Blue Tango
| "Blue Tango" | |
| Music by | Leroy Anderson |
|---|---|
| Lyrics by | Mitchell Parish |
| Published | 1952 |
| Language | English |
| Original artist | Leroy Anderson |
| Recorded by | Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra Guy Lombardo Les Baxter and his orchestra Alma Cogan Ray Martin Bill Black's Combo Jose Poniera Bobby Wayne Amanda Lear |
"Blue Tango" is an instrumental composition by Leroy Anderson. it was later turned into a popular song with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was published in 1952. The music, however, was composed in 1951.
Contents |
[edit] Song history
An instrumental version of "Blue Tango" recorded by Anderson (Decca Records, catalog number 27875, with the flip side "Belle of the Ball"[1]) reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1952. It first reached the Best Seller chart on December 21, 1951 and lasted 38 weeks on the chart.[2] (According to other sources,[3] the Anderson recording first reached the charts on December 29, 1951.) The same recording was released 1952 by Brunswick Records (United Kingdom) as catalog number 04870, with the same flip side.[4]
Other versions of the song which charted at that time included:
- Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra (Recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City, on January 22, 1952. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4518A, with the flip side "Gypsy Trail"[5]). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on February 29, 1952 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #8.[2] (Other sources[3] give the first date on the charts as March 8, 1952, and the highest position as #6.) It was also released in Great Britain by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10277.
- Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (Decca Records catalog number 28031, with the flip side "At Last, At Last"[6]). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on April 11, 1952 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #16.[2]
- Les Baxter and his orchestra (released 1952 by Capitol Records as catalog number 1681, with the flip side "Because of You"[7]). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on March 14, 1952 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #22.[2] (Other sources[3] give the first date on the charts as March 15, 1952, and the highest position as #10.) This version was also released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 1966,[7] in Australia as catalog number CP-117,[8] and in the United Kingdom as catalog number CL 13703,[9] all with the flip side "Please Mr. Sun."[7][8][9]
A vocal version was recorded by Alma Cogan in the United Kingdom the same year. It was also featured on the first UK singles chart in another instrumental recording by orchestra leader Ray Martin. In the radio series Peeling Back The Years, John Peel revealed that this was the first record he ever bought.
The song was subsequently revived by Bill Black's Combo. This recording was released by Hi Records as catalog number 2027, with the flip side "Willie".[10] It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December 12, 1960 and lasted 7 weeks on the chart. On the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached #16.[11] This version (with the same flip side) was also released in Australia by London Records (Australia), as catalog number HL-1735.[12]
[edit] Amanda Lear version
| "Blue Tango" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Amanda Lear | ||||
| from the album I Am a Photograph | ||||
| B-side | "Pretty Boys" | |||
| Released | 1977 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Euro Disco | |||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Ariola Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Leroy Anderson, Amanda Lear | |||
| Producer | Anthony Monn | |||
| Amanda Lear singles chronology | ||||
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French singer Amanda Lear recorded her own version of "Blue Tango", providing it with self-penned lyrics. The recording was included on album I Am a Photograph and issued as a 7" single in the Netherlands. The single was not a commercial success and didn't chart.
[edit] Music video
The music video for Amanda Lear's "Blue Tango" saw the singer playing with rumours on her alleged transsexuality, then heavily discussed. The clip opens with Lear wearing a black tie and a bowler hat. The singer then "transforms" herself into a woman, taking the costume off and revealing a long bright dress.
At least two other music videos were also produced. First version was shot for a popular German TV show Musikladen in 1977. It pictured the singer performing the song while sitting at the table and smoking cigarette. It was produced using the chroma key technique.
In 1983 another video for "Blue Tango" premiered, this time produced for Amanda's Italian television special Ma chi è Amanda?. The singer is pictured wearing a flamenco dress and repeating dance routines accompanied by male dancers. This video was also shot on chroma key.
[edit] Track listing
- NL 7" Single (1977)[13]
- "Blue Tango" - 2:40
- "Pretty Boys" - 2:55
- Russian 7" Single (1978)[14]
- "Голубое Танго" ("Blue Tango")
- "Кровь И Мед" ("Blood and Honey")
[edit] Other recorded versions
- Calvin Boze (released 1952 by Aladdin Records as catalog number 3142, with the flip side "The Glory of Love"[15])
- The Flee-Rekkers (released January, 1961 by Pye Records as catalog number 7N.15326, with the flip side "Bitter Rice"[16])
- Oneal Hudson Sax Trio (released by Rim Records as catalog number 4101, with the flip side "September Song"[17])
- International Pops Orchestra (released 1963 by Cameo Records as catalog number 263, with the flip side "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"[18])
- Teddi King (released 1959 by Coral Records as catalog number 62094, with the flip side "River of Regret"[19])
- The Mulcays (released 1962 by Jubilee Records as catalog number 5438, with the flip side "Blue Moon"[20])
- Jose Poniera (released 1951 by Rainbow Records as catalog number 104, with the flip side "Valentino Tango"[21]
- Bobby Wayne (released by Jerden Records as catalog number 766, with the flip side "Honky Tonk"[22]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series
- ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
- ^ a b c Lonergan, David (2004-01-28). Hit Records 1950-1975. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810851290.
- ^ UK Brunswick Records in the 03384 to 04999 series
- ^ RCA Victor Records in the 20-4500 series
- ^ Decca Records in the 28000 to 28499 series
- ^ a b c Capitol Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
- ^ a b Australian Capitol Records in the CP and CK series
- ^ a b UK Capitol Records in the CL 13200 to CL 13999 series
- ^ Hi Records listing
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000-11-01). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th Rev. edition ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 978-0823076901.
- ^ London Records (Australia) in the HL-1001 to HL-1999 series
- ^ "BLUE TANGO 1977 Holland". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/009_blue_tango_77.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
- ^ "BLUE TANGO 1978 Russia". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/013b_blue_tango_78.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
- ^ Aladdin Records listing
- ^ Pye Records in the 7N.15000 to 7N.15999
- ^ Rim Records listing
- ^ Cameo Records listing
- ^ Coral Records in the 62000 to 62565 series
- ^ Jubilee Records in the 5000 to 5709 series
- ^ Rainbow Records listing
- ^ Jerden Records listing
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