"Windy" is a pop music song written by Ruthann Friedman and
recorded by The Association. Released in 1967, the song reached
number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of that year. Later
in 1967, an instrumental version by jazz guitarist Wes
Montgomery became his biggest Hot 100 hit when it peaked at
number forty-four. "Windy" was The Association's second U.S.
number-one, following "Cherish" in 1966.
According to rumor, the original lyrics by Ruthann Friedman
were about a man, and The Association changed them to be about
a woman.
"There are many explanations of who Windy actually was in
Ruthann's life. She would have you know, she being me Ruthann
Friedman, that none of them are true. Windy was, indeed, a
female and purely a fictitious character who popped into my
head one fine day in 1967...
During the recording session the Association members, sure
that they were in the middle of recording a hit,called the song
writer, me again, in to sing on the fade at the end. I can be
heard singing a blues harmony as the song fades out..."
Session musician Hal Blaine was brought in to play
drums.
The song was featured in an episode of
The Drew Carey Show, where the character Nigel Wick
(played by Craig Ferguson) played it on the harp. It was also
featured recently in the second season finale of HBO's
Big Love, where Teeny Henrickson leads a children's
dance troupe while the song is playing for the annual Pioneers
Festival. In 2009 the song, with slightly altered lyrics, was
sung by actor Brad Garrett in an advertisement for 7-Up.
A version of the song was used as the theme tune on the
nightly
Todayprogramme broadcast on Thames Television from 1968
to 1977.
Comedy rockers Paul and Storm did a parody version called
“Lindsay“ about Lindsay Lohan.
Barry Manilow and The Association covered this song along
with "Cherish" on the 2006 album
The Greatest Songs of the Sixties. Also recorded by
Astrud Gilberto on her album
Windy.