They Don't Know (Kirsty MacColl song)

Single infobox
Name = They Don't Know


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Kirsty MacColl
Album =
A-side = They Don't Know
B-side = Motor On
Released = June 1979
Format = 7" Vinyl, 7" picture disc
Genre = Pop
Length =
Label = Stiff Records
Writer = Kirsty MacColl
Producer = Liam Sternberg
Last single =
This single = "They Don't Know"
(1979)
Next single = "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby"
(1981)
Misc = Infobox Single
Name = They Don't Know


Artist = Tracey Ullman
from Album = You Broke My Heart In 17 Places
B-side = "The B-Side" (UK);
"You Broke My Heart in 17 Places" (U.S.)
Released = 1983
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 3:02
Label = MCA/Stiff
Writer = Kirsty MacColl
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =

#2 (UK)

#8 (U.S.)

Last single = "Breakaway"
(1983)
This single = "They Don't Know"
(1983)
Next single = "Move Over Darling"
(1983)"They Don't Know" is a song written by Kirsty MacColl. MacColl recorded it in 1979. It became popular on radio in the United Kingdom reaching #2 on the Airplay chart; however, complications involving a strike at her distributors prevented the single from being shipped and promoted properly preventing release of the single hence failing to chart.

Although the song was not taken from an album, it later appeared on MacColl's compilation "Galore" [cite web| title = freeworld - Kirsty MacColl: singles| url = http://kirstymaccoll.com/music/singles/index.htm| accessdate = 2008-03-24] (amongst others).

Track listing

# They Don't Know (K. MacColl)
# [Turn My] Motor On (K. MacColl) [cite web| title = freeworld - Kirsty MacColl: Official Releases| url = http://kirstymaccoll.com/music/discog/index.htm |accessdate = 2008-03-24]

Tracy Ullman version

In 1983, Tracey Ullman included a version on her debut album, "You Broke My Heart in 17 Places". This song was the album's most successful single, charting in the top ten of various national charts. MacColl performed backing vocals on Ullman's version and keeping her original "bay-ay-be-ee" in the middle of the song, which went to #2 in the U.K., #8 in the U.S., and became the theme song for the final three seasons of Ullman's later television series "Tracey Takes On". The song was referenced in a PSA by Ullman and Chris Burke about Down syndrome.

The video for "They Don't Know" featured a cameo from Paul McCartney; at the time Ullman was filming a minor role in McCartney's film "Give My Regards To Broad Street".

Other notable versions

* Death Cab for Cutie lead singer Ben Gibbard often covers "They Don't Know" in live performance.

* Indie band The Boyfriends covered the song as a B-side for their single "Once Upon A Time".

* Nailpin covered and recorded a video for their version of the song.

* Swedish pop singer Moneybrother includes this in his cover album Pengabrorsan as "Dom Vet Ingenting Om Oss".

References