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Little Man (Sonny & Cher song)

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"Little Man"
Single by Sonny and Cher
from the album In Case You're in Love
B-side"Monday"
ReleasedSeptember 1966
Recorded1966
GenreFolk pop
Length3:15
LabelATCO Records
Songwriter(s)Sonny Bono
Sonny and Cher singles chronology
"Have I Stayed Too Long"
(1966) 		"Little Man"
(1966) 		"Living For You"
(1966)

"Little Man" is a hit single by the pop duo Sonny and Cher released in 1966 from their third studio album In Case You're In Love.[1] It became one of their biggest hits, reaching number 1 on the singles charts in various European countries.

Reception

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This single became the duo's greatest chart success since "I Got You Babe" in the UK, and became one of only three top ten hits for the duo there. Sonny & Cher duo recordings in the first half of 1966 started performing less well on the charts ("Have I Stayed Too Long" peaked at #49 in April 1966). In September the duo embarked on an ambitious tour of Europe, but without a single to promote. While in London they recorded the vocals for the backing track they had brought along and it gave them their biggest hit in Europe: "Little Man".

Its continental flavor with Greek and gypsy overtones struck an immediate chord,[citation needed] and its popularity was boosted by numerous television appearances all over Europe. It was also decided then to release Cher's version of "Sunny" (from her third solo album) in Europe, in competition with Bobby Hebb's original and Georgie Fame's jazzy cover. "Sunny" rose to number 2 in the Netherlands (giving them the number 1 and 2 slot simultaneously at one point) and 4 in Sweden.[citation needed] Sonny & Cher then recorded their own French and Italian ("Piccolo ragazzo") versions. While "Little Man" was the high point of Sonny & Cher's singles in Europe it missed out on the top twenty in their native America reaching number 21.

Charts

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Cover versions

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In Italy and France the singer Dalida recorded Italian and French versions ("Petit homme") of the song, finding success with both renditions. Milva and I Rogers also had a go in Italy with their cover of the song. The big success in France was the inspiration for an inspired cover by singer Erick Saint-Laurent entitled "Les enfants qui jouent" (French lyrics by Monty).[citation needed]

In 1968 in Québec, Tony Roman and Nanette Workman has made another French cover "Petit Homme".[citation needed]

In 1972, Bárbara y Dick made the Argentine Top Ten with their version of the song.[19]

Revival

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The song was used in late 2015 and early 2016 in a television commercial for Amazon Prime featuring a miniature pony.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ Sonny Bono interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  2. ^ Billboard. 13 May 1967. p. 55. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  3. ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1966-11-12. p. 57. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Hitlister i 70'erne". Glamrockers.dk.
  5. ^ "Billboard - Hits of the World" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  6. ^ a b "Top Annuali Single: 1967". Hitparadeitalia.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  7. ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  8. ^ "Flavour of New Zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  9. ^ Steffen Hung. "Sonny & Cher - Little Man". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  10. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  11. ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1966-12-10. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 515. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  13. ^ "Top 100 1966-10-29". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  14. ^ Danish Top 20 (1966). "Danish Top 20; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Dutch Top 40 (1966). "Dutch Top 40; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1966 - Year End". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Top 100 – Decenniumlijst: 60's". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Cash Box magazine: Cash Box Great Britain (Issue February 4, 1967 page 58)" (PDF). Cashbox. February 4, 1967. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  19. ^ Billboard, May 10, 1967 - Page 57, Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, ARGENTINA
  20. ^ "Miniature pony melts hearts in Christmas advert - Horse & Hound". Horseandhound.co.uk. 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  21. ^ "Amazon Prime TV Spot, 'Lonely Horse' Song by Sonny & Cher". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2016.


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