Blue Tango

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"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 a popular song with music by Leroy Anderson and lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was published in 1952.

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:

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] Other recorded versions

In 1977 French singer Amanda Lear recorded a vocal version of the song, 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.

Preceded by
Wheel of Fortune		 Cash Box magazine best selling record chart
#1 record
April 19, 1952–May 3, 1952		 Succeeded by
Wheel of Fortune
Preceded by
Wheel of Fortune		 Cash Box magazine best selling record chart
#1 record
May 17, 1952–May 24, 1952		 Succeeded by
Kiss of Fire
Preceded by
"Too Young" by Nat King Cole		 Billboard Number one single of the year
1952		 Succeeded by
"That's Amore" by Dean Martin

[edit] References

  1. ^ Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series
  2. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. 
  3. ^ a b c Lonergan, David (2004-01-28). Hit Records 1950-1975. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810851290. 
  4. ^ UK Brunswick Records in the 03384 to 04999 series
  5. ^ RCA Victor Records in the 20-4500 series
  6. ^ Decca Records in the 28000 to 28499 series
  7. ^ a b c Capitol Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
  8. ^ a b Australian Capitol Records in the CP and CK series
  9. ^ a b UK Capitol Records in the CL 13200 to CL 13999 series
  10. ^ Hi Records listing
  11. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000-11-01). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 7th Rev. edition, New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 978-0823076901. 
  12. ^ London Records (Australia) in the HL-1001 to HL-1999 series
  13. ^ Aladdin Records listing
  14. ^ Pye Records in the 7N.15000 to 7N.15999
  15. ^ Rim Records listing
  16. ^ Cameo Records listing
  17. ^ Coral Records in the 62000 to 62565 series
  18. ^ Jubilee Records in the 5000 to 5709 series
  19. ^ Rainbow Records listing
  20. ^ Jerden Records listing
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