"Up in a Puff of Smoke" is a song recorded in 1974 by Polly Brown, released as a non-album single to become an international Top 40 hit in 1975.
Overview The songwriting/production team of Gerry Shury and Ron Roker had admired Brown's voice from her Pickettywitch recordings. Shury, who had arranged Brown's 1972 self-titled album release, described her as a cross "between Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick". In 1974, Shury and Roker had Brown record the neo-Motown number "Up in a Puff of Smoke". In the same session Brown, with Roker as co-vocalist, recorded a cover of the ABBA song "Honey, Honey", which was released under the name Sweet Dreams.
Canadian blue-eyed soul singer Charity Brown turned down the chance to cover "Up in a Puff of Smoke" for the Canadian market,The Ottawa Citizen "Charity Brown: singer tries to change 'cute, cuddly' image" by John Wolotko 18 June 1977 p.29 but she did record the B-side song of the Polly Brown single, the mid-tempo Shury/Swern ballad "I'm Saving All My Love", as "Saving All My Love". Introduced on Brown's 1975 album release Rock Me, the track was released as a single, reaching #61 on the Canadian singles chart in February 1976.
Chart history "Up in a Puff of Smoke" proved to be a UK Top 40 near miss although it did spend five weeks in the Top 50, peaking at #43. However, the track became a hit in several English speaking countries: Australia (#22), Canada (#11), New Zealand (#13), and the US (#16).
Weekly charts Chart (1974–75)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)22Canada RPM Top Singles11Canada RPM Adult Contemporary36New Zealand 13UK (The Official Charts Company)43U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 16U.S. Billboard Easy Listening29U.S. Billboard Dance/Disco3U.S. Cash Box Top 100 16
Year-end charts Chart (1975)RankCanada 112US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)147
Cover versions In 2018, Linda Martin remade "Up in a Puff of Smoke", with Nicki French on backing vocals. Issued in January 2018, the track was included on Martin's All Woman album released September 2018.
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