"The Combine Harvester" is a novelty song which was a number one hit for Brendan Grace in Ireland in 1975 and then also for The Wurzels in the UK in 1976. Written by Brendan O'Shaughnessy, the song is a parody of Melanie Safka's 1971 hit, "Brand New Key", with rustic lyrics replacing the original theme of roller-skating.[2]
| "The Combine Harvester" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Brendan Grace | |
| Released | 1975 |
| Genre | |
| Composer(s) | Melanie Safka |
| Lyricist(s) | Brendan O'Shaughnessy (new lyrics) |
| "The Combine Harvester" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by The Wurzels | |
| B-side | "The Blackbird" |
| Released | May 1976[1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:03 |
| Label | Solo, EMI[1] |
| Producer(s) | Tommy Ellis, Bob Barratt[1] |
| Official Audio | |
| "The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)" on YouTube | |
In the UK the song was released by The Wurzels, a band from Somerset with a rustic West Country style which they called "Scrumpy and Western". It reached number one on 12 June 1976 and stayed there for two weeks.[1]
Charts
edit| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 97 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[4] | Silver | 250,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d Jon Kutner (2010), 1000 UK Number One Hits, Omnibus Press, ISBN 9780857123602
- ^ Audrey Healy (2002), Dubliners: What's the Story?, Currach Press, p. 67, ISBN 9781856079006
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 344. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "British single certifications – Wurzels – Combine Harvester". British Phonographic Industry.
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