Pop-Tops

Last updated

Pop-Tops
Origin Madrid, Spain
Genres Pop
Years active1967-1974
LabelsBarclay Sonoplay (Spain)
Explosion (Spain)
Bellaphon (Germany)
Past membersPhil Trim
Julián Luis Angulo
Alberto Vega
Enrique Gómez
Ignacio Pérez
José Lipiani
Ray Gómez
Francisco Urbano Romero
Rafael Guillermo Gertrudis

Pop Tops (or Los Pop-Tops) were a vocal/instrumental band, formed in 1967 in Madrid, Spain, with Phil Trim from Trinidad and Tobago as lead singer. Their sound was a blend of baroque pop with the soulful vocals of Trim.

Contents

Members

Original set-up included

Some changes occurred in members:

Hits

Their first release to gain attention was "Oh Lord, Why Lord" (1968), written by Jean Marcel Bouchety and Phil Trim. [1] It was the first pop song to incorporate the melody of Pachelbel's Canon in D. That single's b-side, "The Voice of the Dying Man" (based on a Johann Sebastian Bach composition) was also recorded in Spanish as "La Voz del Hombre Caido".

They are best known for their 1971 hit "Mamy Blue", [2] referring to a son's poignant song addressed to his departed mother about his childhood memories and life in general, sometimes spelled "Mommy Blue", "Mammy Blue" or "Mummy Blue", which was a Top 10 hit throughout much of Europe, Japan (#2), and Canada (#42), and a minor Billboard Hot 100 chart hit in the United States (#57). It was covered in the US by the Stories peaking at No. 50 in 1973. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a platinum record. [3] [ where? ] The composer and lyricist of the French song "Mamy Blue" was Hubert Giraud. [3] English lyrics were written by Phil Trim. The Pop Tops also recorded Italian and Spanish versions, with lyrics by Gefingal.

As follow-up singles they released "Suzanne Suzanne" (early 1972) and "Hideaway" (mid 1972), which were only minor hits in some European countries.

Discography

Albums

TitleYearPeak positions
GER
Canarios1968
Mamy Blue197130
Top Pops of Pop Tops1976

Singles

TitleYearPeak positionsAlbum
AUS
[4]
AUT
GER
ESP
SWI
UK
US
"Oh Lord, Why Lord"196878Canarios
"Mamy Blue" [5] 197131213557Mamy Blue
"Suzanne Suzanne"197216Top Pops of Pop Tops
"Hideaway"22
"My Little Woman"197375

Spanish releases

Barclay, Spain

Explosion, Spain

German releases

Bellaphon, West Germany

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References

  1. [ dead link ]
  2. Pop-Tops: Mamy Blue at Discogs (list of releases)
  3. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  297. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 236. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (January 29, 1972). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp.  68–. ISSN   0006-2510. MAMMY BLUE.{{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)