With Pen in Hand

"With Pen in Hand"
Single by Vikki Carr
from the album For Once In My Life
B-side "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
Released 1968[1]
Format Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Recorded 1968
Genre Traditional pop music
Length 3:55
Label Liberty Records
Writer(s) Bobby Goldsboro[2]

"With Pen in Hand" is a song written by Bobby Goldsboro, which was a hit for several artists in the late 1960s and the 1970s. The song's lyrics address the subjects of divorce and losing custody of one's child, and are sung from the perspective of the parent who expects to be losing custody of their child, as they make a final plea to their spouse to reconcile before the divorce is finalized.[3][4]

Vikki Carr version

In late 1968, Vikki Carr released “With Pen in Hand” as a single in the United Kingdom.[1][5] In early 1969, Carr's version was released in the United States, where it spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 35,[6] while reaching No. 6 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[7] and No. 42 on the Cash Box Top 100.[8] In Canada, Vikki Carr's version of "With Pen in Hand" reached No. 38 on the RPM 100,[9] and No. 4 on RPM's Adult Contemporary chart.[10] Carr's version also reached No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

In 1970, Vikki Carr was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her rendition of "With Pen in Hand".[11]

Bobby Goldsboro version

On February 26, 1968, Bobby Goldsboro recorded a version of "With Pen in Hand", and on August 1, 1972, he released it as a single.[12] Goldsboro's version spent 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 94,[13] while reaching No. 28 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[14] and No. 87 on the Cash Box Top 100.[15]

Other versions

In April 1968, Johnny Darrell released a version of “With Pen in Hand”,[16] which reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Country chart and No. 126 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[17][18]

In June 1968, Billy Vera released a version of the song,[19] which spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 43,[20] while reaching No. 25 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[21] and No. 12 on Canada's RPM 100.[22]

In July 1968, Jerry Vale released a version of the song on the album This Guy's In Love With You.[23] Vale's version reached No. 30 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[24]

In 1977, Dorothy Moore released a version of the song,[25] which reached No. 12 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart[26][27] and No. 101 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 "From The Music Capitals of the World", Billboard, November 9, 1968. p. 62. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  2. 1 2 With Pen in Hand - By: Vikki Carr, MusicVF.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  3. ↑ Randy Cordova, "12/13: 10 great Vikki Carr songs", The Arizona Republic, December 6, 2014. Accessed July 26, 2015
  4. ↑ C. Mackenzie, "The Gramophone", Volume 47, (1969)
  5. ↑ Vikki Carr - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ Vikki Carr - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  7. ↑ Vikki Carr - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  8. ↑ Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, July 12, 1969. p. 4. Accessed July 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ "The RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 20. July 14, 1969. p. 5
  10. ↑ "Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 20. July 14, 1969
  11. ↑ Diane Telgen, "Notable Hispanic American Women", VNR AG, (1999) p. 76
  12. ↑ "You've come a long way Bobby.", Billboard, October 5, 1974. p. BG-20. Accessed December 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ Bobby Goldsboro - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  14. ↑ Bobby Goldsboro - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  15. ↑ Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, October 14, 1972. p. 4. Accessed July 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ Johnny Darrell - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ With Pen in Hand - By: Johnny Darrell, MusicVF.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  18. ↑ "Hot Country Singles", Billboard, July 6, 1968. p. 36. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ Billy Vera - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  20. ↑ Billy Vera - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  21. ↑ Billy Vera - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015
  22. ↑ "The RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 9, No. 22-23 August 3, 1968. p. 5. Accessed December 3, 2015.
  23. ↑ Jerry Vale - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  24. ↑ Jerry Vale - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed July 26, 2015.
  25. ↑ Dorothy Moore - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  26. ↑ Dorothy Moore - Chart History - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Billboard.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Billboard Hot Soul Singles", Billboard, January 28, 1978. p. 96. Accessed July 14, 2016.
  28. ↑ With Pen in Hand - By: Dorothy Moore, MusicVF.com. Accessed July 14, 2016.
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