"Tin Man" is a 1974 song by the pop rock band

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. It was written by band member Dewey Bunnell and

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by George Martin, who also plays the piano part on the recorded version. The song was included on the band's album ''

Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...

'', also from 1974.

Background

The song's title and some of its lyrics refer to the Tin Woodman from ''

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''. Songwriter Bunnell was quoted describing the parallel: "My favorite movie, I guess. I always loved it as a kid. Very obscure lyrics. Great grammar - 'Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man.' It's sort of a poetic license."

Dan Peek Daniel Milton Peek () was an American musician best known as a member of the folk rock band America from 1970 to 1977, together with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. He has been called a "pioneer in contemporary Christian music". Early life ...

- who describes "Tin Man" as "quintessential Dewey, easy stream of consciousness with a major seventh acoustic bed" - states that Bunnell "actually begged us not to record the song. Knowing Dewey it was probably reverse psychology; if it was, Gerry

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and I fell for it, insisting it was perfect for the album." Released as the first

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from ''Holiday'', "Tin Man" became the band's fourth top-ten hit in the US, spending three weeks at number four on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in November 1974. Whitburn, Joel (2004). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 26. The song reached number one on the ''Billboard''

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in October of that year.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). ''The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits'' (Billboard Publications), page 147. In the UK, the song was relegated to the B-side of another album track, "Mad Dog", released in July, but both sides failed to chart.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover versions

A Finnish rendering of "Tin Man" entitled "Toisin käy" was recorded by Finnish band

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in 1974. Funk band Chocolate Milk also covered the song on their 1975 debut Action Speaks Louder Than Words. Brazilian singer Ivo Meirelles recorded a Portuguese rendering of "Tin Man" entitled "Swing Man" for his 2004 album ''Samba Soul''. The group Incognito also recorded the song on their album ''Bees + Things + Flowers'' (2006) which features singer Carleen Anderson. Evan Olson released a cover of the song in his 1999 album '' One Room''.

References