Today’s classic song of the day is “Ms. Grace” by the Tymes. This is an odd one in that it hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart in January of 1975, yet only hit #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 here in the U.S. (It rose a little higher on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, all the way to #75, but still…) In spite of its lackluster performance here in the States, the song was a local hit in the southeast and became a Carolina Beach Music classic. It’s definitely got that Beach Music shuffle.
The song was written by John and Johanna Hall. That’s John Hall, formerly of the group Orleans (with their hits “Still the One” and “Dance With Me,” both written by John and Johanna) and later one of the leaders of the No Nukes movement in the early 80s. You might have seen him on the No Nukes Concert film, singing his anthem “Power” with the likes of James Taylor, Carly Simon, the Doobie Brothers, Holly Near, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul and Mary. In 2006, Mr. Hall became a Democratic U.S. Congressman from the state of New York and held that post for two terms, until he was defeated in the 2010 election. Johanna was his wife and his songwriting partner during the Orleans and No Nukes days; they’ve since divorced.
The Tymes were a Philadelphia-based vocal group who arguably had more success in the UK than in the U.S. Here in the States their big hits were “So Much in Love” and “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” both in 1963, along with “You Little Trustmaker” a decade later, in 1974. “Ms. Grace” also came out (late) in 1974, but fared much better on the British charts. The original group split up in 1976 (and the original trio of George Williams, Donald Banks, and George Hilliard are all deceased), but a version with all replacement singers still tours the oldies circuit today.
