Wishin’ and Hopin’

(Burt Bacharach/Hal David)

This song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1963 as the B side of “This Empty Place”. It subsequently appeared on the LPs, Presenting Dionne Warwick and Make Way for Dionne Warwick.

Dusty Springfield heard her version of the song and longed to record it. Jack Lacey, a DJ from the Big Apple, liked Dusty’s version so much, he played it every day on his show. It was enough to encourage the record label to promote the song, and in the summer of 1964, it shot to #4 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and #6 on the pop chart. The B side was “Do Re Mi”. “Wishin’ and Hopin’” is listed as the #50 song of 1964. It appears on the LP, A Girl Called Dusty.

In 1964, The Merseybeats did their own version, backed with “Milkman”. Their version went to #13 in the U.K. It also appears on the 1965 album, Brenda Lee Sings Top Teen Hits. In 1966, Nancy Sinatra included it on her Nancy in London album. It even received the classical treatment on 1969’s Bacharach Baroque. In 1982, it was covered by Donna Loren and appears on Magic – The 80’s Collection. Debra Monk sang it in 1983 on Pump Boys and Dinettes on Television.

It returned to the small screen in 1985 on the long-awaited Ready Steady Go! Sounds of Motown (which was hosted by Dusty Springfield in 1965 and features her duetting on the song with Martha Reeves & The Vandellas). The song has appeared on the soundtracks of several films, including A Home at the End of the World, My Best Friend’s Wedding (by Ani DeFranco), Tin Men, and A Walk on the Moon. Vanessa Carlton covered the song on the television program, American Dreams.

It has also been featured in several musical tributes such as Beehive, the Musical, Connie Champagne’s “Brand New Me”, The Look of Love, Stay Forever: The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield (starring Kirsten Holly Smith), Suds: The Rocking 60s Soap Opera Musical, What the World Needs Now (with Jason Langley and Kate Parry) and The Wishin’ and Hopin’ Tribute Show. A parody version called “Drippin’ and Droppin’” appears in Menopause the Musical.

The song has been performed by Blacharach, Petula Clark, Rita Coolidge, The Eagles (no, not those Eagles), Girl Talk, Shelby Lynne, Marion Maerz (as “Warten und Hoffen”), Stephanie McIntosh, Alan Peterson, and The Vandalias. It can found be on almost any Dusty Springfield greatest-hits package. Dionne Warwick reprised it on her 2006 CD, My Friends & Me, in a duet with Olivia Newton-John. There is even a version for string quartet, arranged by Holly Gullen Stout.

A staple on pop-rock anthologies, it appears on The British Beat: The Best of the 60s, K-Tel’s Spotlight – Groups of the 60s, Music to Watch Girls By, Prom Night: This Magic Moment, 100 Juke Box Hits, and Rock ‘n’ Roll of the 60s. In 2009, a video of Dusty Springfield performing “Wishin’ and Hopin’” was included on the DVD, Once upon a Time 1964-1969.

Dusty Springfield recordings
Collectables COL 4232

Sources:

Wishin’ and Hopin’

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