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| ] and ] by Susan's husband ] (vocals/]), with ] (guitar) and Satwan Singh (]), the group ] two ]s, from which came their best known ]s "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" (No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on the ] ] ]) and the Top 30 tear-jerker "That's Where I Went Wrong" (both 1970). Terry was inspired to compose "Which Way You Goin' Billy" based on the women left behind by the casualties of the Vietnam war. Both singles were also major Top 10 hits on Billboard's Adult Contemporary (at the time labeled Easy Listening) chart. The Poppy Family placed a few other songs on the U.S. and Canadian charts through 1972, including "Where Evil Grows" (a top five hit on influential ] / ] ] station ] - which frequently played all of their recordings - and No. 45 on the U.S. national Billboard chart), "I Was Wondering," and "Good Friends?". | ] and ] by Susan's husband ] (vocals/]), with ] (guitar) and Satwan Singh (]), the group ] two ]s, from which came their best known ]s "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" (No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on the ] ] ]) and the Top 30 tear-jerker "That's Where I Went Wrong" (both 1970). Terry was inspired to compose "Which Way You Goin' Billy" based on the women left behind by the casualties of the Vietnam war. Both singles were also major Top 10 hits on Billboard's Adult Contemporary (at the time labeled Easy Listening) chart. The Poppy Family placed a few other songs on the U.S. and Canadian charts through 1972, including "Where Evil Grows" (a top five hit on influential ] / ] ] station ] - which frequently played all of their recordings - and No. 45 on the U.S. national Billboard chart), "I Was Wondering," and "Good Friends?". | ||
| At their career peak, Terry and Susan performed "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" on Bobby Darin's 1970 television variety special, The Darin Invasion. The special also featured a young Linda Ronstadt and is The Poppy Family's only appearance available commercially - formerly on VHS and now - on DVD. | At their career peak, Terry and Susan performed "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" on Bobby Darin's 1970 television variety special, The Darin Invasion. The special also featured a young Linda Ronstadt performing "Long Long Time" and is The Poppy Family's only appearance available commercially - formerly on VHS and now - on DVD. | ||
| The ''Which Way You Goin' Billy?'' album and single earned the group a combined four ]s, including one for best-produced middle-of-the-road album, and another in the best-produced single category for the album's title track. | The ''Which Way You Goin' Billy?'' album and single earned the group a combined total of four ]s, including one for best-produced middle-of-the-road album, and another in the best-produced single category for the album's title track. The Juno Award is Canada's equivalent of the Grammy Award. The single version of "Which Way You Goin' Billy" was a certified Gold (for sales of more than 1 million US copies) and went on to sell a total of 2 1/2 million in the States. | ||
| The Poppy Family disbanded in 1973. Both Terry and Susan Jacks pursued ] careers; Terry scored an international No. 1 smash with "]," - which earned him yet another four Juno awards - and Susan also released several albums but scored only one minor hit in the U.S., "You're A Part Of Me" (No. 90 in 1975). | The Poppy Family disbanded in 1973. Susan and Terry divorced the same year after six years of a turbulent marriage. Both Terry and Susan Jacks pursued ] careers; Terry scored an international No. 1 smash with "]," - which earned him yet another four Juno awards - and Susan also released several albums but scored only one minor hit in the U.S., "You're A Part Of Me" (No. 90 in 1975). | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 10 April 2007
| File:PoppyFamilyBilly.jpg |
The Poppy Family was a late 1960s-early 1970s Canadian pop musical group based in Vancouver, British Columbia. A product of the "Hippie generation," they brought a cleaner cut image, capitalizing on the vocal talents and good looks of Susan Jacks. Some have described the group as Canada's equivalent of the Carpenters in that both groups featured a female vocalist and specialized in catchy but ultimately melancholy middle-of-the-road pop tunes (although, unlike the Carpenters, which were a brother-sister duo, the Poppy Family was fronted by a husband-wife team). They were likened to the Cowsills as well.
Managed and produced by Susan's husband Terry Jacks (vocals/guitar), with Craig McCaw (guitar) and Satwan Singh (drums), the group recorded two albums, from which came their best known songs "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" (No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard charts) and the Top 30 tear-jerker "That's Where I Went Wrong" (both 1970). Terry was inspired to compose "Which Way You Goin' Billy" based on the women left behind by the casualties of the Vietnam war. Both singles were also major Top 10 hits on Billboard's Adult Contemporary (at the time labeled Easy Listening) chart. The Poppy Family placed a few other songs on the U.S. and Canadian charts through 1972, including "Where Evil Grows" (a top five hit on influential Detroit / Windsor, Ontario Top 40 station CKLW - which frequently played all of their recordings - and No. 45 on the U.S. national Billboard chart), "I Was Wondering," and "Good Friends?".
At their career peak, Terry and Susan performed "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" on Bobby Darin's 1970 television variety special, The Darin Invasion. The special also featured a young Linda Ronstadt performing "Long Long Time" and is The Poppy Family's only appearance available commercially - formerly on VHS and now - on DVD.
The Which Way You Goin' Billy? album and single earned the group a combined total of four 1970 Gold Leaf (Juno) Awards, including one for best-produced middle-of-the-road album, and another in the best-produced single category for the album's title track. The Juno Award is Canada's equivalent of the Grammy Award. The single version of "Which Way You Goin' Billy" was a certified Gold (for sales of more than 1 million US copies) and went on to sell a total of 2 1/2 million in the States.
The Poppy Family disbanded in 1973. Susan and Terry divorced the same year after six years of a turbulent marriage. Both Terry and Susan Jacks pursued solo careers; Terry scored an international No. 1 smash with "Seasons In The Sun," - which earned him yet another four Juno awards - and Susan also released several albums but scored only one minor hit in the U.S., "You're A Part Of Me" (No. 90 in 1975).
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