"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 an instrumental composition by Leroy Anderson. it was later turned into a popular song with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It was published in 1952. The music, however, was composed in 1951.

Contents

Song history [link]

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]

Amanda Lear version [link]

"Blue Tango"
Single by Amanda Lear
from the album I Am a Photograph
B-side "Pretty Boys"
Released 1977
Format 7"
Genre Euro Disco
Length 2:40
Label Ariola Records
Writer(s) Leroy Anderson, Amanda Lear
Producer Anthony Monn
Amanda Lear singles chronology
"Tomorrow"
(1977)		 "Blue Tango"
(1977)		 "Alphabet"
(1977)

French singer Amanda Lear recorded her own version of "Blue Tango", 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. The single was not a commercial success and didn't chart.

Music video [link]

The music video for Amanda Lear's "Blue Tango" saw the singer playing with rumours on her alleged transsexuality, then heavily discussed. The clip opens with Lear wearing a black tie and a bowler hat. The singer then "transforms" herself into a woman, taking the costume off and revealing a long bright dress.

At least two other music videos were also produced. First version was shot for a popular German TV show Musikladen in 1977. It pictured the singer performing the song while sitting at the table and smoking cigarette. It was produced using the chroma key technique.

In 1983 another video for "Blue Tango" premiered, this time produced for Amanda's Italian television special Ma chi è Amanda?. The singer is pictured wearing a flamenco dress and repeating dance routines accompanied by male dancers. This video was also shot on chroma key.

Track listing [link]

  • NL 7" Single (1977)[13]
  1. "Blue Tango" - 2:40
  2. "Pretty Boys" - 2:55
  • Russian 7" Single (1978)[14]
  1. "Голубое Танго" ("Blue Tango")
  2. "Кровь И Мед" ("Blood and Honey")

Other recorded versions [link]

See also [link]

References [link]

  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 978-0-8108-5129-0. 
  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 ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 978-0-8230-7690-1. 
  12. ^ London Records (Australia) in the HL-1001 to HL-1999 series
  13. ^ "BLUE TANGO 1977 Holland". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. https://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/009_blue_tango_77.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-29. 
  14. ^ "BLUE TANGO 1978 Russia". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. https://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/013b_blue_tango_78.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-29. 
  15. ^ Aladdin Records listing
  16. ^ Pye Records in the 7N.15000 to 7N.15999
  17. ^ Rim Records listing
  18. ^ Cameo Records listing
  19. ^ Coral Records in the 62000 to 62565 series
  20. ^ Jubilee Records in the 5000 to 5709 series
  21. ^ Rainbow Records listing
  22. ^ Jerden Records listing
Billboard Year-End number one singles (1946–1959)

https://wn.com/Blue_Tango

The Ventures

The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Their instrumental virtuosity, experimentation with guitar effects, and unique sound laid the groundwork for innumerable groups, earning them the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands". While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day.

History

Formation and rise to fame

Don Wilson and Bob Bogle first met in 1958, when Bogle was looking to buy a car from a used car dealership in Seattle owned by Wilson's father. Finding a common interest in guitars, the two decided to play together, while Wilson joined Bogle performing masonry work. They bought two used guitars in a pawn shop for about $10 each. Initially calling themselves the Versatones, the duo played small clubs, beer bars, and private parties throughout the Pacific Northwest. Wilson played rhythm guitar, Bogle lead. When they went to register the band name, they found that it was already taken. In 1959, they ended up calling themselves The Ventures.

Read more
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/The_Ventures

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PLAYLIST TIME:

Blue Tango

by: Liberace

Here am I with you in a world of blue
And we're dancing to the tango we loved when first we met
While the music plays, we recall the days
When our love was a tune that we couldn't soon forget
As I kiss your cheek, we don't have to speak
The violins, like a choir, express the desire
We used to know not long ago




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