Velvet Mornings
| "Velvet Mornings" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Demis Roussos | ||||
| from the album Forever and Ever | ||||
| A-side | "Velvet Mornings" | |||
| B-side | "Forever and Ever" | |||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Label | Philips | |||
| Songwriters | Alec R. Costandinos, Stélios Vlavianós | |||
| Producers | Leo Leandros, Demis Roussos | |||
| Demis Roussos singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Velvet Mornings" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1973.
The song was included on Roussos' 1973 album Forever and Ever.
Background and writing
[edit]The song was written by Alec R. Costandinos and Stélios Vlavianós. The recording was produced by Leo Leandros and Demis Roussos.[1]
7th Rio Song Festival (1972)
[edit]In late 1972 Demis Roussos represented Greece with this song at Rio de Janeiro's VII Festival Internacional da Canção Popular.[2][3] The festival was held at the roofed Maracananzinho Stadium in front of the audience of approximately 20,000 people.[2][4]
"Velvet Mornings" was one of the 13 songs that proceeded from semifinals (which were held on the previous Sunday) to the final.[4] Demis Roussos with "Velvet Morning" won a special prize for audience appeal.[4][5] (The other special prize for audience appeal was awarded to Brazilian Jorge Ben with "Fio Maravilha".)[4]
Commercial performance
[edit]In June 1973 the single "Velvet Mornings" was in the top 3 in Spain (according to the weekly music magazine El Musical).[6]
In Greece the single reached no. 1 in the international (non-Greek) singles chart compiled by Hellinikos Vorras and Epikera. (In June the song topped the chart as "Velvet Mornings"[7] and in October as "Velvet Mornings / Forever and Ever", i.e. as a double A-side with the song "Forever and Ever".[8])
Cover versions
[edit]Marinella's Greek version
[edit]Greek singer Marinella recorded a Greek version of the song, titled "Drigi, drigi, mana mou (Velvet mornings)" (Greek: Ντρίγκι, ντρίγκι, μάνα μου, "Drigi, drigi, my mother").
U.S. Billboard magazine reported in January 1973 that she "was to record a Greek version of Demis Roussos's hit at the recent Rio Song Festival, "Velvet Mornings", which she "had been using [...] in her act for some weeks.[9][10]
Marinella's version also charted in Greece, in October 1973 it was in the top 10 of the domestic (local Greek) singles chart compiled by Hellinikos Vorras and Epikera.[8]
German version
[edit]U.S. Billboard magazine reported in its November 10, 1973 issue: "It appears Marion Maerz is going to have a hit with the German version of Velvet Mornings — the original version was a success for Demis Roussos."[11]
Track listing
[edit]7" single Philips 6009 331 (1973, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, etc.)
7" single RTB / Philips S 53683 (1973, Yugoslavia)
- A. "Forever and Ever" (3:41)
- B. "Velvet Mornings" (3:38)[1]
7" single Philips 6009 331 (1973)
- A. "Velvet Mornings" (3:35)
- B. "Forever and Ever" (3:40)[12]
7" single Philips SFL-1817 (1973, Japan)
- B. "Velvet Mornings" (3:38)
- A. "We Shall Dance" (3:32)[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "spanishcharts.com - Demis Roussos - Forever And Ever". Retrieved 2017-10-24.
- 1 2 "Billboard 14 Oct 1972, page 3 ("U.S. Tune Wins Rio Festival" by Henry Johnson)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1972-10-14. pp. 3–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ Joaquim B. De Souza (2016-06-15). Seleção Das Principais Notícias Em 2015. Clube de Autores. pp. 91–. PKEY:90200958.
- 1 2 3 4 "Billboard 14 Oct 1972, page 64 ("U.S. Tune Wins Rio Festival" by Henry Johnson)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1972-10-14. pp. 64–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "Billboard (28 Oct 1972)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1972-10-28. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Demis Roussos.
- ↑ "Billboard (23 Jun 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-06-23. pp. 75–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
- ↑ "Billboard (30 Jun 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-06-30. pp. 57–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
- 1 2 "Billboard (13 Oct 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-10-13. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
- ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-01-13. pp. 43–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ Billboard, Volume 85. Billboard Publications. January 1973.
- ↑ "Billboard (10 Nov 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-11-10. pp. 67–. ISSN 0006-2510.
- 1 2 "spanishcharts.com - Demis Roussos - Velvet Mornings". Retrieved 2017-10-30.
