B-side "I Play the Spoons" Genre Novelty, Comedy | Format 7" single Label EMI Columbia | |
Released November 1, 1970 (1970-11-01) Writer(s) Herbie Flowers, Kenny Pickett | ||
"Grandad" is a popular song by Herbie Flowers and Kenny Pickett, and recorded by Clive Dunn.
While starring in the long-running BBC situation comedy Dad's Army, Dunn met bassist Herbie Flowers at a party and on learning he was a songwriter challenged him to write a song for him. Flowers wrote "Grandad" with Creation vocalist Kenny Pickett.
The single was released in November 1970, and, aided by promotion such as appearing on children's shows such as Basil Brush and DJ Tony Blackburn claiming it as his favourite record, in January 1971 it reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks, during which time Dunn celebrated his 51st birthday, and went on to spend a total of 27 weeks on the chart. Dunn never had another hit single but released an album Permission to Sing Sir!.
In 1979-1984, Dunn starred as Charlie 'Grandad' Quick in a children's television show named Grandad, although the series did not use the song as the theme tune.