Expresso Bongo is an EP by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released in January 1960. It contains all the songs by the group sung in the film of the same name in which Richard also stars.
| Expresso Bongo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 8 January 1960 | |||
| Recorded | 8 September & 19 October 1959 | |||
| Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 8:46 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Norrie Paramor | |||
| Cliff Richard and the Shadows chronology | ||||
| ||||
Recording and release
editThe EP features three songs sung by Cliff Richard and the Shadows and one, "Bongo Blues", being an instrumental solely by the Shadows. "Love" and "A Voice in the Wilderness" were recorded on 8 September 1959, whilst "The Shrine on the Second Floor" and "Bongo Blues" were recorded on 19 October 1959. They were all recorded at EMI Studios (later renamed Abbey Road Studios) with producer Norrie Paramor.[1][2][3][4] The EP was advertised for release on 4 December 1959 in numerous magazines and newspapers.[5][6][7] However, the release was postposed until 8 January 1960 to coincide with the nationwide release of the film on 11 January.[8][9][10]
"A Voice in the Wilderness" was subsequently released as a single on 15 January 1960, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in February 1960.[11] The EP and single versions of the song are different takes, with some subtle differences in vocals – the single version was recorded on 20 December 1959.[2]
Chart performance
editThe Expresso Bongo film was extremely successful upon its release in December 1959 and this significantly helped the subsequent EP. The EP entered the New Musical Express singles chart (the canonical official UK Singles Chart) in the third week of January, reaching its peak at number 14 three weeks later and leaving the top 30 chart after the final week of February (thus spending a total of seven weeks on the chart). As shown by the chart run, sales for the EP peaked in February.[11] However, in the second week of March 1960, Record Retailer (whose top 50 singles chart became the canonical official chart) began publishing charts including an EP chart. Expresso Bongo topped the first EP chart for one week before being overtaken by Elvis Presley's Strictly Elvis for five weeks before regaining the top position. It spent a total of 28 weeks on the top 20 EP chart, leaving after the final week of September 1960.[12]
On other charts in the UK, the EP saw varied success. On the Record Mirror Top 20 singles chart, the EP peaked at number 8; yet on the Disc Top 20 singles chart, it only peaked at number 19.[13][14] It did not enter the Melody Maker singles chart as the magazine had published an EP chart since November 1959. In recognition of the number of advance orders, it entered this top 10 chart in the third week of December, topping it at the beginning of January 1960.[15][16]
Within three months of its release, the EP had sold over 150,000 copies, which was five times more than the average EP hit sales.[17]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love" | 2:24 | |
| 2. | "A Voice in the Wilderness" |
| 2:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | "The Shrine on the Second Floor" | 2:27 | |
| 4. | "Bongo Blues" | Paramor | 1:44 |
| Total length: | 8:46 | ||
Personnel
edit- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Hank Marvin – lead guitar
- Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar
- Jet Harris – bass guitar
- Tony Meehan – drums
Charts
editOn singles charts
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 14 |
| UK Disc Top 20[14] | 19 |
| UK Record Mirror Top 20[13] | 8 |
On EP charts
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Record Retailer Top 20[12] | 1 |
| UK Melody Maker Top 10[16] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Love)". cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (A Voice In The Wilderness [Mono Alternate EP Take])". cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (The Shrine On The Second Floor)". cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Shadows Recordings V: Cliff Richard Releases" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Advert" (PDF). Melody Maker. 28 November 1959. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Discussion". Liverpool Echo. 4 December 1959. p. 15.
- ^ "Pick of the Pops". The Spalding Guardian. 4 December 1959. p. 9.
- ^ "Pat puts over a new ballad". Liverpool Echo. 16 January 1960. p. 5.
- ^ "Stapleford & Sandiacre News". Stapleford & Sandiacre News. 8 January 1960. p. 2.
- ^ Koers, Ivo. "1959–1960 EPs" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 39. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b "Complete UK Charts". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Britain's Top 20". Record Mirror. 6 February 1960.
- ^ a b "Top Twenty" (PDF). Disc. 30 January 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Top Ten EPs" (PDF). Melody Maker. 19 December 1959. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Top Ten EPs". Melody Maker. 2 January 1960. p. 2.
- ^ Glynn, Stephen (2013). The British Pop Music Film: The Beatles and Beyond. Springer. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-230-39223-6.