On one occasion at a party in London, David McWilliams accidentally broke a prized Appalachian lap dulcimer owned by Billy Connolly. Mortified, he asked how he could best make amends. Connolly replied that a copy of his latest album for his brother, a keen fan, would be more than adequate. Ironically, David McWilliams's recording of the song, first made in 1967, was never a British chart hit. A quarter-of-a-century elapsed before a cover version by Marc Almond of Soft Cell entered the British Top Ten, reaching number four. Having his first single, "God and My Country", flop, McWilliams entered a Belfast recording studio to record some demos. Around that time, Mervyn Solomon overheard his tapes, and was impressed enough to telephone his brother Phil Solomon. Because McWilliams was already signed to CBS, who manufactured Major Minor's recordings, Phil Solomon offered to take McWilliams off their hands. The offer was accepted, and Solomon took McWilliams with him to London to record the song. Originally, the song was a poignant ballad. [3] The title was presumably a play of words on a line from the Victorian hymn, "We rest on thee", "the gates of pearly splendour". Ned Raggett (29 October 1991). "Tenement Symphony – Marc Almond". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 June 2014.

The BBC refused to play the record, however, because of Solomon's involvement in the offshore radio station Radio Caroline, and thus the record failed to chart in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland. [3] In continental Europe, the song topped the French Singles Chart, reached number two on the Belgian Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the Dutch Singles Chart. [4] In Australia, the song spent two weeks at number 32 on Go-Set's national top 40, [8] reaching number 10 in Brisbane. [9] The song was rereleased on three occasions and remains a staple of "oldies" radio stations. [3]McWilliams was born in the Cregagh area of Belfast and moved to Ballymena at the age of three. [1] He began playing guitar and writing songs in his early teens. After leaving Ballymena Technical College in 1963, he started an apprenticeship at the Shorts missile factory in Antrim, and also started a local dance band, the Coral Showband. [1] [2] [3] He was a well-respected football player, and had a trial with Linfield as a goalkeeper. [2] [4] Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol.9, no.20. 16 May 1992. p.27 . Retrieved 31 January 2020. Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol.80, no.9. 2 March 1968. p.44 . Retrieved 13 September 2020. Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol.80, no.17. 27 April 1968. p.53 . Retrieved 13 September 2020.

He recorded a demo of some of his own songs, which was heard by music industry entrepreneur Phil Solomon, who had previously managed The Bachelors and Van Morrison's band Them and also had close business ties with Ronan O'Rahilly's pirate radio station Radio Caroline. [1] [5] Solomon convinced close friend and well established songwriter Dominic Behan to take McWilliams under his wing to the point that McWilliams moved into the Behan family home in West London, an environment within which he was able to focus on songwriting; the impact of Behan's influence is difficult to determine but, it can be seen that McWilliams' live performances became much more self-assured, a key to future success. Following a period of five months in Behan's household, Solomon was able to negotiate a contract with CBS Records, which released his first, unsuccessful single "God and My Country" in 1966, before signing McWilliams to his own new Major Minor label. McWilliams and Behan were to remain close friends until the death of Dominic Behan in 1989. David Samuel McWilliams (4 July 1945 – 8 January 2002) was a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Northern Ireland, best known for his 1967 song " Days of Pearly Spencer". UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 11 June 2022.Days of Pearly Spencer (song by David McWilliams) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com . Retrieved 12 September 2020. Richie Unterberger described the song as "[McWilliams's] best song, with a dark edge, swirling violins, and an effective dab of psychedelia in the megaphone-distorted vocals on the song's chorus." [10] In 2002, The Independent called the song "dreamy". [3] In 2012, Stuart Bailie of Radio Ulster called "Harlem Lady", the A-side, a "quality tune" and "Pearly Spencer" a "remarkable record". [4] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1967–1968) Mandy Bingham recorded 'The Days of Pearly Spencer' in just one take at the Millbank studios in Lisburn, and such was the emotion of the day, and her haunting and spine-chilling delivery, that even producer Michael Mormecha said he had goosebumps.

a b c d e f g "David McWilliams – Obituaries, News – The Independent". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 . Retrieved 1 June 2014. As well as being an accomplished musician, David McWilliams was a talented footballer who, in different circumstances, might have joined a Cregagh-born contemporary, George Best, in the professional ranks. Signed by Linfield FC from amateur side Harryville, he immediately became the first-team goalkeeper. Unfortunately, an ankle injury kept him out of the game for four months by which time his musical career had taken off.The recording was produced by Mike Leander who formed a sweeping orchestral arrangement for the song. Leander had previously provided arrangements for such records as " She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles and Marianne Faithfull's " As Tears Go By." [4] a b c d e f Stuart Bailie. "Stuart Bailie: The Great Northern Songbook – 3. The Days of Pearly Spencer". BBC . Retrieved 22 June 2014.

A daughter of the late, lamented Ulster singer David McWilliams has recorded her own moving version of her father's most famous song to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the day it was released on the crest of an unprecedented wave of publicity. A recording by English singer Marc Almond titled " The Days of Pearly Spencer", with an additional verse written by Almond giving the song a more optimistic tone, [22] reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Ireland in 1992. In a review from the parent album Tenement Symphony, Ned Raggett of AllMusic called it 'the surprise U.K. hit single of the bunch, the gentle and (for Trevor Horn) understated "The Days of Pearly Spencer", another '60s cover given the Almond treatment to good effect'. [23] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1992)His début single God and My Country was issued in 1966, and in 1967 The Days of Pearly Spencer was released. Featuring distorted vocals through the use of a megaphone as in The New Vaudeville's Band Winchester Cathedral, the record won David McWilliams much-deserved recognition. Days of Pearly Spencer" (or in later releases " The Days of Pearly Spencer") is a 1967 song written and originally performed by Northern Irish singer-songwriter David McWilliams, [1] [2] and included on his second album David McWilliams Vol. 2. [3] Although it charted in several countries in continental Europe and in Australia, the original version was not a chart success in either the United Kingdom or Ireland. The song was rerecorded by McWilliams with a new arrangement in his album Working for the Government (1987). In 1992, a cover version by English pop singer Marc Almond reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Ireland. A French language version also exists by French 1960s singer Frank Alamo titled "Je connais une chanson" about an impossible love. Tenement Symphony (Media notes). Marc Almond. WEA. 4 October 1991. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link)