Andy Williams Charts A New Hit Song With A Half-Century-Old Track
Andy Williams lands a surprising new hit in the U.K. as his 1958 track 'House of Bamboo' charts for ... More the first time, sparked by a sync in a BBC drama. American singer Andy Williams (1927-2012) performs live on stage circa 1965. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
Andy Williams was one of the most recognizable voices in American pop music for decades. The crooner amassed countless fans during his heyday, and though he passed away in 2012, his music has continued to resonate, particularly during the holiday season. Thanks to his Christmas classics, he's managed to remain a chart fixture, at least for a few weeks each year. But that limited run has suddenly expanded, as a song that many had likely forgotten (or never heard at all) is now a brand new hit in the United Kingdom
Williams earns a surprising pair of new wins in the United Kingdom this week, as "House of Bamboo" debuts on two charts. The decades-old track appears for the first time on the Official Singles Downloads ranking, opening at No. 58. It also reaches the Official Singles Sales tally, beginning its run there at No. 63. These placements may be modest, but they mark an incredible move for a tune released more than 65 years ago.
Williams hasn't racked up a lengthy discography of hits in the U.K. on the current sales and download-based charts, which were introduced decades after his heyday. "House of Bamboo" is only his third song to reach the Official Singles Downloads list throughout his career. It's even rarer for him to appear on the Official Singles Sales tally, as prior to this week, just one of his tracks had landed there. His new arrival doubles his total.
As "House of Bamboo" launches at No. 63 on the Official Singles Sales chart, Williams earns a brand new personal best on that specific ranking. His annual holiday staple "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" made it to No. 65, but never higher. That seasonal cut is still his biggest success on the Official Singles Downloads chart, where it has thus far peaked at No. 15. He also previously reached No. 87 with "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," which spent two weeks somewhere on the downloads-only ranking.
So why the sudden interest in "House of Bamboo" at this moment in time? The song's unexpected rise in the U.K. can seemingly be traced directly to one sync placement. The track is featured in the new BBC One crime drama The City Is Ours, which premiered in March and quickly became a hit.
"House of Bamboo" was originally released back in 1958. It came out alongside "Hawaiian Wedding Song," one of Williams' earliest hits. That tune didn't chart in the U.K., but it was a success elsewhere, including in America, and even earned the singer a Grammy nomination.
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