Top 10 Peter And Gordon Songs

Photo: Peter Grad, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

With our Top Ten Peter and Gordon songs we look at a duo who were made up of singers Peter Asher and Gordon Waller. As part of the British Invasion era, they had a string of hits during their time together from 1963 to 1968. Before entering the music business, Asher was already in show business from being a child where he was a television actor along with his sister Jane. Through Jane, Asher came to know Beatles bassist Paul McCartney who was in a relationship with her for five years between 1963-1968. Asher and Gordan Waller had formed as a duo when they were both at school together and it would seem that they were something of an early pet project for Paul McCartney who wrote several of their early singles, all of which became hits.

They would continue to have several more hits throughout the 1960’s which were not written by Paul McCartney. They finally disbanded in 1968 presumably after feeling that their career had reached its limit. Although Waller seemingly retired from the music business and faded into obscurity, Asher would continue to work in the industry as an A & R man as well as a manager and producer, which he would continue to do throughout the seventies and eighties.

Many years later in 2005, Peter and Gordon reunited for a brief period after performing on stage together at a tribute for Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five. Although they would not record any more music, they would regularly perform at events where they were met with a largely positive reception. However, this reunion came to an end in 2009 when Waller died of a heart attack.

Here is a list of our picks for the 10 Best Peter And Gordon songs.

# 10 – If I Fell

Kicking off our top ten Peter and Gordon songs list is this cover of a song by The Beatles released in 1964. Like several of Peter and Gordon’s early singles it was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon but is notable the only track that they recorded that was actually also recorded by The Beatles.

# 9 – Lady Godiva

Continuing with our top 10 Peter And Gordon songs at number nine is this single released in 1966. It is a music-hall style number that imagines the Anglo-Saxon legend of Lady Godiva in a modern-day setting. It depicts her being pimped by an adult film director to star in his picture. It was a different style for the duo who had previously recorded sentimental love songs. It reached number fifteen on the UK singles chart and topped the indies.

# 8 – Woman

This song was also released in 66 and was the title track of their sixth album. It was written by Paul McCartney under the name Bernard Webb to see if a hit could be achieved without being credited to the Lennon-McCartney name as several of Peter and Gordon’s previous hits had been. This was achieved as the song did well in several places across the globe, reaching number one on the Canadian RPM singles chart.

# 7 – Baby I’m Yours

This is a cover of the Barbara Lewis song released in 1965 and featured on the Lady Godiva album. It reached number nineteen in the UK. It was recorded during a session at Abbey Road and produced by Norman Newell. It is notable as being Peter and Gordon’s only collaboration with arranger Tony Osbourne.

# 6 – To Know Him Is To Love Him

This is another cover song which was originally by Phil Spector which was titled “To Know You Is To Love You.” It spent ten weeks on the UK singles chart where it peaked at number five. It got to the same position on the Canadian RPM charts. In the US it spent seven weeks on the Billboard where it got to number twenty-four.

# 5 – True Love Ways

This track is one of many covers of the song which was originally by Buddy Holly. Taken from The Best of Peter and Gordon, it was released in 1965 and got to number two on the UK charts as well number fourteen on the US Billboard. Other notable version of it are by people such as Mickey Gilley and Cliff Richard.

# 4 – I Go To Pieces

This song taken from the album of the same name was written by Del Shannon and was a top ten hit for Peter and Gordon released in 1965. It was their fourth single and the first not to be written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Although it failed to chart in Britain, it got to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It is the title track of the duo’s third US album release.

# 3 – I Don’t Want To See You Again

This third single was one of a string of singles that was written by Paul McCartney and credited under the name Lennon-McCartney. Released in 1964, it reached number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Unlike other singles that were written by Paul McCartney, this song was not a hit in the United Kingdom. Despite being credited under both his and Paul McCartney’s partnership name, John Lennon did not actually have any involvement in writing the song.

# 2 – Nobody I Know

Just off the top spot is another song written by Paul McCartney. It was released in 1964 as the follow up to Peter and Gordon’s debut single “A World Without Love.” Paul McCartney wrote it with the purpose in mind of creating a follow up hit. This success was achieved, with the song reaching number ten in the UK and number twelve in the US.

# 1 – A World Without Love

At the top spot on our top ten Peter and Gordon songs list is their debut single released in 1964. It is the title track of their debut album. It was their first song to be written by Paul McCartney during the time that he was dating Peter Asher’s sister. It was a massive hit for the duo, reaching number one in the both the UK and the US as well as several other countries.

Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to republish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission.