Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White is the title of an instrumental hit by the US orchestra Pérez Prado , which became a million seller in 1955 .
History of origin
The original under the title Cerisier rose et pommier blanc ("pink cherries and white apples") was created in early 1950 in Paris by the composer "Louiguy" (the pseudonym of Louis Guglielmi, a Catalan composer of Italian origin) and Jacques Larue / Antoine Leonardi (Text). The text of the chanson is about a childhood love when the children played under cherry and apple trees. It was here that the boy's love for a girl began, who later married and remembered the color and scent of the trees. The original was brought out by the French chansonnier André Claveau . His single Cerisier rose et pommier blanc / Fou de vous ( Polydor 560 241) - accompanied by the Joe Boyer orchestra - was released in October 1950. Mack David - the older brother of the successful pop music lyricist Hal David - provided an English text in 1951 that is a literal translation of the original title. Jimmy Dorsey took on July 30, 1951 ( Columbia Records 39526) with the singers Pat O'Connor and Sandy Evans in swing style on a first English-language vocal version, but missed the charts . Pérez Prado had released the song as a single under the Spanish title Cerezo Rosa / Suby en Paris (Victoria 23-6084) as a film music in August 1953 , but film producer RKO Pictures only chose the song for the film Underwater (US premiere: February 9 1955) and had it produced again. In the film, Jane Russell dances to the melody.
The new recording took place on August 23, 1954 with the orchestra of Pérez Prado. The music producer Herman Diaz and the arranger John Storm Roberts ensured extensive contrasts between saxophones, trumpets and trombones within the wind section. The brilliant brass section plays a cha-cha-cha rather than a mambo rhythm at an increased tempo , which decreases at the beginning of Billy Regis' outstanding trumpet solos.
Publication and Success
The single Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White / Rhythm Sticks (Victor 5965) by Pérez Prado came on the market in December 1954. She got into the US pop hit parade in March 1955, where she first achieved first place on April 30, 1955, which she occupied for 10 weeks. The title sold a total of 2 million copies. It was also a huge success outside of the USA, as it was the number one hit in Germany (7 weeks), Great Britain (2 weeks) and Australia (3 weeks). It is considered the best-selling single in the US in 1955.
Cover versions
There are a total of at least 33 cover versions , including the vocal recordings by Georgia Gibbs (August 1951) and Alan Dale (March 1955; rank 14). Instrumental versions by Chet Atkins (March 7, 1955), Edmundo Ros (March 1955), Xavier Cugat (LP Cha Cha Cha , June 1955) and Les Baxter (July 1955; British pressing only) followed within a very short time . Guy Lombardo's version with vocals by Bill Flanagan followed in April 1955. In the British charts, Eddie Calvert (March 1955) stayed with his version for 4 weeks at number 1. When Prado's version went down the British charts again, Calvert succeeded in his version also to bring it to the number one position. This was followed by Tito Puente (LP Dance the Cha Cha Cha ; December 1955), John Young Trio (LP Young John Young ; May 1957). The Ventures presented a rocking instrumental version (LP The Colorful Ventures ; October 1961), followed by Earl Bostic (May 1963) or Al Hirt (LP They're Playing Our Song ; February 1966).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Steve Sullivan: Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings . tape 2 . Scarecrow Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0-8108-8296-6 , pp. 615 f . ( Online [accessed October 13, 2015]).
- ^ Joseph Murrells: Million Selling Records . Arco Pub, 1985, ISBN 978-0-668-06459-0 , pp. 92 .