"Day After Day" is one of the best-known songs by the British rock band Badfinger. According to Wikipedia, it was released in the US as a single in November, 1971 and in January, 1972 elsewhere. It was a top 10 hit in the US and the UK in January of 1972, and eventually went Gold in March of that year. "Day After Day" was the band's only Gold single. It appeared on their album Straight Up. (link)
Badfinger began as a band called the Iveys, formed in Swansea, Wales in 1961. The Iveys were the first band signed by the Beatles' Apple Label in 1968. One of the original members left, and they renamed themselves Badfinger in 1969. They went on to have four worldwide hits between 1970 and 1972: "Come and Get It" (written and produced by Paul McCartney), "No Matter What", "Day after Day" and "Baby Blue." (link)
Many acclaimed musicians participated in the recording of "Day After Day". The song was written and sung by Pete Ham, and produced by the Beatles' George Harrison. Harrison also plays some of the slide guitar parts, along with Ham. Leon Russell, another well-known musician, played the piano. George Harrison stopped working on the Straight Up album to produce the Concert for Bangladesh, and Todd Rundgren took over the project. "Day After Day" was still unfinished when Harrison left, and the final mix of the song was done by Rundgren. (link)
The band Badfinger did not have a happy ending, but that's not the focus of this post. "Day After Day" is a seemingly simple but well-crafted song, full of love and longing. It tells the story of a man who proclaims his love to someone who has left. We don't know what happened between them, but he is sad and lonely, and hopes they will be back together soon. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful love songs ever written, and it stands the test of time.
The video, linked to YouTube at the top of this post, shows clips of the band walking through the open countryside, spending time at a farmhouse, wading in a stream, and enjoying being together on a beautiful day. A woman is present in some of the shots, presumably a wife or girlfriend of one of the band members. I could not find out where the video was filmed, but since the band members were Welsh, it was most likely somewhere in Wales. I don't know if was the actual promotional video, or if it was put together later, but it is a joyful, hopeful, life affirming video that accompanies the song perfectly. I hope you enjoy it!
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| Sunset (Photo by Madalin Colita) (link) |
