Velvet Mornings – Wikipedia

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1973 single by Demis Roussos

“Velvet Mornings” is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1973.

The song was included on Roussos’ 1973 album Forever and Ever.

Background and writing[edit]

The 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)[edit]

In 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[edit]

In 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[edit]

Marinella’s Greek version[edit]

Greek 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[edit]

U.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[edit]

7″ 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b “spanishcharts.com – Demis Roussos – Forever And Ever”. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  2. ^ 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.: 3–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ^ Joaquim B. De Souza (2016-06-15). Seleção Das Principais Notícias Em 2015. Clube de Autores. pp. 91–. PKEY:90200958.
  4. ^ 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.: 64–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1972-10-28). “Billboard (28 Oct 1972)”. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 1–. ISSN 0006-2510. Velvet Mornings Demis Roussos.
  6. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-06-23). “Billboard (23 Jun 1973)”. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 75–. ISSN 0006-2510. Velvet Mornings Roussos.
  7. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-06-30). “Billboard (30 Jun 1973)”. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 57–. ISSN 0006-2510. Velvet Mornings Roussos.
  8. ^ a b Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-10-13). “Billboard (13 Oct 1973)”. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 42–. ISSN 0006-2510. Velvet Mornings Roussos.
  9. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-01-13). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 43–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  10. ^ Billboard, Volume 85. Billboard Publications. January 1973.
  11. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-11-10). “Billboard (10 Nov 1973)”. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 67–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ^ a b “spanishcharts.com – Demis Roussos – Velvet Mornings”. Retrieved 2017-10-30.