Jan 11 2009
“Sunday Will Never Be the Same” [1967] — Spanky & Our Gang
Spanky & Our Gang, a folk-rock ensemble with origins in Chicago and Florida, emerged during the Summer of Love, a time so memorable in pop music. Their breakout single (“Sunday Will Never Be the Same”) was released in May 1967 on Mercury Records and would reach #9 on the charts the following month. The song had been offered previously to the Mamas & the Papas, as well as to the Left Banke, but Spanky & Our Gang – the dark horse in this trio – took it and ran with it. Malcolm Hale, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, created the choral opening with layered harmonies that would become the band’s signature sound. With its flawless production and exceptional vocal performances, the song launched the group’s first stunning success.
Written by Terry Cashman and Gene Pistelli, “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” is a heartbreaking tale of lost love. Musically, it sounds remarkably upbeat for a breakup song, but the lyrics tell quite a different story. Sunday was a day for romantic rendezvous and now the love affair is over. Sad. Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane manages to express the song’s melancholy with vocal beauty alone; her voice is slightly scratchy, a touch hoarse, a little on the verge of breaking. Yet, all the while, she stays afloat during the song’s jaunty moments and belts the song’s chorus out of the park. It is a brilliant performance. Stewart Mason of All Music Guide writes: “(It is) Mamas and the Papas-style folk-tinged sunshine pop with none of the jazz or art music elements that would color later singles.” True, “Sunday” is more straight-up folk-pop compared to their later releases; however, this is the band’s first crowning achievement – and certainly one of their best.
