Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

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Describing their sound as "light, happy music", Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods were a 1970s pop act who scored the massive hit single Billy Don't Be A Hero. Originally formed in Cincinatti, Ohio in 1965 by keyboard player Robert 'Bo' Donaldson, they were inspired by the British beat invasion and the summery, melodic West Coast groups of the era and worked as an opening act for Herman's Hermits and The Box Tops. Getting their big break when they supported The Osmonds, they had minor success with singles Special Someone and Deeper And Deeper, but it wasn't until Billy Don't Be A Hero came out in 1974 that they became major stars. Originally a UK number one for Nottingham R&B group Paper Lace, the song was about a young man who leaves his lover to enrol in the army. With the controversial Vietnam War raging at the time it struck a poignant chord and went on to top the US charts, sold over 3.5 million copies and landed the band appearances on the hugely popular television shows American Bandstand and Action 74. Follow-up singles Who Do You Think You Are and The Heartbreak Kid also made the top 40, but a turn to country music towards the end of the decade made little impact and they split in 1980.

Top tracks

30	Billy, Don't Be A Hero	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	70's Nostalgia			03:25
	Writer: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray / Composers: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray
01	Billy, Don't Be A Hero	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			03:40
	Writer: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray / Composers: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray
05	Who Do You Think You Are	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			03:25
	Writer: Des Dyer - Clive Scott / Composers: Des Dyer - Clive Scott
04	Love Is in the Air	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	10 Must Have Love Songs From the '70s			03:25
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
05	Come and Get Your Love	Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds	Let It Rock Forever!			03:36
	Composers: Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
09	I Go Crazy	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:43
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
11	Billy Don't Be a Hero (Dante 45 Single Mix)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	A Decade of Hits: The '70s Playlist			03:20
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
07	Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Re-Record)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	A Throwback Christmas			03:16
	Composers: John Coots - Haven Gillespie
01	Billy Don't Be a Hero	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:39
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Playlists

Similar artists

Discography

Albums

The Best Of The ABC Recordings

This Compilation ℗ 2019 UMG Recordings, Inc.: 20-09-2019

The Best Of The ABC Recordings

01	Billy, Don't Be A Hero	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			03:40
	Writer: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray / Composers: Peter Callander - Mitch Murray
02	The House On Telegraph Hill	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			03:35
	Writer: Dennis Lambert - Brian Potter / Composers: Dennis Lambert - Brian Potter
03	Don't Ever Look Back	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			02:46
	Writer: Daniel Walsh - Mitchell Bottler / Composers: Daniel Walsh - Mitchell Bottler
04	Goodbye Holly, Goodbye	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			02:58
	Writer: Dave Taylor - Stuart Edwards / Composers: Dave Taylor - Stuart Edwards
05	Who Do You Think You Are	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			03:25
	Writer: Des Dyer - Clive Scott / Composers: Des Dyer - Clive Scott
06	Girl Don't Make Me Wait	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			02:42
	Writer: Leon Huff / Composers: Leon Huff
07	Keep On Believin' In Love	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	The Best Of The ABC Recordings			02:58
	Writer: Jack Carone / Composers: Jack Carone

Access the complete album info (12 songs)

Absolutely the Best of the '70s

2018 Blue Lagoon: 14-04-2015

Absolutely the Best of the '70s

01	Billy Don't Be a Hero	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:39
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
02	Saturday Night	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			02:50
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
03	Love Is in the Air	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:36
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
04	Sad Eyes	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:43
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
05	Wild Flower	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			04:21
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
06	Who Do You Think You Are (BDH Reunion Re-Record)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:30
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
07	Gimme Some Lovin	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Absolutely the Best of the '70s			03:15
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Access the complete album info (10 songs)

EPs

Vehicle

2025 Bo Donaldson & Sunset Blvd. Records: 12-09-2025

Vehicle

01	Vehicle	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Vehicle			02:58
	Writer: James Peterik / Composers: James Peterik
02	Vehicle (Instrumental Version)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Vehicle			03:00
	Writer: James Peterik / Composers: James Peterik
03	Magic (Very Happy Version)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Vehicle			03:09
	Writer: David Paton - Billy Lyall / Composers: David Paton - Billy Lyall
04	Vehicle (a cappella)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Vehicle			02:00
	Writer: James Peterik / Composers: James Peterik

Singles

Spirit In the Sky

2025 Sunset Blvd. Records: 01-12-2025

Spirit In the Sky

01	Spirit In the Sky	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Spirit In the Sky			04:59
	Writer: John Ellison / Composers: John Ellison
02	Vehicle	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Spirit In the Sky			02:59
	Writer: James Peterik / Composers: James Peterik
03	Magic (Very Happy Version)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Spirit In the Sky			03:09
	Writer: David Paton - Billy Lyall / Composers: David Paton - Billy Lyall

Magic

2025 Bo Donaldson / Sunset Blvd. Records: 27-06-2025

Magic

01	Magic (Very Happy Version)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Magic			03:08
	Writer: David Paton - Billy Lyall / Composers: David Paton - Billy Lyall
02	Hello It's Me	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Magic			04:12
	Writer: Todd Rundgren / Composers: Todd Rundgren
03	Hooked On A Feeling (Ooga Chaka) (From The Film "Guardians Of The Galaxy")	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Magic			02:53
	Writer: Mark James / Composers: Mark James

Come And Get Your Love (Sped Up)

2023 Delta / Laserlight Digital: 04-05-2023

Come And Get Your Love (Sped Up)

01	Come And Get Your Love (Sped Up)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Come And Get Your Love (Sped Up)			02:59
	Writer: Lolly Vegas / Composers: Lolly Vegas
02	Come And Get Your Love	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Come And Get Your Love (Sped Up)			03:37
	Writer: Lolly Vegas / Composers: Lolly Vegas

Sky High (Extended Version Remastered)

2022 Delta Music: 29-07-2022

Sky High (Extended Version Remastered)

01	Sky High (Extended Version Remastered)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Sky High (Extended Version Remastered)			06:30
	Writer: Clive Scott - Des Dyer / Composers: Clive Scott - Des Dyer

Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang

2019 Sunset Blvd.: 18-10-2019

Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang

01	Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang			03:33
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Hooked on a Feeling (Ooga Chaka Single Version)

2019 Blue Lagoon: 20-09-2019

Hooked on a Feeling (Ooga Chaka Single Version)

01	Hooked on a Feeling (Ooga Chaka Single Version)	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Hooked on a Feeling (Ooga Chaka Single Version)			02:52
	Writer: Mark James / Composers: Mark James

Rock Me Gently

2019 Blue Lagoon: 23-08-2019

Rock Me Gently

01	Rock Me Gently	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Rock Me Gently			03:35
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Saturday Night

2018 Blue Lagoon: 18-01-2019

Saturday Night

01	Saturday Night	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Saturday Night			02:50
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Love Is in the Air

2018 Sunset Blvd.: 20-07-2018

Love Is in the Air

01	Love Is in the Air	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Love Is in the Air			03:25
	Writer: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods / Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Gimme Some Lovin'

2018 Sunset Blvd.: 20-07-2018

Gimme Some Lovin'

01	Gimme Some Lovin'	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Gimme Some Lovin'			03:15
	Composers: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Love Is in the Air

2017 Sunset Blvd.: 29-12-2017

Love Is in the Air

01	Love Is in the Air	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Love Is in the Air			03:25
	Writer: Bo Dondaldson / Composers: Bo Dondaldson

Christmas with Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods

2015 Three Kids Music: 04-03-2016

Christmas with Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods

01	Little Drummer Boy	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Christmas with Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods			03:16
	Composers: H. ONORATI - H. Simeone - K. Davis
02	Santa Claus Is Coming to Town	Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods	Christmas with Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods			03:16
	Composers: J. F. Coots - H. Gillsepie