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"Hi Ho Silver Lining" is a rock song, written by American songwriters Scott English and Larry Weiss and first released as a single in March 1967 by English band the Attack, then a few days later by Jeff Beck. The Attack's version failed to chart, while Beck's recording reached the top 20 of the singles chart in his native Britain in both 1967 and 1972, becoming his biggest solo hit. Beck's single failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, however.

Background

Songwriters English and Weiss started writing a song together, with a chorus of "Hi ho silver lining", but no verses. When producer Mickie Most heard their early version, he suggested that it would be a hit and persuaded English to complete the lyrics. According to writer and musician Bob Stanley, English wanted to record a finished version of the song himself, so decided to deter Most by writing "the most unusable, stupid lyric he could think up, about flies in pea soup and beach umbrellas". To English's chagrin, Most liked the song, and had Jeff Beck record it.

Jeff Beck version

"Hi Ho Silver Lining"
Netherlands-only cover
Single by Jeff Beck
B-side	"Beck's Bolero"
Released	10 March 1967
Recorded	19 January 1967
Studio	De Lane Lea Studios, London
Genre	Psychedelic pop bubblegum pop
Length	2:53
Label	Columbia: DB 8151
Songwriter(s)	Scott English Larry Weiss
Producer(s)	Mickie Most
Jeff Beck singles chronology
"Hi Ho Silver Lining" / "Beck's Bolero" (1967) "Tallyman" / "Rock My Plimsoul" (1967)
Official audio
"Hi Ho Silver Lining" on YouTube

In May 1967, Beck's version peaked at No. 14 (for three consecutive weeks) on the UK Singles Chart during a then lengthy 14-week run. The single spent a further 11 weeks on the chart when reissued in the autumn of 1972, peaking at No. 17 (for three consecutive weeks) in December. In the U.S., Beck's single (released as "Hi-Ho Silver") peaked at No. 123 in May 1967. The song was not included on Beck's album Truth when first released in 1968, but featured as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue.

In 1983, in an all-star jam with Steve Winwood and Simon Phillips, Beck performed "Hi Ho Silver Lining" live at the ARMS Charity Concert, a charity benefit show for multiple sclerosis, at London's Royal Albert Hall. The song was resurrected for the Together and Apart Japanese and U.S. tours with Eric Clapton in 2009 and 2010. According to Kate Mossman, writing in the New Statesman, Beck "has likened 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' to having a pink toilet seat hung around your neck for the rest of your life."

Beck's version is popular with fans of numerous football clubs in the United Kingdom, where it is often chanted by spectators. During the chorus, the words 'silver lining' are usually replaced with the name of the football club in question.

Formats and track listings

1967 7" single (UK/Holland: Columbia DB 8151, New Zealand: Columbia DNZ 10497, Portugal: Columbia 8E 006-93925)

• A. "Hi Ho Silver Lining" (English, Weiss) – 2:53
• B. "Beck's Bolero" (Page) – 2:52

Charts

Personnel

• Jeff Beck – guitars, vocals
• John Paul Jones – bass guitar
• Clem Cattini – drums
• Rod Stewart – backing vocals
• Mickie Most – producer

References

1. "Jeff Beck—Hi-Ho Silver Lining/Beck's Bolero". Headheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
2. Bob Stanley, "Music to visit", Record Collector, #507, July 2020, p.52
3. Stanley, Bob (2022). "The Summit: Frank, Dean and Sammy". Let's Do It - The Birth of Pop Music: A History. New York: Pegasus Books. p. 516.
4. Union, Wonderful. "Official Site". Steve Winwood. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
5. "The £7m fingers: how Jeff Beck became a guitar hero by saying no". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
6. Why Chesterfield’s owner believes ‘Hi-Ho Silver Lining’ is NOT owned by Sheffield Wednesday. The Star. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
7. BEST FOOTBALL SONGS: 25 ANTHEMS FOR THE TERRACES. Dig!. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
8. "Top 40 Singles - 21 June 1967". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hi Ho Silver Lining". Irish Singles Chart.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jeff Beck" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
11. "Jeff Beck – Hi Ho Silver Lining" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
12. "Listener - Jeff Beck". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
13. "Disc Top 30" (PDF). Disc & Music Echo (13 May 1967): 3.
14. "Pop 30" (PDF). Melody Maker (20 May 1967): 2.
15. "NME Top 30" (PDF). New Musical Express (29 April 1967): 5.
16. "Top 100 Singles - 13 May 1967". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
17. "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. 27 May 1967. p. 20.

External links

• The Attack: Hi-Ho Silver Lining at 45cat.com
• The Attack: Hi-Ho Silver Lining at discogs.com

• 1967 songs
• 1967 debut singles
• Jeff Beck songs
• Psychedelic pop songs
• Song recordings produced by Mickie Most
• Songs written by Scott English
• Songs written by Larry Weiss
• Decca Records singles
• Columbia Records singles