The single peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart.
In March 1977, the track reached 25 in the United States.
Smokie collaborated on a parody version in 1995 with comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, selling almost half a million copies.
Ex-Smokie vocalist Chris Norman included his solo cover of the song on his 2000 studio album Full Circle.
It was a number one hit in Austria, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.