Artist: Mikhail Vavich
Author: Florian Hermann/Evgenii Grebenka
Label: Russian Gramophone Company
Year: 1908
Traditional Russian gypsy melody on a poem by Ukranian writer Evgenii Grebenka, first published in 1843. His words were set to the melody of Hommage, Valse Op. 21 by German composer Florian Hermann, published in 1884. Film director Ernst Lubitsch used Ochi Chornye in 1940 in The Shop Around The Corner starring James Stewart.
Covers:
Efim Schachmeister [instrumental as Schwarze Augen/Dark Eyes]
George Boulanger [as Les Yeux Noirs]
Raymond Paige [as background music in film Hollywood Hotel]
Lecuona Cuban Boys [as Ojos Negros; Spanish translation: Sindo Garay]
Maxine Sullivan [as Dark Eyes; English translation: Jay Arnold]
Al Bowlly [idem]
Django Reinhardt [as Les Yeux noirs]
Spike Jones [as Hotcha Cornia (Black Eyes); a Spike Jones treatment is a healthy sign of popularity]
Les Ford Trio [as Dark Eyes]
Gene Krupa [idem]
Chet Atkins [as Ochi Chornia]
Esquivel [as Dark Eyes]
Tielman Brothers [idem]
Ventures [idem]
Fantômes [as Les Yeux noirs]
Bert Weedon [as Dark Eyes]
Jokers [idem]
Burt Blanca [idem]
Julio Iglesias [French version as Nostalgie]
Mustangs [as Black Eyes Stomp]
Treble Spankers [as Black Eyes Rock]
Sindo Garay, author of the Spanish version, once claimed he wrote the whole song and that it was stolen from him, probably by Russian seamen. According to the Sundanese people from West Java (Indonesia) this had always been the melody of their folk song Panang Hideung (Nose On Your Face). They also blame Russian seamen for hit-napping.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)