Little Man (Sonny & Cher song)

"Little Man"
"Little Man"
Single by Sonny and Cher
from the album In Case You're in Love
B-side	"Monday"
Released	September 1966
Recorded	1966
Genre	Pop
Length	3:15
Label	ATCO Records
Songwriter(s)	Sonny Bono
Sonny and Cher singles chronology

"Little Man" is a hit single by the pop duo Sonny and Cher released in 1966 from their third studio album In Case You're In Love.[1] It became one of their biggest hits, reaching number 1 on the singles charts in various European countries.

Reception

This single became the duo's greatest chart success since "I Got You Babe" in the UK, and became one of only three top ten hits for the duo there. Sonny & Cher duo recordings in the first half of 1966 started performing less well on the charts ("Have I Stayed Too Long" peaked at #49 in April 1966). In September the duo embarked on an ambitious tour of Europe, but without a single to promote. While in London they recorded the vocals for the backing track they had brought along and it gave them their biggest hit in Europe: "Little Man". Its continental flavor with Greek and gypsy overtones struck an immediate chord, and its popularity was boosted by numerous television appearances all over Europe. It was also decided then to release Cher's version of "Sunny" (from her third solo album) in Europe, in competition with Bobby Hebb's original and Georgie Fame's jazzy cover. "Sunny" rose to number 2 in the Netherlands (giving them the number 1 and 2 slot simultaneously at one point) and 4 in Sweden. Sonny & Cher then recorded their own French and Italian ("Piccolo ragazzo") versions. While "Little Man" was the high point of Sonny & Cher's singles in Europe it missed out on the top twenty in their native America reaching number 21.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1966)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	19
Argentinian Singles Chart[2]	4
Belgian Singles Chart	1
Canadian Singles Chart[3]	10
Danish Singles Chart[4]	1
Dutch Singles Chart	1
Finnish Singles Chart[5]	1
French Singles Chart	7
German Singles Chart	2
Italian Singles Chart[6]	25
Japanese Singles[7]	7
New Zealand (Listener)[8]	9
Norwegian Singles Chart[9]	1
Quebec (ADISQ)[10]	10
Singapore Singles Chart[11]	1
Swedish Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart[12]	4
US Billboard Hot 100	21
US Cash Box Top 100[13]	17

Year-end charts

Chart (1966)	Position
Danish Singles Chart [14]	17
Dutch Top 40 [15]	8
Italian Singles Chart[6]	99
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16]	69

Decade-end charts

Chart (1960–69)	Position
Dutch Top 40[17]	40

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[18]	Gold	100,000[18]

Cover versions

In Italy and France the singer Dalida recorded Italian and French versions ("Petit homme") of the song, finding success with both renditions. Milva and I Rogers also had a go in Italy with their cover of the song. The big success in France was the inspiration for an inspired cover by singer Erick Saint-Laurent entitled "Les enfants qui jouent" (French lyrics by Monty).

In 1968 in Québec, Tony Roman and Nanette Workman has made another French cover "Petit Homme".

Revival

The song was used in late 2015 and early 2016 in a television commercial for Amazon Prime featuring a miniature pony.[19][20]

References

Sonny Bono interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
Billboard. 13 May 1967. p. 55. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
"Billboard" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1966-11-12. p. 57. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
"Hitlister i 70'erne". Glamrockers.dk.
"Billboard - Hits of the World" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
"Top Annuali Single: 1967". Hitparadeitalia.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2013-08-31.
"Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
"Flavour of New Zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
Steffen Hung. "Sonny & Cher - Little Man". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
"Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
"Billboard" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1966-12-10. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 515. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
"Top 100 1966-10-29". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
Danish Top 20 (1966). "Danish Top 20; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.
Dutch Top 40 (1966). "Dutch Top 40; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.
"UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1966 - Year End". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
"Top 100 – Decenniumlijst: 60's". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
"Cash Box magazine: Cash Box Great Britain (Issue February 4, 1967 page 58)" (PDF). Cashbox. February 4, 1967. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
"Miniature pony melts hearts in Christmas advert - Horse & Hound". Horseandhound.co.uk. 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
"Amazon Prime TV Spot, 'Lonely Horse' Song by Sonny & Cher". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

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[pc44-1] Sonny Bono interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)

[2] Billboard. 13 May 1967. p. 55. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

[3] "Billboard" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1966-11-12. p. 57. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

[4] "Hitlister i 70'erne". Glamrockers.dk.

[5] "Billboard - Hits of the World" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

[auto-6] "Top Annuali Single: 1967". Hitparadeitalia.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2013-08-31.

[7] "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1967-03-04. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-03-22.

[8] "Flavour of New Zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

[9] Steffen Hung. "Sonny & Cher - Little Man". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

[10] "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

[11] "Billboard" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1966-12-10. Retrieved 2022-03-22.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-12] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 515. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[13] "Top 100 1966-10-29". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-04-16.

[Danish_Top_20.-14] Danish Top 20 (1966). "Danish Top 20; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.

[Dutch_Top_40.-15] Dutch Top 40 (1966). "Dutch Top 40; End of year charts". Retrieved 2010-08-27.

[16] "UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1966 - Year End". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2014.

[17] "Top 100 – Decenniumlijst: 60's". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2018.

[CashBox-18] "Cash Box magazine: Cash Box Great Britain (Issue February 4, 1967 page 58)" (PDF). Cashbox. February 4, 1967. Retrieved January 9, 2017.

[19] "Miniature pony melts hearts in Christmas advert - Horse & Hound". Horseandhound.co.uk. 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

[20] "Amazon Prime TV Spot, 'Lonely Horse' Song by Sonny & Cher". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 24 January 2016.