"Don't Pity Me"
Song by Faith Hope & Charity
from the album Faith Hope & Charity
B-side"Find What You Need"
Released1978
Label20th Century TC-2370
Songwriter(s)V. McCoy
Producer(s)Van McCoy
Faith Hope & Charity singles chronology
"Life Goes On"
(1977)		 "Don't Pity Me"
(1978)		 "How Can I Help But Love You"
(1978)

"Don't Pity Me" was a hit for Faith Hope & Charity in 1978. A Van McCoy composition, it made it onto the Billboard, Cash Box, and Record World music charts.

Background

Early version

Former 1976 Eurovision British contestant Louisa Jane White[1] recorded a version of the song as the B side of her single "Don't Stop" which was released on Pye 7N 45661 in 1977. It was produced by Gerry Shury and Ron Roker.[2]

Faith Hope & Charity version

The Faith Hope & Charity single was released on 20th Century TC-2370. In addition to composing the song, Van McCoy also produced it.[3][4]

With Faith Hope & Charity now consisting of Brenda Hilliard and Albert Bailey, their 1978, self-titled album was their 20th Century Fox debut. In the Billboard review of the album, Adam White commented on the 1970s sound of Van McCoy as reaching its peak of perfection in Faith Hope & Charity. White named "Don't Pity Me" as the album's finest cut. The lead vocal was by Brenda Hilliard.[5] The B side, "Find What You Need" was sung by Albert Bailey.[6][7]

Two former Faith Hope & Charity members, Zulema and Destry contributed their backing vocals to the album.[8][9]

While "Don't Pity Me" was seeing chart action, another Van McCoy composition "My Favorite Fantasy by McCoy was seeing action in the same Billboard and Cash Box charts.[10][11][12]

Charts

Faith Hope & Charity

The song made its debut in the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart on week ending May 27, 1978.[13] On August 12 at week twelve, it peaked at #12.[14][15]

The song made its debut in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart at #85 on the week ending June 3, 1978.[16] On its tenth week it peaked at #20 on week ending August 5.[17][18]

On the week of June 17, the single made its debut at #68 in the Record World R&B Singles chart.[19] It peaked at #15 on August 12 at its ninth week.[20][21] It was also in the 101 - 150 Singles chart on July 15 at #141.[22] The following week, July 22, it had entered the Record World Singles chart at #92.[23] It peaked at #84 on August 12.[24][25]


Chart (1978) Peak
position
US Cash Box Top 100 R&B 12[26][27]
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles 20[28][29]
US Record World R&B Singles 15[30][31]
US Record World 101 - 150 Singles 141[32][33]
US Record World Singles 84[34][35]

Other versions

A version was recorded by Thelma Houston and released on Tamla Motown TMG 1117 in 1978.[36][37]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Shropshire Star, Sept 30, 2019 - Singing schoolgirl knocked on door of stardom by Toby Neal
  2. ↑ DYANERO - Louisa Jane White - Don't Stop / Don't Pity Me Album
  3. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 333 FAITH HOPE & CHARITY DON'T PITY ME
  4. ↑ Record World, May 13, 1978 - Page 22 RECORD WORLD SINGLE PICKS
  5. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  6. ↑ funkmysoul - Faith Hope & Charity – 1970 – Faith Hope & Charity (Maxwell)
  7. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  8. ↑ The Second Disc, AUGUST 22, 2014 - You Gotta Have Faith (Hope, and Charity): Real Gone Reissues Lost R&B Gems BY JOE MARCHESE
  9. ↑ Billboard, July 8, 1978 - Page 78 Closeup, FAITH HOPE & CHARITY
  10. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series: 1977 - Page 2224
  11. ↑ Billboard - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, WEEK OF JUNE 17, 1978
  12. ↑ Cash Box, June 24, 1978 - Page 40 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B
  13. ↑ Cash Box, May 27, 1978 - Page 46 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B May 27, 1978
  14. ↑ Cash Box, August 12, 1978 - Page 38 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B August 12, 1978
  15. ↑ Cash Box, August 19, 1978 - Page 46 CASHBOX TOP 100 R&B August 19, 1978
  16. ↑ Billboard, June 3, 1978 - Page 58 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 6/3/78
  17. ↑ Billboard, August 5, 1978 - Page 56 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey For Week Ending 8/5/78
  18. ↑ Billboard, August 12, 1978 - Page 60 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 8/12/78
  19. ↑ Record World, June 17, 1978 - Page 62 June 17, 1978 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART
  20. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 89 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 12, 1978
  21. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 51 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 19, 1978
  22. ↑ Record World, July 15, 1978 - Page 30 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  23. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 339 July 22, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  24. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 39 August 12, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  25. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 37 August 19, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  26. ↑ Cash Box, August 12, 1978 - Page 38 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B August 12, 1978
  27. ↑ Cash Box, August 19, 1978 - Page 46 CASHBOX TOP 100 R&B August 19, 1978
  28. ↑ Billboard, August 5, 1978 - Page 56 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey For Week Ending 8/5/78
  29. ↑ Billboard, August 12, 1978 - Page 60 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 8/12/78
  30. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 89 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 12, 1978
  31. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 51 RECORD WORLD R&B SINGLES CHART August 19, 1978
  32. ↑ Record World, July 15, 1978 - Page 30 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  33. ↑ Record World, July 22, 1978 - Page 330 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150
  34. ↑ Record World, August 12, 1978 - Page 39 August 12, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  35. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 37 August 19, 1978 RECORD WORLD SINGLES CHART
  36. ↑ LESCHARTS.COM - THELMA HOUSTON - DON'T PITY ME (CHANSON)
  37. ↑ Complete Recorded Music™ - Motown (Tamla Motown/Motown/Gordy UK 45s: TMG Prefix Series: 501-1390 (1965-1985)), TMG 1117 Don't Pity Me // It's Just Me Feeling Good
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