"Substitute" is a song by Willie H. Wilson, recorded first by The Righteous Brothers and released as a single from their album The Sons of Mrs. Righteous in 1975.[3] A 1978 version by the South African all-female band Clout was a global hit.
"Substitute" | ||||
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Single by Clout | ||||
from the album Substitute | ||||
B-side | "When Will You Be Mine" | |||
Released | November 1977 (SA)[1]
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Length | 3:28 | |||
Label | Sunshine Records Production | |||
Songwriter(s) | Willie Harry Wilson | |||
Producer(s) | Grahame Beggs | |||
Clout singles chronology | ||||
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In 1978, the song became a big hit for the South African band Clout, reaching No. 2 in the UK charts in August and being certified Gold by the BPI.[4] It fared even better in the rest of Europe, Africa and Oceania where it reached No. 1 in Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as No. 2 in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It fared exceptionally well on the annual charts too, reaching the Top 20 on the final year-end singles charts in the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and the UK. This version was produced by Grahame Beggs.
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Belgium | — | 60,000[29] |
France | — | 400,000[29] |
Netherlands | — | 100,000[29] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | Gold | 600,000[29] |
a continental hit, over 600,000 singles were sold in Britain, 400,000 in France, 100,000 in Holland and 60,000 in Belgium, it was No. 1 for 7 weeks in South Africa[page needed]