Traces (song)

This article is about the Classics IV song. For other songs, see Traces § Music.

"Traces"
Single by Classics IV
from the album Traces
B-side	"Mary, Mary Row Your Boat"
Released	January 1969
Recorded	1968
Genre	Soft rock[1] blue-eyed soul[2] pop[3]
Length	2:45
Label	Imperial
Songwriter(s)	Buddy Buie, J. R. Cobb, Emory Gordy Jr.
Producer(s)	Buddy Buie
Classics IV singles chronology
"Stormy" (1968) "Traces" (1969) "Everyday With You Girl" (1969)

"Traces" is a 1968 song by the American rock band Classics IV. Released as a single in January 1969, the cut served as the title track off the album of the same name. Written by Buddy Buie, J. R. Cobb, and Emory Gordy Jr., the song peaked at No. 2 on 29 March 1969 on the Hot 100,^[4] as well as No. 2 on the Easy Listening music charts, making it the highest-charting single by the Classics IV.^[5]

"Traces" was listed at 32 in BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century.^[6]

Chart history

Chart (1969)	Peak position
Canada RPM 100[7]	2
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[8]	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9]	2
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[10]	2

Cover versions

• Jane Morgan, on her 1969 LP of the same name, as well as releasing it as a single that same year.
• "Traces" is the opening track on Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra's album Traces of Love (1969).
• The Lettermen recorded it as a part of a medley, which also featured the song "Memories" (1969).
• Mel Torme (1969), on the album Rains Drops Keep Falling on my Head.
• Andre Kostelanetz recorded an instrumental version on a 1969 album of the same name.
• Soul singer Billy Paul, on his 1970 album Ebony Woman.
• Liberace (instrumental) on his 1970 album A Brand New Me.
• Harry James on his 1976 album The King James Version (Sheffield Lab LAB 3).
• Gloria Estefan covered the song in 1994.
• Guilherme Arantes recorded "Traces" in 1995.

References

1. Larkin, Colin, (2011) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Omnibus Press. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
2. Mason, Stewart. Classics IV - The Very Best of Classics IV (1988) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
3. Eder, Bruce. Classics IV - The Very Best of Dennis Yost & the Classics IV (2002) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
4. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
5. "Classics IV: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
6. "BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". bmi.com. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
7. ""RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 5, March 31, 1969. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
8. "Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 7, April 14, 1969. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
9. Whitburn, Joel (2007). Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006. Record Research.
10. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research.