| "Ciao Baby" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Toys | |
| B-side | "I Got Carried Away" |
| Released | February 1967 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 2:11 |
| Label | Philips |
| Songwriter(s) | Larry Weiss, Scott English |
| Producer(s) | Alan Lorber |
"Ciao Baby" is a song written by Larry Weiss and Scott English, and recorded by several artists. It was most successful in Australia and New Zealand, where a prominent local artist in each country released a hit version. [1]
Toys version
The original release of "Ciao Baby" was on a single by American female vocal group the Toys in February 1967, followed soon after on singles by the Montanas and by Lynne Randell, both in March 1967. [2]
Montanas version
The release by English band the Montanas was produced by the notable British composer, arranger and producer Tony Hatch. [3]
According to British music magazine Record Mirror, 10,000 copies of the single sold in the United Kingdom, [4] not enough to register on the unofficial British charts then in use. [5] It was heard on Radio London, a pirate radio station where it was highlighted as a "climber" or predicted hit by disc jockey John Peel. It appeared once on Radio London's playlist chart The Fab 40, at number 31 on 19 March 1967, alongside the original version by the Toys. [6]
The Montanas' version fared better in Australia, where it co-charted with Lynne Randell's version in three capital cities. [7] Pye Records reissued the song in April 1969 with a different B-side. [8]
Lynne Randell version
Lynne Randell was an Australian singer, but the song was recorded in New York, produced by Ted Cooper and arranged and conducted by notable American producer-arranger-conductor Herb Bernstein. It was released in the United States on an Epic single in March 1967. [9] The Australian release on CBS [10] in April was a Top 10 single in the country overall. See: Lynne Randell:Charted Singles
Craig Scott version
In 1971, a local version by Craig Scott [11] charted at number 4 in New Zealand. [12]
Other versions
- The Eternal Flame (USA, not the Dutch hard rock band)
- Ray Rivera And Orchestra
- Group Check
- Lena Junoff
- Nola York
- Gunter Gabriel
- Long John Baldry
- Mel Tormé
- Catherine McKinnon
- Lello Tartarino
- Alfredo Malabello
- Emma Birdsall in Love Child
References
- ^ History of "Ciao Baby" at poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Listings for "Ciao Baby" by The Toys, The Montanas, and Lynne Randell at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ The Montanas - "Ciao Baby", UK March 1967 release, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ "Birmingham: The breeding ground for beat musicians", retrospective in Record Mirror, 15 March 1971 pp12-13, facsimile in PDF format at worldradiohistory.com, Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ See Charts in the article The Montanas. For discussion of the status of British charts before 1969, see Early Charts in the article UK Singles Chart
- ^ Radio London Fab Forty for 12 March 1967 (John Peel's climber) and 19 March 1967 (co-charting #31 with The Toys) at radiolondon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Charts compiled by Gavin Ryan in Music Chart Books for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth 1953-2013 (five volumes 2004-2007), Moonlight Publishing, Golden Square, no ISBNs.
- ^ The Montanas - "Ciao Baby", UK April 1969 release, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Lynne Randell - "Ciao Baby" (Epic), USA March 1967, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Lynne Randell - "Ciao Baby" (CBS), Australia April 1967, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Craig Scott - "Ciao Baby", New Zealand 1971, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021
- ^ Charts compiled by Dean Scapolo in New Zealand Music Charts 1966 to 1996: Singles (1997), Wellington, IPL Books, pp 225-6 ISBN 0-908876-00-9