"1900 Yesterday" is a song written by John Cameron and Lee Simmons. The song was originally released by Betty Everett in 1969 on the album There'll Come a Time.
Liz Damon's Orient Express version "1900 Yesterday" was a hit single in 1970 and 1971 for the Liz Damon's Orient Express. Liz Damon's version was originally released as a single on the Hawaii based Makaha label, before White Whale acquired the worldwide distribution rights in December 1970."White Whale Gets Express Product", Billboard, December 12, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved March 22, 2018. In 1971, the song was released on the album Liz Damon's Orient Express.
The song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 33 the week of February 13, 1971,Hot 100 - Liz Damon's Orient Express 1900 Yesterday Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.Billboard Hot 100, Week of February 13, 1971 – Billboard.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023. while reaching No. 4 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Adult Contemporary - Liz Damon's Orient Express 1900 Yesterday Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018."Easy Listening", Billboard, February 13, 1971. p. 29. Retrieved March 22, 2018. No. 29 on the Cash Box Top 100,Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, February 20, 1971. p. 4. Accessed July 13, 2016. No. 15 on Canada's RPM 100,"RPM 100 Singles", RPM Weekly, Volume 14, Ed. 26, February 13, 1971. Accessed September 23, 2015 and No. 16 on RPMs "MOR Playlist"."RPM MOR Playlist", RPM Weekly, Volume 14, Ed. 22, January 16, 1971. Accessed September 23, 2015
The song was ranked No. 21 on Billboards year-end ranking of 1971's "Top Easy Listening Singles"."Top Easy Listening Singles", Billboard, December 25, 1971. TA-38. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
Chart performance Chart (1971)PeakpositionUS Billboard Hot 10033US Billboard Easy Listening4US Cash Box Top 10029US Record World The Singles Chart"The Singles Chart", Record World, February 13, 1970. Retrieved March 22, 2018.31US Record World Top Non-Rock"Top Non-Rock", Record World, February 13, 1970. p. 20. Retrieved March 22, 2018.5Canada – RPM 10015Canada – RPM MOR Playlist16
Trivia The lines that precede the song's title -- "Like smoke from a cigarette/Dreams that you soon forget"—appear in the 1966 song "Fading Away," written by Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, and Bobby Rogers of the Motown act The Miracles, and first recorded by The Temptations for their 1966 album Gettin' Ready.
The single and the album were the last records released by White Whale Records.
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