Please Mr. Please
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Please Mr. Please
| image = Please mr please by olivia newton-john Australian single side-A.png
| alt = side-A label
| caption = Side A of the Australian single
| type = single
| artist = Olivia Newton-John
| album = Have You Never Been Mellow
| B-side = {{ubl|"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (UK)|"And in the Morning" (US and rest of world)}}
| released = June 1975
| recorded = 1974
| studio =
| genre = Country pop
| length = 3:31
| label = EMI
| writer = Bruce Welch, John Rostill
| producer = John Farrar
| prev_title = Have You Never Been Mellow
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = Something Better to Do
| next_year = 1975
}}
"Please Mr. Please" is a song written by Bruce Welch and John Rostill, both members of British pop singer Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications) Welch had originally recorded the song himself in 1974{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/bruce-welch |title=Bruce Welch Discography - UK |website=45cat.com |access-date=2016-10-10}} with no commercial success.
In 1975, British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John recorded and released a version of the song as the second and final single from her fifth studio album, Have You Never Been Mellow.
Song story
The song begins as an apparent tribute to the jukebox and how one can listen to a lot of great music for a small price. But instead of continuing along those lines, the song picks up on how some songs on the jukebox can trigger bad memories. This happens when the protagonist—at a tavern with friends, trying to get over a just-broken relationship—sees another customer at the jukebox, trying to play "B-17," which is coded to a song the woman does not want to hear.
The song, she cries, was special to the now-broken relationship. It now triggers sorrowful memories to the point that she never wants to hear the song again. The refrain sees the woman begging the "button-pushin' cowboy" (the ‘Mister’ of the song’s title) not to play the evocative song.
Reception
Record World said that the song is "Olivia's most country-oriented outing yet will also speak as sweetly to her total audience for '. . Please' pleases pop just as perfectly!"{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=June 7, 1975|accessdate=2023-03-10|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-06-07.pdf}}
Chart performance
Released as a single in 1975, "Please Mr. Please" reached the Top 10 on three major Billboard charts in the US that year. On the pop chart, the song peaked at number three in August 1975, remaining in the Top 40 for 12 weeks: Newton-John's fifth consecutive Top Ten hit, "Please Mr. Please" would also mark Newton-John's last appearance in the top ten for a three-year period.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications) On the country chart, the song reached #5, while on the adult contemporary chart, the song spent three weeks at number one. The single was a certified Gold record by the RIAA.{{cite certification|region=United States|title=Please Mister Please|artist=Olivia Newton-John|type=single}}
{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"|U.S. Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2022-08-20/|title=CU.S Digital Song Sales: Week of August 20, 2022|url-access=subscription|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 August 2022}}
| 48 |
|---|
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1975)
!Rank |
|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles {{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1975YESP.html|title = Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975}}
| style="text-align:center;"|24 |
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1975.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-10-10}}
| style="text-align:center;"|49 |
| US Cash Box Top 100
| style="text-align:center;"|26 |
{{col-end}}
Cover versions
- Juliana Hatfield covered the song on her album Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John.{{cite web|last1=Erlewine|first1=Stephen Thomas|title=Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/juliana-hatfield-sings-olivia-newton-john-mw0003140945|website=AllMusic|access-date=23 April 2018}}
- Claude François covered the song in a French language version titled "Pourquoi Pleurer (Sur Un Succès D'Été)," which was released as a single in France in 1975, and became the opener and title track of that year's album release by the singer.
- Venezuelan singer Nancy Ramos covered the song on her 1976 LP [https://www.discogs.com/release/3615668-Nancy-Ramos-Fabulosa "Poderosa]" in a Spanish language version titled "Dime Que Si".
- Salvadoran singer Evangelina Sol covered the song in a Spanish language version titled "Por favor Señor, por favor" on her 1975 album "Evangelina."
- Dickie Goodman used a sound-alike version of the chorus for his 1975 parody hit single, "Mr. Jaws."
- Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent covered the song in 2024.
[[:es:Nancy_Ramos|References]]
{{Reflist}}
{{Olivia Newton-John singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Olivia Newton-John songs
Category:Songs written by John Rostill
Category:Songs written by Bruce Welch
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by John Farrar
Category:Songs about heartache