Reminiscing
"Reminiscing" is a 1978 song by Australian soft rock music group Little River Band, from their album Sleeper Catcher. The song was written by the band's guitarist, Graeham Goble, and sung by their lead singer, Glenn Shorrock. "Reminiscing" remains the band's greatest success in the United States, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #10 on the Easy Listening chart.[3] The song is about a couple reminiscing about the past, with certain music (such as Glenn Miller tunes and the song "Night and Day") reminding them of certain memories.
"Reminiscing" | ||||
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Single by Little River Band | ||||
from the album Sleeper Catcher | ||||
B-side | "So Many Paths" | |||
Released | July 1978 | |||
Format | 7" | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Soft rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:11 (album version) 3:29 (7" version) | |||
Label | Harvest Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Graeham Goble | |||
Producer(s) | John Boylan, Little River Band | |||
Little River Band singles chronology | ||||
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"Reminiscing" | ||||
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Single by Madison Avenue | ||||
from the album The Polyester Embassy | ||||
Released | 5 March 2001[2] | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Genre | Dance, house | |||
Label | EMI International | |||
Songwriter(s) | Graeham Goble | |||
Producer(s) | Andy Van Dorsselaer | |||
Madison Avenue singles chronology | ||||
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"Reminiscing" was given a BMI Five Million-Air award for five million plays on US radio—the highest achievement ever for any Australian popular song.
According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named "Reminiscing" as one of his favourite songs. May Pang, erstwhile girlfriend of Lennon, said "Oddly, with all the fantastic music he wrote, "our song" was Reminiscing by the Little River Band."[4]
Additional recordings
Shorrock was a guest vocalist on guitarist Tommy Emmanuel's cover of the song on the 1998 album Collaboration.
Goble, Shorrock and Beeb Birtles, three of the original members of Little River Band, who reformed under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble, recorded "Reminiscing" under that name for their 2003 CD Full Circle, as well as on several subsequent live recordings.
Little River Band, now with lead singer Wayne Nelson, recorded the song for their 2016 album The Hits - Revisited.
Cover versions
Barry Manilow covered the song for his 1996 album Summer of '78.
Australian band Madison Avenue covered the song. The single was released during 2001 and certified Gold by ARIA.
k.d. lang recorded the song for the Australian version of her 2011 album Sing It Loud.
Thumbs Carllile made a jazz cover on his 1979 album Guitar Wizard.[5]
Carl Riseley included a jazz cover of the song on his 2008 album The Rise.
Samples
Biz Markie sampled the song for his song "Throwback" on the album Weekend Warrior.
In popular culture
- During American Idol’s 2007 broadcast of Idol Gives Back, Ben Stiller jokingly threatened to sing the song nonstop until $200 billion in donations was achieved.[6]
- The song is featured in the Freaks and Geeks episode "Kim Kelly Is My Friend."[7]
- The song is featured in the film Monsters vs. Aliens.[8]
- The song is heard playing in the background during a scene in Knocked Up with Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd at a Las Vegas hotel room.[9]
- The song was used in the 2010 film The Other Guys.[10]
- The song is featured in the HBO series Divorce.[11]
- The song was used as a bumper for Tom Hatten's Family Film Festival.[12]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Madison Avenue version
Australian band Madison Avenue covered the song during 2001. Their version became a top ten success in their home country.
Formats and track listings
- Australian CD Single[22]
- "Reminiscing (Da Classic Remix - Edit)" – 3:31
- "Reminiscing (Original Mix - Edit)" – 3:24
- "Everything You Need (Olav Basoski Remix)" – 7:32
- "Reminiscing (Da Classic Remix)" – 5:06
- "It's Alright (Album Mix)" – 5:12
Charts
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
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Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 9 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
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Australian ARIA End of Year Singles Chart[23] | 9 |
References
- Fontenot, Robert. "Soft Rock Music and Songs - Oldies Music". Oldies.about.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- "Reminiscing by Madison Avenue". rateyourmusic.com.
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 147.
- "Marvelous May..." ncf.ca. 23 September 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- "Thumbs Carllile special limited edition CDs". Thumbscarllile.com. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- BenStillerTube (4 March 2008). "American Idol - Ben Stiller singing" – via YouTube.
- "Freaks and Geeks - S1E4 "Kim Kelly is My Friend" Music and List of Songs". What-song.
- https://www.what-song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/502/Monsters-vs-Aliens
- "Reminiscing (From". tidal.com.
- Lemire, Christie (4 August 2010). "Review: 'The Other Guys' goofs on buddy-cop movie cliches, and it actually works". The Canadian Press. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- "DIVORCE (Season 1) - Song/Music List". lyricsoundtrack.com. 7 October 2016.
- "Reminiscing by Little River Band Songfacts". www.songfacts.com.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "charts.nz". Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- "Top 100 1978-10-21". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- "Billboard Top 100 - 1978". Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1978". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- https://www.discogs.com/Madison-Avenue-Reminiscing/release/737730
- "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top Australian Singles 2001". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 13 October 2016.