Storm in a Teacup

"Storm in a Teacup" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul (credited as Lynsey Rubin) and Ron Roker, recorded by the British group The Fortunes and released as a single in 1972. Background The recording was arranged by Lew Warburton and produced by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. Rod Allen (The Fortunes bassist and vocalist) later spoke about De Paul and recalled "She was great. She kept popping into Cook's and Greenaway's office loaded with songs. One day she walked in with 'Storm' and Roger was knocked out." Indeed, Cook was so knocked out that he recommended that The Fortunes record the song. Upon release the single reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 9 on the Irish Singles Chart (IRMA), No.15 on the New Zealand singles chart and No. 65 on the Australian Kent Music Report in 1972. It also spent two weeks in the Dutch Tipparade. De Paul revealed to OK! magazine in a 1996 interview that it sold three million copies. The song peaked at No. 11 on the Adelaide, Australia 5AD Official Top 40 on 12 May 1972. It was the 84th best selling single in the UK in 1972 and ranked number 496 on the Radio Luxembourg Top 500 of the 1970s. The song is often played on BBC Radio, most recently on the BBC Radio 2 programme The Great British Songbook. In his autobiography, John Lydon states that he loves "Storm in a Teacup", actor and singer Bradley Walsh told NME it was the first song he remembers hearing and buying, and actor John Challis stated that it was one of his favourite songs. Scottish journalist Alastair McKay describes the song as "an extraordinary thing, a swirl of pop soul". Storm in a Teacup was the name of The Fortunes album, also released in 1972 on the Capitol label. Classic Rock History ranked it the best Fortunes song in their Top 10 Songs By The Fortunes, stating "This soulful pop-rock favorite would see The Fortunes record updated versions, first in 1979, then again in 1982, and yet again in 1994. Although nothing beats the original, “Storm in a Teacup” remains The Fortunes’ signature song."