"You to Me Are Everything" is a song by British soul group the Real Thing, released as a single in 1976. Written by Ken Gold and Michael Denne and produced by Gold,[1] "You to Me Are Everything" was the Real Thing's sole number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top in July 1976.[2] The song was re-released ten years later titled the "Decade Remix" which returned the song to the chart in March 1986, reaching number five.
"You to Me Are Everything" | ||||
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![]() CD compilation titled after the song | ||||
Single by the Real Thing | ||||
from the album Real Thing | ||||
B-side | "Keep an Eye (on Your Best Friend)" | |||
Released | April 1976 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:22 | |||
Label | Pye Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ken Gold, Michael Denne | |||
Producer(s) | Ken Gold | |||
The Real Thing singles chronology | ||||
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The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Sonia and Sean Maguire, whose versions also charted in the UK.
Background
editThe Real Thing first appeared on the ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks, to which they then acquired a manager, Tony Hall who secured them a recording contract with Pye Records. For their debut single, they recorded "You to Me Are Everything".[3] The song was written by producer Ken Gold together with Micky Denne; Denne came up with the chorus first, and they wrote most of the song in less than an hour. They took the demo of the song to Hall and Chris Amoo, the lead singer of the Real Thing, and the group recorded the song at the Roundhouse studios a week later.[4]
In the United States, two other versions of the song were released at the same time as the version by the Real Thing, by American groups Broadway[5] and Revelation,[6] whose versions were both released the same week, and at one point all three appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. Although the version by the Real Thing outsold the other two versions, the confusion with the three different versions effectively prevented each other from becoming a hit in the US.[3]
Commercial performance
editThe original release of "You to Me Are Everything" reached number one in the UK and stayed there for three weeks.[3] It peaked at No. 22 in Australia,[7] number 3 in Ireland and number 10 in New Zealand. The original version has been certified gold in the UK for 400,000 single sales.[8]
The song was a minor hit in the US, peaking at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 28 on the Billboard R&B chart.[9]
In 1986, the Decade Remix by DJ Froggy, Simon Harris and KC was released by PRT Records. The remix reached No. 5 in the UK in March.[10]
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit
Original release
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The Decade Remix 76-86
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Year-end charts
editCertifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Sonia version
edit"You to Me Are Everything" | ||||
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Single by Sonia | ||||
from the album Sonia | ||||
B-side | "Be My Baby" | |||
Released | 4 November 1991[35] | |||
Length | 3:56 (album version) 3:26 (single version) | |||
Label | IQ | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ken Gold, Michael Denne | |||
Producer(s) | Nigel Wright | |||
Sonia singles chronology | ||||
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"You to Me Are Everything" was covered by English pop singer Sonia in 1991. The song was released in November 1991 as the third and final single from her second album. The "Radio Mix" is a new remixed version by Pete Hammond that differs from the album version. The song's B-side, "Be My Baby", is also on the album. This single reached No. 13 in UK and No. 14 in Ireland.[36][37]
Track listings
editCD single
- "You to Me Are Everything" (Radio Mix) – 3:27
- "You to Me Are Everything" (Extended Mix) – 6:07
- "Be My Baby" – 3:54
7-inch single
- "You to Me Are Everything" – 3:56
- "Be My Baby" – 3:54
12-inch single
- "You to Me Are Everything" (extended mix) – 6:07
- "Be My Baby" – 3:54
- "You to Me Are Everything" (radio mix) – 3:27
Charts
editChart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[38] | 43 |
Ireland (IRMA)[37] | 14 |
UK Singles (OCC)[36] | 13 |
Sean Maguire version
edit"You to Me Are Everything" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sean Maguire | ||||
from the album Spirit | ||||
Released | 6 November 1995[39] | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ken Gold, Michael Denne | |||
Producer(s) | Gary Stevenson | |||
Sean Maguire singles chronology | ||||
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English actor Sean Maguire covered "You to Me Are Everything" and released it as the second single from his second album, Spirit (1996), in November 1995. His version reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[40]
Track listings
editCD1
- "You to Me Are Everything"
- "You to Me Are Everything" (extended mix)
- "You to Me Are Everything" (G-Mix extended)
- "Suddenly" (extended mix)
CD2
- "You to Me Are Everything"
- "Suddenly"
- "Take This Time"
- "Someone to Love"
Cassette
- "You to Me Are Everything"
- "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers cover)
Other versions
editThe song has been covered by Frankie Valli, whose version was released as the B-side to "We're All Alone" that reached No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100.[41] It has also been covered by Tiny Tim and Andy Abraham.[citation needed] Spanish singer Miguel Bosé sing a Spanish version entitled "Eres todo para mí" in his 1977 album "Linda".[42] A Finnish version entitled "Ei enempää voi pyytää" ("He can ask no more") was recorded in 1978 by Petri Pettersson . Later on, in 1997, songwriter Marina Rei successfully recorded an Italian-language version, "Primavera" ("Spring").[citation needed]. The Song has also been covered by Malaysian artist Dayang Nurfaizah in 2007 which is sung in Bahasa Melayu and titled 'Cerita Cinta Dayang'.
References
edit- ^ The Real Thing: You to Me Are Everything at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 328. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c Davis, Sharon (2012). Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Seventies. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 9781780574103 – via Google Books.
- ^ Manzoor, Sarfraz (August 8, 2022). "'My mum made outfits for us to wear on Top of the Pops': how the Real Thing made You to Me Are Everything". The Guardian.
- ^ Broadway: You to Me Are Everything at Discogs
- ^ Revelation: You to Me Are Everything at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 247. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "British single certifications – Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 485.
- ^ Davis, Sharon (2012). Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Seventies. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 9781780574103 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You to Me Are Everything". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "The Real Thing: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "The Real Thing Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Real Thing – You to Me Are Everything" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-86)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-86)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You To Me Are Everything". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-86)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-86)". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "The Real Thing: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-86)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1976". Ultratop. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1976". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1976". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 24.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 2 November 1991. p. 23.
- ^ a b "The Real Thing: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You to Me Are Everything". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 49. 7 December 1991. p. 33.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 4 November 1995. p. 43.
- ^ "Sean McGuire". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Neely, Tim (2000). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records. p. 1144. ISBN 9780873419345 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Discogs".