Pretty Flamingo

"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 5 May 1966. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor hit in the United States where it spent eight weeks on Billboard 's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 29 during the week of August 6, 1966. It was also successful in Ireland, and was number one there for four weeks, keeping the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" at number two.

Song profile

The speaker describes a woman—whom "all of the guys call [...] 'Flamingo', 'cause her hair glows like the sun and her eyes can light the sky"—for whom the singer has fallen, and his plans to win her affection.

The recording features future Cream bassist Jack Bruce, who briefly joined the band in 1965. On their Top of the Pops appearance Paul Jones performed whilst standing on one leg.

The song has been covered by such notable artists as Baltimore R&B singer Tommy Vann (released in June 1966 -- however some sources claim it was recorded in 1964, which would predate Mann's version), Gene Pitney, Tommy Roe, The Everly Brothers, Dino, Desi and Billy, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford and Nick Lowe, Rolf Harris, Bruce Springsteen, Elbow, Dave Gregory of XTC, Broken Dolls, The Queers, Les McCann, The Sandpipers, Billy Strange with The Challengers and Paul Weller. The original demo of the song was recorded by noted New York City vocalist Jimmy Radcliffe stylized for The Drifters, but songwriter Mark Barkan was dissatisfied with the overly produced results and had Radcliffe recut the song with a pared-down arrangement.