Papa Loves Mambo

Last updated
"Papa Loves Mambo"
Single by Perry Como
B-side "The Things I Didn't Do"
ReleasedSeptember 1954
RecordedAugust 31, 1954
Genre Pop
Length2:38
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s) Al Hoffman
Dick Manning
Bix Reichner
Producer(s) Joe Reisman
Perry Como singles chronology
"Hit and Run Affair"
(1954)
"Papa Loves Mambo"
(1954)
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"
(1954)

"Papa Loves Mambo" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning, and Bix Reichner and released in 1954. [1]

Contents

The best-known version was recorded by Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres's orchestra in New York City on August 31, 1954. The U.S. release peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard chart in January 1955. [2] The recording was part of a wave of popular mambo music in the U.S. alongside songs like "They Were Doin' the Mambo" and "Mambo Italiano". [3] [4]

Other recordings

The Perry Como version was originally planned to be used in the 1985 movie Back to the Future as the song that played when Marty McFly enters the 1955 version of Hill Valley, but was scrapped by the producers in favor of The Four Aces' version of "Mister Sandman". Instead, "Papa Loves Mambo" plays on Biff Tannen's car radio as he drives to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in the 1989 sequel Back to the Future: Part II . [9]

The Perry Como version was also featured in the Season 8 episode of The Middle titled "The Par-Tay." The Nat King Cole version was featured in the first episode of Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building. The episode was titled "Persons of Interest" and was telecast on June 28, 2022.

The Perry Como version was also featured in the 2007 action game "Bioshock", published by 2K.

The Perry Como version was also featured as the credits song for the 2010 film Red

A Snippet of the Perry Como version is also found during a montage of failed attempts in the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven

The song is also featured in the 2013 film No Clue.

Chart positions

Chart (1954/1955)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [10] 1

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)</span> 1955 Academy Award winning song

"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a popular song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song appeared first in the movie Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), and it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1956. From 1967 to 1973, it was also used as the theme song to Love is a Many Splendored Thing, the soap opera based on the movie.

"If I Give My Heart to You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Brewster, Jimmie Crane, and Al Jacobs. The most popular versions of the song were recorded by Doris Day and by Denise Lor; both charted in 1954.

"Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is a popular song with words and music by Anna Sosenko in 1935. Sosenko was the manager of the singer Hildegarde who adopted the song as her theme.

"No, Not Much" is a popular song published in 1955. The music was written by Robert Allen Deitcher, the lyrics by Al Stillman. The most popular version was recorded by The Four Lads. It was one of a large number of Stillman-Allen compositions that were recorded by the quartet.

"Moments to Remember" is a 1955 popular song about nostalgia recorded by Canadian quartet The Four Lads. The song was originally written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman for Perry Como but was turned down by Como's management.

"Magic Moments" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and written by Hal David, being one of the first songwriting collaborations by that duo. This song was recorded by Perry Como and released in 1957 as the B-side of his "Catch a Falling Star"; it reached No. 1 in the UK in 1958.

"On the Street Where You Live" is a song with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner from the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. It is sung in the musical by the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill, who was portrayed by John Michael King in the original production. In the 1964 film version, it was sung by Bill Shirley, dubbing for actor Jeremy Brett.

"On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Some authors say that Fats Waller was the composer, but he sold the rights to the song. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Only a Paper Moon</span> 1933 popular song

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose.

"This Can't Be Love" is a show tune and a popular song from the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical The Boys from Syracuse when it was sung by Eddie Albert and Marcy Westcott. The lyrics poke fun at the common depiction of love in popular songs as a host of malignant symptoms, saying, "This can't be love because I feel so well."

"I Had the Craziest Dream" is a popular song which was published in 1942. The music was written by Harry Warren, the lyrics by Mack Gordon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Loves Me</span> 1924 song by George Gershwin

"Somebody Loves Me" is a popular song, with music written by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and Buddy DeSylva. The song was published in 1924 and featured in George White's Scandals of 1924.

"It's the Talk of the Town" is a popular song written by Jerry Livingston, the lyrics by Al J. Neiburg and Marty Symes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breezin' Along with the Breeze</span> Song

"Breezin' Along with the Breeze" is a popular song written by Haven Gillespie, Seymour Simons, and Richard Whiting; it was published in 1926. Popular versions in 1926 and 1927 were by Johnny Marvin, Abe Lyman, the Revelers and Hoosier Hot Shots.

"Just One of Those Things" is a popular song written by Cole Porter for the 1935 musical Jubilee.

"Don't Blame Me" is a popular song with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The song was part of the 1932 show Clowns in Clover and was published in 1933. Popular versions that year were recorded by: Ethel Waters, Guy Lombardo, and Charles Agnew.

"Oh, How I Miss You Tonight" is a popular song, published in 1925, written by Benny Davis, Joe Burke, and Mark Fisher. Popular recordings of the song in 1925 were by Ben Selvin, Benson Orchestra of Chicago, Lewis James and Irving Kaufman.

"The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin and published in 1950. It was featured in the 1950 Broadway musical play, Call Me Madam, in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman in a scene with Paul Lukas. The 1953 film version also featured the song when it was sung by Ethel Merman and George Sanders.

"Paradise" is a 1931 song with music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Gordon Clifford. It was first sung by Pola Negri in RKO Pictures' 1932 film A Woman Commands, and has since been heard in many other films, including a memorable performance by Gloria Grahame, in the 1949 Nicholas Ray film A Woman's Secret.

"Love Is the Sweetest Thing" is a popular song written in 1932 by British band leader and singer Ray Noble. Using guest vocalist Al Bowlly, Noble's recording was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing Noble his first American success. It was published by Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd. Like most compositions published in the period, its main refrain is preceded with what were then called "sectional verses" or "introductory verses" which are usually omitted from early recordings and modern performances.

References

  1. Hoffmann, Al; Manning, Dick; Reichner, Bix; Como, Perry (1954). Papa loves Mambo: as performed by Perry Como. Roba Digital Sheets. ISBN   978-3-8418-0046-6.
  2. Macfarlane, Malcolm; Crossland, Ken (2015-05-07). Perry Como: A Biography and Complete Career Record. McFarland. ISBN   978-1-4766-0024-6.
  3. Tyler, Don (2008). Music of the Postwar Era. Internet Archive. p. 62. ISBN   978-0-313-34191-5.
  4. None (2003). Inside Cuba : the history, culture, and politics of an outlaw nation. New York : Marlowe & Co. p. 139. ISBN   978-1-56924-484-5.
  5. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  6. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  7. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  8. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  9. "Back to the Future: Part II - Trivia". TV Tropes. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  10. "Perry Como – Papa Loves Mambo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2013.