Pretty Flamingo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
"Pretty Flamingo"

HMV POP 1523 picture sleeve
Single by Manfred Mann
B-side "You're Standing By"
Released 15 April 1966 (1966-04-15)
Format 7" 45 RPM
Recorded 1966 at EMI Studios in Abby Road, London, England
Genre Pop
Length 2:31
Label His Master's Voice
Writer(s) Mark Barkan
Producer John Burgess
Manfred Mann singles chronology
"If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
(1965)
"Pretty Flamingo"
(1966)
"You Gave Me Somebody to Love"
(1966)

"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK singles chart on 5 May 1966.[1]. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor hit in the United States where it spent 8 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 29 during the week of August 6, 1966.[2]

Contents

[edit] Song profile

The speaker describes a woman—whom "all of the guys call [...] 'Flamingo', 'cause her hair glows like the sun and her eyes can light the skies"—for whom the singer has fallen, and his plans to win her affection.

The recording features future Cream bassist Jack Bruce, who briefly joined the band in 1965. On their Top Of The Pops appearance Paul Jones performed whilst standing on one leg.

The song has been covered by such notable artists as Gene Pitney, Bruce Springsteen, The Everly Brothers, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford and Nick Lowe, Rolf Harris, Elbow, Dave Gregory of XTC, Broken Dolls, Les McCann and Paul Weller. The original demo of the song was recorded by noted New York City vocalist Jimmy Radcliffe.

[edit] Charts

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Canada RPM 100[3] 2
Germany (Media Control AG)[4] 12
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[5] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[6] 3
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[7] 6
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[8] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 29
Preceded by
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
by Dusty Springfield
UK number one single
5 May 1966
(3 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Paint It Black" by Rolling Stones

[edit] References

[edit] External links


Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export