22 November 1965
After ‘From The Candy Store On The Corner To The Chapel On The Hill’ and ‘Every Step Of The Way’, ‘Wishing It Was You’ is Dickie Rock’s third Irish number one single in a row to centre on getting married in church. However, this time Dickie’s tale is one of woe: the one he really loves isn’t standing at the altar but sitting among the guests, though hopefully not on his family’s side.
I could read a whole lot of spicy intrigue into this scenario: is her old lad carrying a loaded shotgun? Did she have to – ahem – get the dress slightly refitted around the middle? That’d be way more creativity than went into the making of this record, which to my cynical mind sounds like Dickie fancying a quick slice of Eileen Reid’s ‘I Gave My Wedding Dress Away’ melodrama-fuelled profit margin. The original was sung by Connie Francis, who at least gives its Bacharach & David pretensions (the slightly Brazilian rhythm and the couplet “Tomorrow when you see me pass you by / Just turn your head so you won’t see me cry” are my cues here) the added dramatic crackle of a female protagonist and a strong vocal presence. Dickie, though, can only make it sound like he’s going up to receive communion. Walk on by.
