"Darlin'" is a song written in 1970 by English sax player Oscar Stewart Blandamer. It was first released under the title "Darling" by the British country band Poacher in 1978. It was later a chart hit for Frankie Miller and David Rogers. The track was subsequently recorded by numerous artists including Tom Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Smokie and Johnny Reid.
Background
British country band Poacher formed in Warrington, England, in 1977. They competed in the sixth series of New Faces, a British televisiontalent show. "Darling" was released as their debut single in 1978, produced by Barry Kingston and released through his label RK Records in the United Kingdom.[1] Songwriter Oscar Stewart Blandamer wrote the track in 1970. Producer David Mackay picked up the song for Scottish singer-songwriter Frankie Miller, who recorded it for his album Falling in Love (1979).[2]
Miller recorded the song in 1978 and had an international hit with it. It reached number 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, and 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It also reached the Top Ten (#8) in Australia in 1979.
In 1979, Dutch singer Willem Duyn (formerly of Mouth & MacNeal) issued a Dutch version of the song, titled "Willem", about a fictional person with his name.
In 1980 the song was one of two by Bonnie Raitt included on the soundtrack of the film, Urban Cowboy. It was not released as a single, although her other contribution, Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dancewas issued to Country radio. It failed to crack the Top 40 on the chart, peaking at #42.
In 1981 Welsh pop singer Tom Jones released the song as a single from his Mercury Records album Darlin'. Jones' rendition also reached the country music Top 20, peaking at #19 there in addition to reaching number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[19]
The British band Smokie recorded a cover version in their 2000 covers album Uncovered.
