Single:
Billy Don’t Be a Hero entered the Australian singles chart* on 22 April 1974 and went all the way to #1 where it remained for 7 weeks. It was #1 on the Top 100 of 1974.
Album:
The song is on Paper Lace which entered the Australian albums chart* on 14 October 1974 and reached #32.
Songwriters:
Mitch Murray, Peter Callander
Producers:
Mitch Murray, Peter Callander
Record label of Australian release:
EMI
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
BONUS TRACK BELOW: Billy Don’t be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
Wikipedia:
The song was written and composed by two British songwriters, Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.
Because the song was released in 1974, it was associated by some listeners with the Vietnam War, though the war to which it actually refers is never identified in the lyrics. It has been suggested that the drum pattern, references to a marching band leading soldiers in blue, and “riding out” (cavalry) refer to the American Civil War. For one of the band’s performances on Top of the Pops they wore Union-style uniforms.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Don’t_Be_a_Hero
Lyrics:
The marchin′ band came down along Main Street
The Soldier Blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS – US version by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
Shortly after Paper Lace’s original recording of Billy Don’t Be a Hero, a version was released in America by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. The group’s only hit in Australia was a minor one in 1974, Who Do You Think You Are.
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