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Precious and Few

{{Infobox song

| name = Precious and Few

| image = Precious and few by climax Australian single side-A.png

| alt = side-A label

| caption = Side A of the Australian single

| type = single

| artist = Climax

| album = Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci

| B-side = Park Preserve

| released = December 1971

| recorded = 1971

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

  • Soft rock{{cite book|last= Erlewine|first= Stephen Thomas|chapter= Various Artists - Have a Nice Day, Super Hits of the '70s|editor-last1= Bogdanov|editor-first1=Vladimir|editor-last2= Erlewine |editor-first2= Michael |editor-last3= Erlewine |editor-first3= Stephen Thomas |editor-last4= Unterberger |editor-first4= Richie |editor-last5= Woodstra |editor-first5= Chris|date= January 1, 1997|title= AllMusic Guide to Rock|publisher= Miller Freeman, Inc.|location= San Francisco|page= 1074}}{{cite book|title= Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= October 15, 1996|chapter=

Born To Be Mild: Soft Rock|pages= 30–32|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=031214704X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMPCAwAAQBAJ}}

| length = 2:43

| label = Carousel/Rocky Road Records

| writer = Walter D. Nims

| producer = Larry Cox

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Life and Breath

| next_year = 1972

}}

"Precious and Few" is a song recorded by American group Climax which became a major North American hit in early 1972. The song was written by the band's guitarist, Walter D. Nims.{{cite web|title=discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Climax-Precious-And-Few-Park-Preserve/release/1683297|website=discogs.com|year=1971 |access-date=May 13, 2021}}

Background

{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}

Lead vocals on the demo were provided by Johnny McCurdy, also known as Johnny Mac.

Background voices on Climax's hit record were arranged by Tom Bähler and sung by Jeanne Sheffield, Debbie Clinger, Mitch Gordon and Tom Bähler.

The hit record was sung by Sonny Geraci.

Chart performance

"Precious and Few" spent three weeks at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the Cash Box Top 100.[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-02-26.pdf Cash Box Top 100], Cash Box, February 26, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved November 16, 2016. It also reached number six on Canada's RPM 100."[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.7602.pdf RPM 100]", RPM, Volume 17, No. 4, March 11, 1972. Retrieved November 16, 2016.

{{columns-start|width=52.5%}}

{{column}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Chart (1971–1972)

! Peak
position

style="text-align:left;"|Australia Go-SetEd Nimmervoll, "[http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1972/19720805.html Go-Set National Top 40]", August 5, 1972. Retrieved November 22, 2016.

| 29

style="text-align:left;"|Australia Kent Music Report

| 26

style="text-align:left;"|Canadian RPM 100

| 6

align="left"|Canadian RPM MOR Playlist{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7722&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7722.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7722 |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=July 17, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2016}}

| 13

align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100[http://www.billboard.com/artist/299434/climax/chart Climax - Chart History - The Hot 100], Billboard.com. Accessed November 16, 2016.

| 3

align="left"|U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[http://www.billboard.com/artist/299434/climax/chart?f=341 Climax - Chart History - Adult Contemporary], Billboard.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-04-I.pdf Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening]", Billboard, March 4, 1972. p. 46. Retrieved November 22, 2016.

| 6

align="left"|U.S. Cash Box Top 100

| 1

align="left"|U.S. Record World The Singles Chart"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-03-11.pdf The Singles Chart]", Record World, March 11, 1972. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

| 1

align="left"|U.S. Record World The M.O.R. Chart"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-03-04.pdf The M.O.R. Chart]", Record World, March 4, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

| 3

{{column}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1972)

! Rank

Canada

| style="text-align:center;"|28

U.S. Billboard Hot 100"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-12-30.pdf Top Pop 100 Singles]", Billboard, December 30, 1972. p. TA-20. Retrieved November 22, 2016.

| style="text-align:center;"|30

U.S. Billboard Easy Listening"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-12-30.pdf Top Easy Listening Singles]", Billboard, December 30, 1972. p. TA-22. Retrieved November 22, 2016.

| style="text-align:center;"|48

U.S. Cash Box"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-12-30.pdf Top 100 Singles of 72]", Cash Box, December 30, 1972. p. 36. Retrieved November 16, 2016.

| style="text-align:center;"|31

{{columns-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Climax|title=Precious|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1972|certyear=1972|accessdate=July 8, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Cover versions

The song has been covered by several artists:

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.songlyrics.com/climax/precious-and-few-lyrics/ Lyrics of this song]
  • {{YouTube|SCFSj6w6PhI|Climax - Precious and Few}}

Category:1971 songs

Category:1971 debut singles

Category:Climax (band) songs

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Polydor Records singles