Don't You Remember When

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox song | name = | cover =  | alt = | type = single | artist = Vera Lynn | album = | B-side = That Old Feeling | released = {{Start date|1976|02|20}} | recorded = Marquee Studios, London | studio = | genre =  | length = | label = EMI | writer = Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue | producer = Lynsey de Paul | prev_title =  | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} "'''Don't You Remember When'''" (also known as "Don't You Remember") is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicbrainz.org/work/64e07930-4945-4d0e-9f2b-6eaf92aa45f1|title=Don't You Remember When|website=Musicbrainz.org|access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> that was released as a single by Vera Lynn on 20 February 1976 on the EMI record label,<ref name="Again"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicianbio.org/vera-lynn/|title=Vera Lynn : Biography|website=Musicianbio.org|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dame-vera-lynn-iconic-voice-of-world-war-ii-britain-has-died-at-103/|title=Dame Vera Lynn, iconic voice of World War II Britain, has died at 103|website=Cbsnews.com|date=18 June 2020 |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> in the UK as well as in Europe.<ref name="Di">{{Discogs release|3650261|type=single}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-you-remember-mt0028308677 |title=Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands |publisher=AllMusic |date=2007-02-19 |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref><ref name="cat1">{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/emi2413 |title=Vera Lynn - Don't You Remember When / That Old Feeling - EMI - UK - EMI 2413 |website=45cat.com |date= |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/185e8c/Vera-Lynn-Don't-You-Remember-When |title=Vera Lynn - Don't You Remember When |website=Ultratop.be |date= |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528822/bio|title=Vera Lynn : Biography|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref> The song was recorded at the Marquee Studios, London and was produced by de Paul and she also sang backing vocals on the track.<ref name="Di"/><ref name="cat1"/> In an interview with Tony Robinson of the "Sunday Mirror" at the time, De Paul said "I was absolutely thrilled at working with Dame Vera".<ref>''Sunday Mirror'', 1 February 1976, p. 25</ref> Ringo Starr, who was de Paul's partner at the time,<ref>''The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles'' by Peter Brown, Steven Gaines, {{ISBN|0-330-28531-9}}</ref><ref>''Rock Stars Do The Dumbest Things'' by Margaret Moser and Bill Crawford, Renaissance Book, 1998, {{ISBN|978-1580630238}}</ref> was widely reported as playing the tambourine on the song,<ref name="Again">''The Beatles Again?'' by Harry Castleman, Walter J. Podrazik, Pierian Press, 1977, {{ISBN|9780876500897}}</ref><ref>''The George Harrison Encyclopedia'', Virgin Books (2003) {{ISBN|978-0-7535-0822-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioswisspop.ch/en/music-database/musician/151759226c203240843e4c7a05031f9c46505c/biography |title=Richard Starkey - Musician - Music database - Radio Swiss Pop |website=Radioswisspop.ch |date= |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofrockandroll.net/beatles-solo-career/|title=Beatles Solo Career - The History of Rock and Roll Radio Show|website=Thehistoryofrockandroll.net|access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theliverpoolbeatlestour.co.uk/Ringo-Starr.html |title=Ringo Starr |publisher=The Liverpool Beatles Tour |date= |access-date=2017-03-13 |archive-date=19 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119124746/http://www.theliverpoolbeatlestour.co.uk/Ringo-Starr.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-02-21.pdf#search=%22lynsey%20de%20paul%22|format=PDF|title=Record World|date=1976-02-21|website=Worldrecordhistory.com|access-date=2023-08-16}}</ref> with Lynn recently recalling this in a 2019 interview in ''Saga Magazine''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/entertainment/celebrities/10-minutes-with/dame-vera-lynn|title=Dame Vera Lynn - Saga|website=Saga.co.uk|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> The music collectors magazine "Goldmine" listed it as one of Starr's 5 greatest session performances.<ref>Ringo Starr's 5 greatest session performances, from Howlin' Wolf to Jerry Lee Lewis by Bill Kopp, Goldmine, July 15, 2022</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldminemag.com/music-history/ringo-starr-5-greatest-session-performances-from-howlin-wolf-to-jerry-lee-lewis|title=Ringo Starr's 5 greatest session performances, from Howlin' Wolf to Jerry Lee Lewis|website=Goldminemag.com|date=15 July 2022 |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> De Paul also produced the B-side of the single, "That Old Feeling", written by Lew Brown and Sammy Fain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Vera-Lynn-Dont-You-Remember-When/release/3650261|title=Vera Lynn - Don't You Remember When|website=Discogs|date=6 February 1976 |access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="cat1"/> The English keyboard player, pianist and composer Tony Hymas, who had worked with de Paul before on her ''Love Bomb'' album and who went on to be a member of the duo Ph.D., arranged the song.<ref name="cat1"/> The song received favourable reviews, with the ''Record Mirror'' writing that the song is "a perfect vehicle for her with a well-honed nostalgic lyrics and lots of big long notes".<ref>''Record Mirror'', Singles review by Sue Byrom, p. 24, 28 February 1976</ref> Lynn performed the song on her own BBC 1 TV show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303566/|title=The Vera Lynn Show|access-date=8 April 2018|website=IMDb.com}}</ref>

De Paul was interviewed about how she wrote the song with Barry Blue especially for Vera Lynn, after appearing on Lynn's TV show, as well as details about its recording in an article in the UK music magazine, ''Music Week''.<ref>''Music Week'', 21 February 1976</ref> Lynn and de Paul held a press reception at the Dorchester Hotel in February 1976 to announce the release of the single.<ref>''Record Mirror & Disc'', 14 February 1976, p. 28</ref><ref>p47, Billboard, 14 February 1976</ref> The two ladies had also met previously at the Dorchester Hotel when they were both recipients of Ivor Novello Awards on 22 May 1975; de Paul receiving the Best Television Theme award for the song "No, Honestly", and Lynn receiving a special award for services to the music industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1975/|title=The Ivors 1975 - The Ivors|website=Theivors.com|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201061821/http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1975/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that year, de Paul appeared on ''The Vera Lynn Show'' on BBC One,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c1639552e174d14afc6be4bb14c9fb6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807075458/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c1639552e174d14afc6be4bb14c9fb6|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2023|title=BBC Programme Index|date=22 October 1975|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref> leading to Lynn asking de Paul if she had a suitable song for her as a single.<ref>''Record Mirror & Disc'', 14 February 1986, p. 8</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/76/Record-Mirror-1976-02-14.pdf|title=Record Mirror|date=14 February 1976|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>

The song appeared on CD for the first time in 2007 as a remastered track (with the shortened title "Don't You Remember") on the Vera Lynn compilation album, ''The Singles Collection'', that was released worldwide to coincide for her 90th birthday on the EMI Gold record label<ref>{{Discogs release|5082603|type=album}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-collection-mw0001064515 |title=The Singles Collection - Vera Lynn | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=2007-02-19 |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Vera-Lynn-Singles-Collection/release/5082603|title=Vera Lynn - Singles Collection|website=Discogs|date=6 March 2007 |access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> and on Parlophone in digital download format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-singles-collection-mr0004093466|title=The Singles Collection - Vera Lynn - Release Info - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> The extensive sleeve notes for the CD states "The last tracks not to appear on an album were issued in the same year and really are the diamonds among the collected pearls on this collection. Singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul wrote the song "Don't You Remember"... This was backed by yet another Sammy Fain classic "That Old Feeling"".<ref>Dean Peirce-Hendriks, sleeve booklet, Vera Lynn The Singles Collection, 2018</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Vera-Lynn-Singles-Collection/release/12389868|title=Vera Lynn - Singles Collection|website=Discogs|access-date=1 December 2018}}</ref> The French music site Purebreak charts mentions the song and album as of Lynn's most important releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Vera-Lynn/The-Singles-Collection-a102292483.html|title=Vera Lynn - The Singles Collection|website=Chartsinfrance.net|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> It was also released again on 8 May 2020 on the album, ''We'll Meet Again (VE Day 75 Edition)'', by the Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/f1d56549-bd08-4286-9bb4-d246cf749f46|title=We'll Meet Again (VE Day 75 Edition)|website=Musicbrainz.org|access-date=2023-08-16}}</ref> The German radio station, Radio Rund Hamm, listed its release on its pop history site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiorundehamm.de/radioaktiv/pophistory/by-ralf-grote//20/2.html|title=PopHistory|website=Radiorundehamm.de|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> The recording was also released on the CD ''Beatles Undercover Volume Ten''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5938194-Various-Beatles-Undercover-Volume-Ten|title=Various - Beatles Undercover Volume Ten|date=8 August 2006|access-date=8 August 2023|website=Discogs.com}}</ref>

Lynn was interviewed by ''Saga'' magazine in 2019 and mentioned recording "Don't You Remember When".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/entertainment/celebrities/10-minutes-with/dame-vera-lynn|title=Dame Vera Lynn - Saga|website=Saga.co.uk}}</ref> A more recent article also recalled the connection between Lynn, de Paul and Starr in the recording of the song and states "Decades after she became the darling of the troops', Dame Lynn returned with a comeback single. Don't You Remember When was well received by music critics when it was released in 1976",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1272481/Dame-Vera-Lynn-Ringo-Starr-connection-Dont-You-Remember-When-song|title=Dame Vera Lynn's intriguing connection to The Beatles' Ringo Starr - You'd never guess it|first=Minnie|last=Wright|date=22 April 2020|website=Express.co.uk}}</ref> which was echoed by Bill Moeller in his article "How That Nightingale Could Sing!".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/bill-moeller-commentary-how-that-nightingale-could-sing,2533|title=Bill Moeller Commentary: How That Nightingale Could Sing!|author=Bill Moeller|date=15 July 2020|website=The Daily Chronicle|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref> When Lynn died in June 2020, several press obituaries mentioned the song.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/18/vera-lynns-songs-daughter-early-life-well-meet-singer-dies-aged-103-12869446/|title=Vera Lynn's songs, daughter and early life as We'll Meet Again singer dies|website=Metro.co.uk|date=18 June 2020|access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/world-war-ii-forces-sweetheart-singer-vera-lynn-71315878|title=World War II forces sweetheart singer Vera Lynn dies at 103|website=Abcnews.go.com|access-date=17 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dame-vera-lynn-iconic-voice-of-world-war-ii-britain-has-died-at-103/|title=Dame Vera Lynn, iconic voice of World War II Britain, has died at 103|website=Cbsnews.com|date=18 June 2020 |access-date=17 January 2021}}</ref> It was included on the ''We'll Meet Again (VE Day 75 Edition)'' album in 2020 and it reached No. 55 in the UK Albums Chart.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/we'll-meet-again | title=We'll meet again | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts }}</ref> It is mentioned in an interview with Lynn's daughter "Vera Lynn's songs, daughter and early life as We’ll Meet Again singer dies aged 103" by Aidan Milan that was featured in the British newspaper ''Metro'',<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/18/vera-lynns-songs-daughter-early-life-well-meet-singer-dies-aged-103-12869446 | title=Vera Lynn's songs, daughter and early life as We'll Meet Again singer dies |website=Metro.co.uk| date=18 June 2020 }}</ref> as well as "a come back hit in 1976" by ''The New York Post'',<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/18/vera-lynn-world-war-ii-forces-sweetheart-singer-dead-at-103 | title=Vera Lynn, World War II 'Sweetheart' singer, dead at 103 |website=Nypost.com| date=18 June 2020 }}</ref> the ''Los Angeles Times''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-06-18/vera-lynn-dead|title=Vera Lynn, World War II sweetheart who sang 'We'll Meet Again,' dies at 103|date=18 June 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref> and Ian Robertson in his "Pot Pourri" column in ''Canadian Stamp News''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canadianstampnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/CSNV4508-Aug4.20.pdf|title=Late dad recognized on new U.K. stamp, Vera Lynn stamp promoted|page=14|website=Canadianstampnews.com|date=2020-08-17|access-date=2023-08-16}}</ref> It is also mentioned in the June 2020 article "Paul McCartney pays tribute to Vera Lynn - and she sings Beatles songs" on The Beatles Journal site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglassonionbeatlesjournal.com/2020/06/paul-mccartney-pays-tribute-to-vera.html|title=Paul McCartney pays tribute to Vera Lynn - and she sings Beatles songs|website=Theglassonionbeatlesjournal.com|date=19 June 2020 |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> The de Paul produced B-side "That Old Feeling" is also listed among Lynn's top 100 songs.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://songtracer.com/music/artist/14647552/vera-lynn | title=Vera Lynn Top Songs in Vocal Genre - Apr, 2022 List|website=Songtracer.com}}</ref>

In more recent years, the song has become popular at funerals and memorials due to the reminiscing tone and nostalgia of the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alifecelebrant.com.au/about/music-for-funerals-memorials/|title=Music evokes emotions, sensations and feeling. It can transport you to a familiar time and create new memories to treasure.|website=Alifecelebrant.com|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Songs written by Lynsey de Paul Category:Vera Lynn songs Category:1976 singles Category:Songs written by Barry Blue Category:1976 songs