"Velvet Mornings" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1973.
| "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 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Alec R. Costandinos, Stélios Vlavianós | |||
| Producer(s) | Leo Leandros, Demis Roussos | |||
| Demis Roussos singles chronology | ||||
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The song was included on Roussos' 1973 album Forever and Ever.
Background and writing
editThe 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)
editIn late 1972 Demis Roussos represented Greece with this song at Rio de Janeiro's 7th International Popular Song Festival (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
editIn 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
editMarinella's Greek version
editGreek 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
editU.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
edit7" 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "spanishcharts.com - Demis Roussos - Forever And Ever". Retrieved 2017-10-24.
- ^ a b Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1972-10-14). "Billboard 14 Oct 1972, page 3 ("U.S. Tune Wins Rio Festival" by Henry Johnson)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 3–. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Joaquim B. De Souza (2016-06-15). Seleção Das Principais Notícias Em 2015. Clube de Autores. pp. 91–. PKEY:90200958.
- ^ a b c d Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1972-10-14). "Billboard 14 Oct 1972, page 64 ("U.S. Tune Wins Rio Festival" by Henry Johnson)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 64–. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1972-10-28). "Billboard (28 Oct 1972)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Demis Roussos.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-06-23). "Billboard (23 Jun 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 75–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-06-30). "Billboard (30 Jun 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 57–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-10-13). "Billboard (13 Oct 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510.
Velvet Mornings Roussos.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-01-13). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 43–. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Billboard, Volume 85. Billboard Publications. January 1973.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-11-10). "Billboard (10 Nov 1973)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 67–. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite magazine}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "spanishcharts.com - Demis Roussos - Velvet Mornings". Retrieved 2017-10-30.