“They Don’t Know” (Tracey Ullman/Kirsty MacColl)

Today’s classic song of the day is a song written in 1979, a hit in 1983, yet has the Girl Group sound of the early 1960s. The song is called “They Don’t Know” and Tracey Ullman’s recording, released in September of 1983, hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in Ullman’s native UK.

“They Don’t Know” was written by British singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl. Ms. McColl released her version of the song in June of 1979. While the single (not released in the U.S.) didn’t chart on the UK Singles list, it did hit #2 on the Music Week airplay chart. The lack of in-store sales is variably attributed to a strike at Stiff Records’ distributor or a feud between Ms. MacColl and Stiff Records president Dave Robinson. In any case, there weren’t enough copies shipped to stores to sell enough copies to make it on the charts. That’s a shame, because Ms. MacColl’s version of “They Don’t Know” is a terrific record, better (at least to my ears) than Ms. Ullman’s later cover of the tune.

Tracey Ullman was and is a comedienne and actress, in addition to doing a little singing on the side. Those of us in the States probably remember her from her 1987 Fox TV show The Tracey Ullman Show, which also featured the debut of the animated Simpsons, or her HBO show, Tracey Takes On… You may also know her from films like Plenty, I Love You to Death, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Bullets Over Broadway, Small Time Crooks, and Give My Regards to Broad Street.

In 1983, Ms. Ullman released her debut album, titled You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. That album contained covers of other singers’ songs, recorded in a faux Girl Group sound. The album is actually pretty good, with standout tracks covering Irma Thomas’ “Breakaway,” the Dells’ “Oh What a Night,” Doris Day’s “Move Over Darling,” Marcie Blaine’s “Bobby’s Girl,” Blondie’s “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear,” and Dusty Springfield’s “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten.” The album went all the way to #14 in the UK and #34 in the U.S. I really like it; it was a fave of mine back then.

Ms. Ullman’s cover of “You Don’t Know” is very faithful to Ms. MacColl’s original, right down to the same guitar solo in the middle. Here’s a little known fact: that transplendent “Bay-ay-be-eee” after the instrumental break is actually sung by Kirsty MacColl herself, because Ms. Ullman didn’t have the range for it. There’s something for you.

If you’re at all interested in Kirsty MacColl, hang on for tomorrow’s classic song of the day. In the meantime, here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Tracey Ullman’s humorous music video for “They Don’t Know,” complete with a cameo by none other than ex-Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney. (At the time, Ms. Ullman had just finished filming McCartney’s film, Give My Regards to Broad Street.)