If I Call You By Some Name was a hit for the Canadian rock group The Paupers. The song which was composed by Rick Shorter was released in 1966. It was the biggest hit that the band had.
Background The song is a mellow folk-influenced tune.The Canadian Music Hall Of Fame - YORKVILLE STORMS THE CHARTS It was composed, produced, and by Rick Shorter. He also produced and arranged the B-side, which was written by Adam Mitchell and Skip Prokop. The single was released on Verve Folkways in December, 1966.45Cat - The Paupers If I Call You By Some Name, Catalogue: KF 5033
In December 1966 Billboard announced that the single was predicted to reach the Hot 100 Chart.Billboard, December 31, 1966 - Page 16 SPOTLIGHT SINGLES, CHART Spotlights--Predicted to reach the HOT 100 Chart It was announced in the January 21, 1967 issue of Billboard that the record had already broken out as a hit in Canada.Billboard, January 21, 1967 - Page 12 VERVE/FOLKWAYS: Marriage of Folk and Pop It made it to No. 31 on Canada’s RPM chart In January, 1967, the song peaked at No. 6 on Toronto's influential radio station CHUM (AM).Canuckistan Music - The Paupers, Magic People - Michael Panontin
Because they had success with "If I Call You By Some Name", opportunities were opened for the group. They recorded their debut album, Magic People, and got to play at the Whisky a Go Go and Fillmore West.The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia - Artist: Paupers, The, Biography There was also a demand for a follow-up single, so the group released "Simple Deed" b/w "Let Me Be", both which were composed by Adam Mitchell and Skip Prokop.Billboard, March 18, 1967 - Page 58 From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO
According to The Great Canadian Book of Lists by Randy Ray and Mark Kearney, the group was not very proud of the song. But in the late 1960s it went down very well as the ultimate close-dancing song when they played high school dances in Toronto.The Great Canadian Book of Lists, By Randy Ray, Mark Kearney - Page 203 Music, BABY BOOMER MUSIC, ROCKIN' RANDY'S TOP FIFTEEN CANADIAN SINGLES: 1950s to the 1970s The Paupers were a psychedelic group, and the folk-influenced song was their most mellow.
References
External links CHUM AM Chart action