record buying public.
To me it was an indication of the mainstream acceptance of two forms of music that I had grown up with.
Our Mother was, in her teenage years, a highly trained and gifted pianist, perhaps destined for stage and studio had it not been for family commitments and supporting the career of our Father in High Street banking.
The piano was the centre of the house being used to teach a few private students, well mostly the children of friends and neighbours as well as hosting many a singalong at family gatherings although it was not at all necessary to have a special occasion to gather around and let rip.
I regret not having the patience, temperament or aptitude to have learned that instrument apart from a one finger rendition of “God Save The Queen” and “What shall we do with a drunken sailor?”.
The upright model remains in daily use by Mother and it has done well to survive many years of disrespectful misuse by me and my siblings. We climbed on it, regularly spilt our drinks into it, scratched and knocked it and even caught mice in it.
I was not to inherit our Mother's piano playing gene but did take up the Cornet and performed for many years on the back row of out towns’ third division championship Brass Band. This was by way of homage to my maternal Grandfather who was a great Bandsman in his lifetime.
“You’re a Lady” made it to number 3 in the UK charts in October 1972 being prevented from reaching top spot by Lieutenant Pigeon’s “Mouldy old dough” and “How can I be sure” by David Cassidy.
In that year it was the 54th best performing single from 11 weeks on the chart.
Skellern had another top twenty listing in 1975 with “Hold on to Love”.
His songwriting never got the attention or accolades that it merited even though he released 15 albums up until 1996. It was in different writing and performance directions that he built up a loyal following. Clever lyrics on topical subjects saw him featuring on the BBC Radio 4 “Stop the Week” show and in 1982 he was on the billing at the Royal Variety Performance. In that same year he co wrote with Vangelis “One more kiss dear” which was part of the soundtrack of the cult sci fi movie Blade Runner.
1984 saw Skellern form “Oasis”, a supergroup including Mary Hopkin and Julian Lloyd Webber and although recording an album the illustrious members did not tour and soon disbanded.
In 1985 he teamed up with the satirist and comedian Richard Stilgoe as a double act and toured extensively with a two man stage show of songs and the written word.
His concert pianist training from Guildhall School of Music and Drama was the grounding for his distinctive songs and lyrical observations which also included church music.
Diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour Peter Skellern became an ordained priest in the Church of England in 2016 and sadly died in February 2017.
His has been a remarkable story.
I cannot help but get quite emotional when listening to the beautiful 1972 song. It is an absolute classic.
See what you think.......................................................
Peter Skellern "You're a Lady" 1972
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