A French language version also exists by French 1960s singer Frank Alamo titled "Je connais une chanson" about an impossible love.

As well as being an accomplished musician, David McWilliams was a talented footballer who, in different circumstances, might have joined a Cregagh-born contemporary, George Best, in the professional ranks. Signed by Linfield FC from amateur side Harryville, he immediately became the first-team goalkeeper. Unfortunately, an ankle injury kept him out of the game for four months by which time his musical career had taken off. a b c d e f g "David McWilliams – Obituaries, News – The Independent". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 . Retrieved 1 June 2014. McWilliams was born in the Cregagh area of Belfast and moved to Ballymena at the age of three. [1] He began playing guitar and writing songs in his early teens. After leaving Ballymena Technical College in 1963, he started an apprenticeship at the Shorts missile factory in Antrim, and also started a local dance band, the Coral Showband. [1] [2] [3] He was a well-respected football player, and had a trial with Linfield as a goalkeeper. [2] [4] DISK Days of Pearly Spencer PARLOPHONE.jpg (697x684)". Davidmcwilliams.com . Retrieved 20 June 2014.Ned Raggett (29 October 1991). "Tenement Symphony – Marc Almond". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 June 2014.

Richie Unterberger described the song as "[McWilliams's] best song, with a dark edge, swirling violins, and an effective dab of psychedelia in the megaphone-distorted vocals on the song's chorus." [10] In 2002, The Independent called the song "dreamy". [3] In 2012, Stuart Bailie of Radio Ulster called "Harlem Lady", the A-side, a "quality tune" and "Pearly Spencer" a "remarkable record". [4] Charts [ edit ] Chart (1967–1968) Before the year 1967 was out, he had recorded three albums of his own compositions, an extraordinary feat of creativity given that some of today's top artists take three years to record one album. A daughter of the late, lamented Ulster singer David McWilliams has recorded her own moving version of her father's most famous song to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the day it was released on the crest of an unprecedented wave of publicity. The recording was produced by Mike Leander who formed a sweeping orchestral arrangement for the song. Leander had previously provided arrangements for such records as " She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles and Marianne Faithfull's " As Tears Go By." [4]David Samuel McWilliams (4 July 1945 – 8 January 2002) was a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Northern Ireland, best known for his 1967 song " Days of Pearly Spencer". Tenement Symphony (Media notes). Marc Almond. WEA. 4 October 1991. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol.9, no.20. 16 May 1992. p.27 . Retrieved 31 January 2020. The Days Of Pearly Spencer was based on a homeless man in Ballymena who was befriended by David McWilliams. The song reflected the writer's deep humanity and his empathy with those who live on the margins of society. Ironically, David McWilliams's recording of the song, first made in 1967, was never a British chart hit. A quarter-of-a-century elapsed before a cover version by Marc Almond of Soft Cell entered the British Top Ten, reaching number four.

Mandy Bingham recorded 'The Days of Pearly Spencer' in just one take at the Millbank studios in Lisburn, and such was the emotion of the day, and her haunting and spine-chilling delivery, that even producer Michael Mormecha said he had goosebumps. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.341. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. A tribute to Irish singer/songwriter David McWilliams". Davidmcwilliams.com . Retrieved 19 June 2014. Having his first single, "God and My Country", flop, McWilliams entered a Belfast recording studio to record some demos. Around that time, Mervyn Solomon overheard his tapes, and was impressed enough to telephone his brother Phil Solomon. Because McWilliams was already signed to CBS, who manufactured Major Minor's recordings, Phil Solomon offered to take McWilliams off their hands. The offer was accepted, and Solomon took McWilliams with him to London to record the song. Originally, the song was a poignant ballad. [3] The title was presumably a play of words on a line from the Victorian hymn, "We rest on thee", "the gates of pearly splendour". Days of Pearly Spencer" (or in later releases " The Days of Pearly Spencer") is a 1967 song written and originally performed by Northern Irish singer-songwriter David McWilliams, [1] [2] and included on his second album David McWilliams Vol. 2. [3] Although it charted in several countries in continental Europe and in Australia, the original version was not a chart success in either the United Kingdom or Ireland. The song was rerecorded by McWilliams with a new arrangement in his album Working for the Government (1987). In 1992, a cover version by English pop singer Marc Almond reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number eight in Ireland.

Marc Almond – The Days of Pearly Spencer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 January 2020. a b c d e f Stuart Bailie. "Stuart Bailie: The Great Northern Songbook – 3. The Days of Pearly Spencer". BBC . Retrieved 22 June 2014.