{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Congregation | image = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = The English Congregation (US, Canada) | origin = England | genre = pop, vocal | years_active = Early 1970s <!-- {{start date|df=y|YYYY}}–{{end date|df=y|YYYY}} (or –present) --> | label = EMI Columbia | associated_acts = Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | current_members = | past_members = }} '''The Congregation''' was a British pop ensemble, formed by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway in England.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/congregation-mn0002520016 |title=Congregation – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref> In the United States it was credited as '''The English Congregation'''.
The band's biggest hit was a cover version of "Softly Whispering I Love You" (originally recorded by Cook and Greenaway's previous group, David and Jonathan), which peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts | year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| page= 117| isbn= 1-904994-10-5}}</ref> No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the US, No. 1 in South Africa, No. 12 in Australia<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=73}}</ref> and New Zealand and No. 10 in Germany. The group's lead singer was the former Plastic Penny vocalist, Brian Keith, who later became a session musician.<ref name="AMG"/> With no further top 40 hits, The Congregation was a transatlantic one-hit wonder.
The band changed its name on releases in the United States to avoid confusion with the Mike Curb Congregation, which also recorded "Softly Whispering I Love You".<ref>{{discogs release|3921680|The Mike Curb Congregation: Softly Whispering I Love You}}</ref>
==Discography== (All UK releases on Columbia of Columbia Graphophone Co./EMI; US releases leased to Atco and Signpost)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Congregation+(2) |title=Congregation (2) Discography |website=Discogs |accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref> ;Singles *"Softly Whispering I Love You"/"When Susie Takes the Plane" (Columbia DB 8830 & Atco 6865, 1971) *"Lovers of the World Unite"/"Love Is the Sweetest Thing I Know" (Columbia DB 8894 & Signpost 70002, 1972) *"Jesahel"/"Sing Me a Love Song" (Columbia DB 8906 & Signpost 70004,<ref>B-side: "If I Could Have My Way"</ref> 1972) *"I Will Survive"/"If I Could Have My Way" (Columbia 006-05 170, Germany, 1972) *"It Didn't Matter"/"Loving Your Neighbour" (Columbia DB 8980, 1973) *"Jubilation"/"Love Is the Sweetest Thing I Know" (Columbia DB 9006, 1973)
;Albums *''Softly Whispering I Love You'' (Columbia SCX 6490 & Signpost 7217, 1972) *''Jesahel'' (Signpost 8405, 1972) *''Greatest Hits'' (EMIdisc 1 C 048-51 828, Germany, 1972) *''The Congregation'' (Columbia SCX 6517, 1973)
==See also== *List of number-one singles in 1972 (New Zealand) *List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Discogs artist|Congregation (2)|The Congregation}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Congregation}} Category:English pop music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1971
{{UK-pop-band-stub}}