Artist: Ivana Spagna
Author: Hubert Giraud/Phil Trim
Label: Ricordi
Year: 1971
Italian 16-year old. Even Daydé admits this is the Original.
Covers:
Pop Tops [Spanish septet (with lyricist Phil Trim); hit all over Europe, also as Mammy Blue]
Daydé [name in full: Joël Daydé; gospel version in English recorded at the Olympic studio in London in June '71; competed Nicoletta's French version and the version by Los Pop Tops (lyricist Phil Trim's band) on the French charts; that's when a "version originale"-banner was added on the 45-sleeve; his follow-up single Jesahel was a record company enforced collaboration: Daydé in English, Nicoletta in French on the flip side]
Nicoletta [n°1 Fr (French version)]
Ricky Shayne [hit GER]
Roger Whittaker [hit UK]
Vivi [in Dutch]
Charisma [as Mammy Blue; massive South African hit]
James Darren [idem]
Genya Ravan [idem]
Trini Lopez [idem]
Stories [idem]
Giraud's demo was gathering dust with publisher Claude Pascal when an Italian agent picked it up for newcomer Ivana Spagna. When that version was out, Alain Milhoud cut it on his (English speaking) Spanish band Los Pop Tops. That's when Pascal woke up, smelled hit potention and decided to launch it big style in France (in two versions). The Pop Tops version was even stalled a while.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors, please let us know by contacting us:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)