Synopsis of Pop Music

"And when the rain,
Beats against my window pane,
I'll think of summer days again,
And dream of you..."

When The Beatles hit it big on American shores in the early 1960’s, they paved the way for plenty of other British pop acts. One of the first to take advantage of this opportunity was the duo of Chad and Jeremy, who hit the American pop charts eleven times between 1964 and 1966. However, they took a different path from many of their contemporaries by pursuing a lighter sound that embraced folk, pre-rock pop and even showtunes. As a result, they were able to become all-around entertainers that were just as popular on television as they were on the radio.

Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde began performing together in 1963. As they worked the coffeehouse circuit in England, they devised a pop-friendly sound that drew just as much from pre-rock styles like music hall and showtunes as it did from beat music. They were soon discovered by English producers and began working as a recording act. However, Chad and Jeremy got their real break when their music was imported to the U.S. in the wake of Beatlemania. They landed their first hit with the fast-paced pop of “Yesterday’s Gone,” but their next tune would become an even bigger hit.

“A Summer Song” was a plaintive lost-love ballad with a lush, orchestral sound that became a Top-10 hit for Chad and Jeremy in the fall of 1964. The duo moved to the U.S. to cement their pop star status and continued to have hits throughout 1965 with folkish-pop updates of standards like “Willow, Weep For Me” and “If I Loved You” (from the musical Carousel). They also cut modern-pop tunes like “Before and After” and “I Don’t Wanna Lose You Baby.” The latter two were written by Van McCoy, who would later spark the disco boom in the 1970’s with “The Hustle.”

Chad and Jeremy also broadened their fame during this time by becoming regulars on television. Their small-screen work included pop programs like Hullabaloo and non-music programs like The Dick Van Dyke Show. They even appeared on an episode of Batman. They also continued to record and scored another hit in 1966 with “Distant Shores.” In 1967, Chad and Jeremy went psychedelic with Of Cabbages and Kings, a five-part pop-symphonic suite scored and arranged by Stuart himself. It was praised by critics, as was its equally ambitious follow-up, The Ark.

In 1968, Chad and Jeremy split up to pursue other interests. Stuart became a full-time composer and Clyde pursued an acting career in England. They have maintained their own careers since their split, but periodically unite for the occasional nostalgia tour. However, they will always be remembered for the sophisticated sound they brought to 1960’s pop.

Artist Release History

1964 - Yesterday's Gone
1964 - British Folk Artist Concert
1965 - Chad & Jeremy Sing for You
1965 - Before & After
1965 - I Don't Want to Lose You Baby
1965 - 5 + 10 = 15 Fabulous Hits (compilation)
1966 - More
1966 - Distant Shores
1966 - The Best of Chad & Jeremy
1967 - Of Cabbages & Kings
1968 - The Ark
1969 - Three in the Attic
1983 - Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde
1985 - The Best of Chad & Jeremy
1990 - Soft Sound of Chad & Jeremy (compilation)
1992 - Painted Dayglow Smile (compilation)
1992 - Capitol Gold: The Best of Chad & Jeremy
1994 - Golden Classics Edition-Sing for You
1994 - Yesterday's Gone (compilation)
1995 - Summer Song (compilation)
1996 - The Best of Chad & Jeremy
1997 - The Best of Chad & Jeremy
1999 - Greatest Hits

Pop Sub Categories

pop

Essential Music Albums

The Very Best of Chad and Jeremy (Varese Vintage)

Band Members

Chad Stuart vocals, guitar
Jeremy Clyde vocals, guitar

Other Pop Music Links