Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)
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| "Cerisiers Roses et Pommiers Blancs" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | French, English |
| English title | "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" |
| Written | 1950 |
| Composer(s) | Louiguy |
| Lyricist(s) | Jacques Larue (French), Mack David (English) |
"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" or "Cerezo Rosa" or "Ciliegi Rosa" or "Gummy Mambo", is the English version of "Cerisiers Roses et Pommiers Blancs", a popular song with music by Louiguy written in 1950. French lyrics to the song by Jacques Larue and English lyrics by Mack David both exist,[1] and recordings of both have been quite popular.
Pérez Prado version[edit]
| "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pérez Prado | ||||
| B-side | "Rhythm Sticks" | |||
| Released | December 1954 | |||
| Recorded | 1954 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Composer(s) | Louiguy | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Jacques Larue, Mack David | |||
| Pérez Prado singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pérez Prado's recording of the song as an instrumental with his orchestra featuring trumpeter Billy Regis,[1] whose trumpet sound would slide down and up before the melody would resume, was the most popular version. It was first recorded and released in Mexico in 1953[3] under the full title "Cerezo Rosa (Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White)", becoming one of the biggest hits of that year in Mexico.[4] It was then released in the United States in 1954, becoming a hit there in 1955 as it reached number one for 10 weeks on the Billboard chart. It became a gold record, and it was featured on the movie Underwater! (1955), where Jane Russell can be seen dancing to the song. Prado recorded "Cherry Pink" several times, the best known version being the original hit recording from 1953 and the 1960 recording in stereo.[1]
Billboard ranked the former version as the number one song of 1955. The most popular vocal version in the U.S. was by Alan Dale, reaching No. 14 on the chart in 1955.[5]
Other significant versions[edit]
In the United Kingdom, two versions of the song went to number one in 1955. The first was the version by Prado, which reached number one for two weeks.[6] Less than a month later, a version by the British trumpeter Eddie Calvert reached number one for four weeks.[6]
Al Hirt released a version on his 1965 album, They're Playing Our Song.[7]
In 1982, the British pop group Modern Romance (featuring John Du Prez) had a UK Top 20 hit with the vocal version of the song.[6]
See also[edit]
- List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1950s
- List of top-ten songs for the 1950s in Mexico#1953
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 18. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (September 15, 2023). "Insert Lyrics Here Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ "Cerezo rosa". The Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ Mejía Barquera, Fernando (June 2006). El Sound Track de la vida cotidiana: Radio y música popular en México D.F. Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales UNAM. p. 202.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 159.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. pp. 43, 44, 373. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Al (He's The King) Hirt* - They're Playing Our Song (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved 2014-04-03.