Windy (song)
Template:Hatgrp Template:Infobox song "Windy" is a pop song written by Ruthann Friedman and recorded by the Association.<ref name=pc37>Template:Cite web</ref> The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1967, becoming the group's second U.S. No. 1 hit following "Cherish" in 1966. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 4 song for 1967.
The lead vocals were sung primarily by guitarist and new band member Larry Ramos along with vocalist Russ Giguere (both would sing lead together in the band's last Top 40 hit "Time for Livin'Template:-"). Ramos, who was of Filipino descent, was one of the few Asian-American lead singers at the time to have a number one hit single.<REF>LAtimes.com "Passings - Larry Ramos" May 5, 2014. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2024.</REF>
Composition
Friedman was introduced to the Association by her friend and Beach Boys lyricist Van Dyke Parks. She wrote "Windy" in waltz time, but the group's producer Bones Howe changed it to the more common [[Time signature|Template:Music]] to ensure the song's commercial appeal.<ref name="songfacts" />Template:Efn
Friedman had written the song about a man but the Association changed the gender in the lyrics.<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref><ref name="songfacts" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In an interview with Songfacts, she said:<ref name="songfacts" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Quote
However, in another interview with Songfacts in 2014, she explained that the song was about herself:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recording
The process of recording the vocals was exhausting. The session started in the early afternoon and ended at 6:30 a.m. the next day, and the group then took an 8:30 a.m. flight to a live performance in Virginia.<ref name="songfacts">Template:Cite web</ref> The band was so tired of recording that producer Bones Howe gathered everyone in the studio to sing the track's ending, including songwriter Ruthann Friedman.<ref name="songfacts" /><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Because of the poor sales of the Association's last album Renaissance, on which the group performed all of the songs, Howe recruited session musicians (later known as the Wrecking Crew) for "Windy" and the rest of the Insight Out album in order to achieve a radio-friendly sound. The identity of the session musicians who played on the final version of the single is uncertain because the song was recorded during several sessions, but it is likely that Hal Blaine played drums, Joe Osborn played bass, Ray Pohlman played guitar and Larry Knechtel played keyboards.<ref name="songfacts" />
Personnel
According to the AFM contract sheet, the following musicians played on the track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ray Pohlman
- Hal Blaine
- Dennis Budimir
- Al Casey
- Mike Deasy
- Bones Howe
- Larry Knechtel
- Joe Osborn
- Gary Coleman
- Bill Holman
- Bud Shank
- Gene Cipriano
- Vincent DeRosa
- Richard Perissi
Chart history
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
Weekly charts
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Go-Set)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 35 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 |
| New Zealand (Listener)<ref>Flavour of New Zealand, 15 September 1967</ref> | 6 |
| South Africa (Springbok)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100<ref>Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - Template:ISBN</ref> | 1 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100<ref>Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 8, 1967</ref> | 1 |
| US Record World Singles Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1967) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada<ref>RPM Top 100 Singles of 1967</ref> | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100<ref>Musicoutfitters.com</ref> | 4 |
| U.S. Cash Box<ref>Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 23, 1967</ref> | 7 |
All-time charts
| Chart (1958-2018) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 393 |
Notable cover versions
- Later in 1967, an instrumental version by jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery became his highest-charting Hot 100 hit when it peaked at No. 44.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It also reached No. 10 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Andy Williams also recorded the song.