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"Black Is Black" is a song by the Spanish rock bandLos 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.
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 (aliases: Mike Kennedy, Mike Keller), the group set out to achieve success in the European market making English-languagepop 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, his vocal style 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]
^ abcRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 329. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^ abcWhitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 (11th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 69. ISBN978-0-89820-172-7.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, United States: Billboard/Record Research. p. 32. ISBN0-89820-156-X.
