"Wand'rin' Star" is a song that was originally written by Alan J. Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music) for the stage musical '' Paint Your Wagon'' in 1951.

Lee Marvin recording

"Wand'rin' Star" was a

number one Number One most commonly refers to: * 1 (number) Number One, No. 1, or #1 may also refer to: Music Albums * ''Number 1'' (Big Bang album), and the title song * ''No. 1'' (BoA album), and the title song * ''No.1'' (EP), by CLC * ''n.1 ...

single in the UK for three weeks and in Ireland for two weeks for

Lee Marvin Lee Marvin (born Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr.; February 19, 1924August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and premature white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Alt ...

in March 1970. The song also peaked at number 10 in Australia.

Background

When the film of the musical was made in 1969,

took the role of prospector Ben Rumson. Not a natural singer, Marvin nevertheless sang all of his songs in the film, rejecting the idea of miming to another singer's voice. Despite the film being a box office flop, the soundtrack became a success. Orchestrated and arranged by Nelson Riddle, Marvin's version of the song "Wand'rin Star" became a number 1 single in Ireland and the UK, keeping

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

at number 2 in the UK with their single " Let It Be". Marvin never released a follow-up single, so he is considered a one-hit wonder.

Cover versions

*A sound-alike cover appeared on the 1970 album '' Top of the Pops, Volume 10'', with one reviewer using terms like "laryngitic croak" and "gargling gargoyles" to describe how he felt about the cover. *"Wand'rin' Star" was covered by English comedian and novelist

Julian Clary Julian Peter McDonald Clary (born 25 May 1959) is an English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter. He began appearing on television in the mid-1980s. Since then he has also acted in films, television and stage productions, numerous pantomim ...

; his version was released as a single in the United Kingdom in 1990, backed with the self-penned track "Uncanny and Unnatural". *

Shane MacGowan and The Popes The Popes are a band originally formed by Shane MacGowan (of the Pogues) and Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness, who play a blend of rock, Irish folk and Americana. Shane MacGowan and The Popes released two studio and one live album in the 1990s, perfor ...

rendering was included on their 1997 album '' The Crock of Gold''. *German dance group Scooter covered the song on their 2021 album ''

God Save the Rave ''God Save the Rave'' is the twentieth studio album by German band Scooter, released on 16 April 2021 through Sheffield Tunes and Kontor Records. It is the first Scooter album not to be released after the usual one year-two year gap, being releas ...

''.

Popular culture

*In 2002, the song was played at the end of

Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...

's funeral. *The song was mentioned in the words of " Build a Fire" by

the KLF The KLF (also known as the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, the JAMs, the Timelords and other names) are a British electronic band formed in London in 1987. Bill Drummond (alias King Boy D) and Jimmy Cauty (alias Rockman Rock) began by releasing ...

. The last lines are, "We'll stop for lunch, in some taco bar./Lee Marvin on the jukebox, 'Wand'rin' Star.'"

Sample

References

UK Singles Chart number-one singles Irish Singles Chart number-one singles 1970 singles Songs from musicals Songs with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner Songs with music by Frederick Loewe Paramount Records singles 1951 songs {{1970s-pop-song-stub