Once Upon a Time in the Top Spot: The Scaffold, “Lily the Pink”

46 years ago today, The Scaffold – a British band featuring Mike McGear, otherwise known as Paul McCartney’s brother – earned a #1 UK single (and a #1 Irish single and a #1 Australian single) with a song that had very little chance of ever becoming a #1 single anywhere other than a British territory because…well, quite frankly, it’s just that British.

Derived from a folk song entitled “The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham,” The Scaffold’s biggest hit praises the wonders of a “medicine” – although the word “elixir” probably comes a bit closer to an accurate description – created by the aforementioned Ms. Pinkham, a.k.a. Lily the Pink, and details the various things the compound is capable of curing within the song’s verses. Although having Mike McGear in the band no doubt helped The Scaffold’s profile considerably, the backing vocalists on the song certainly didn’t hurt things any – they include Elton John, Graham Nash, and Tim Rice – nor did the fact that Jack Bruce of Cream played bass on the track.

Despite its Britishness, it’s not impossible that American audiences might still have become familiar with “Lily the Pink,” as the Irish Rovers had a minor hit with the song as well, but in the UK, it was The Scaffold’s version that ruled the charts, and in a big, big way.

If you’re not familiar with The Scaffold, we’ve included their best-of collection, which – in addition to the song that brings us together today – includes a number of tracks from throughout their career. As noted, you don’t much more British than these gents, but their songs are lot of fun, and if you enjoy a bit of humor in your music, it’s well worth introducing yourself to their catalog.