Black Is Black

"Black Is Black" is a song by the Spanish rock band Los Bravos, released in 1966 as the group's debut single for Decca Records. Produced by Ivor Raymonde, it reached number two in the UK,[2] number four in the US,[3] and number one in Canada.[4] With the recording's success, Los Bravos became the first Spanish rock band to have an international hit single.[5] A dance remix was released as a single in 1986.

For the song by Amanda Stott, see Black Is Black (Amanda Stott song).
"Black Is Black"
Single by Los Bravos
from the album Black Is Black
B-side"I Want a Name"
ReleasedJuly 1966[1]
GenreBeat, psychedelic rock
Length2:59
Label
Songwriter(s)Michelle Grainger, Tony Hayes, Steve Wadey
Producer(s)Ivor Raymonde
Los Bravos singles chronology
"Black Is Black"
(1966)		 "Going Nowhere"
(1966)
Black Is Black ('86 Dance Mix)

Background

Four members of Los Bravos — bassist Miguel Vicens Danus, guitarist Tony Martinez, organist Manuel Fernández, and drummer Pablo Sanllehi — had previously worked together in the Spanish band Los Sonors.[6] Together with German-born singer Michael Kogel, the group set out to achieve success in the European market making English-language pop music.[6] After signing with the Spanish division of Decca Records, the band went to England to work with Ivor Raymonde, a British producer, arranger, conductor, and composer, who had been involved in making UK hit songs with such artists as Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, and Dave Berry.[6] "Black Is Black" was released in 1966 as the band's first Decca single.[6]

According to the liner notes of Black Is Black: The Anthology 1966–1969 (2017), the song features the band members in "largely token roles behind Kogel's lead vocal", as well as contributions from session musicians Vic Flick and John McLaughlin.[7]

Reception

As lead singer Kogel was not a native English speaker (he had to have the lyrics written out phonetically), his vocals had unusual intonations. By coincidence, they sounded similar to that of Gene Pitney, so much so that many listeners assumed that "Black Is Black" was actually a Pitney single.[8][9]

In August 1966, the song debuted at number 100 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[10] It peaked at number four in October,[11] and spent 12 weeks on the chart.[3] It reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart, and peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart.[2] The single also sold two million copies in Spain.[12]

Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, American media conglomerate company Clear Channel Communications distributed the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum to program directors at the more than 1000 radio stations the company owned.[13] The memo contained a list of 162 songs with "questionable lyrics" that the stations should avoid playing, which included "Black Is Black".[13]

Other versions

A French version of the song, entitled "Noir c'est noir", was recorded by Johnny Hallyday and held the number one spot on France's singles chart for seven weeks in the fall of 1966.[14]

It was also covered by French vocal trio La Belle Epoque as a disco song, and released as a 1976 single.[15] It peaked at number two in the UK,[16] and reached number one in Australia in October 1978.

In 1975, it was sampled in "I'm on Fire" by the band 5000 Volts.

In 1976, Cerrone released his version as a single from his LP Love in C Minor. The track is often mixed into club sets or sampled.

In 1999, the Indian artiste Anaida recorded a version which was featured on the soundtrack of the film Split Wide Open directed by Dev Benegal.

Chart performance

La Belle Epoque version

References
  1. Rodriguez, Robert (2012). Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll. Montclair: Backbeat Books. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-61713-009-0.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 329. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 (11th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-89820-172-7.
  4. "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 10, 1966" (PDF).
  5. George-Warren, Holly; Romanowski, Patricia; Pareles, Jon (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (3rd ed.). New York: Fireside Books (Simon & Schuster). p. 579. ISBN 0-7432-0120-5.
  6. Thomas, Bryan. "Black Is Black – Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  7. Rossi, Nick (2017). Black Is Black: The Anthology 1966–1969 (CD liner notes). Los Bravos. London, England: RPM Records. Retro D992.
  8. "Los Bravos - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  9. Unterberger, Richie (1998). Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll: Psychedelic Unknowns, Mad Geniuses, Punk Pioneers, Lo-Fi Mavericks & More. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-87930-792-9.
  10. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 33. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1966-08-13. p. 22. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  11. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 78, no. 40. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1966-10-01. p. 18. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  12. "U.S.' Spanish Chart Inroads, Fall of Cover Cited by Milhaud". Billboard. Vol. 80, no. 42. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1968-10-19. p. 75. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  13. Truitt, Eliza (2001-09-17). "It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It". Slate (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  14. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 60". Infodisc. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  15. "La Belle Epoque – Black Is Black / Hey Miss Broadway at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  16. "The Official Charts Company – La Belle Epoque – 'Black Is Black'". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  17. "Los Bravos – Black Is Black" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  18. "Los Bravos – Black Is Black" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  19. "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 10, 1966" (PDF).
  20. "Los Bravos – Black Is Black" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Los Bravos"
  21. "Los Bravos – Black Is Black" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  22. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs (A-B)".
  23. "Cash Box Top 100 10/01/66". Cashbox Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  24. "Sixties City - Pop Music Charts - Every Week Of The Sixties". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  25. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  26. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  27. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  28. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  29. "InfoDisc : Les Chansons (Auteur, Compositeur, Classements, Ventes, Certifications, Les Tops, Les N° 1...)". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  30. "Irish Singles Charts 1976-1978". Ukmix.org. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  31. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black". Top 40 Singles.
  33. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black". VG-lista.
  34. "Listas de superventas: 1977". Listadesuperventas.blogspot.com. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  35. "Belle Epoque – Black Is Black". Swiss Singles Chart.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  37. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, United States: Billboard/Record Research. p. 32. ISBN 0-89820-156-X.
  38. "Offiziellecharts.de – Belle Epoque – Black Is Black" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  39. "Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
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