FRANK IFIELD - “The Wayward Wind”
(23rd February 1963)
The wayward wind was no longer all blowing in Frank Ifield’s direction. The harmonica splashed all over this track is surely a response to the Beatles’ liberal use of same on October’s “Love Me Do”. On both songs the instrument stands for freedom - romantic in the Beatles’ case, metaphysical in this ode to wanderlust. Unfortunately Ifield sings the song like a suspiciously butch scoutmaster - you half-expect a percussion track of slapped thighs, and when his voice breaks into a yodel the effect is rather unfortunate. That’s not to say “The Wayward Wind” isn’t good. In fact it’s a very funny record: Ifield’s hearty bellow, the yodelling, the hostage-to-fortune title and the stirring music make for a preposterous package. Campy fun now, but this is where Ifield (ahem) blew it. 6
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AJ on January 14th, 2006
The use of harmonica on this track is not a response to the Beatles. “Love Me Do” only made number 17 so why would a chart-topper like Ifield even bother responding to it? I don’t think he, or the other balladeers of the period, even considered the Beatles as a threat at that point.
The use of harmonica in “Love Me Do” came from Frank Ifield’s “I Remember You”. Of course both were following Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”.
But the point is- the Beatles were influenced by Frank Ifield, not the other way round.