Pop-Tops

Pop-Tops
Pop-Tops
Origin	Madrid, Spain
Genres	Pop
Years active	1967-1974
Labels	Barclay Sonoplay (Spain) ; Explosion (Spain); Bellaphon (Germany)
Past members	Phil Trim; Julián Luis Angulo; Alberto Vega; Enrique Gómez; Ignacio Pérez; José Lipiani; Ray Gómez; Francisco Urbano Romero; Rafael Guillermo Gertrudis

Pop Tops (or Los Pop-Tops) were a vocal/instrumental band, formed in 1967 in Madrid, Spain, with Phil Trim from Trinidad and Tobago as lead singer. Their sound was a blend of baroque pop with the soulful vocals of Trim.

Members

Original set-up included

Phil Trim (born January 5, 1940, in Trinidad and Tobago) – lead singer
Julián Luis Angulo – guitar, vocals
Alberto Vega – saxophone, clarinet, vocals
Enrique Gómez – bass, trumpet
Ignacio Pérez – organ, piano
José Lipiani – drums
Ray Gómez – guitar

Some changes occurred in members:

Francisco Urbano Romero – drums (replacing José Lipani)
Rafael Guillermo Gertrudis – keyboards, piano (replacing Ignacio Pérez)

Hits

Their first release to gain attention was "Oh Lord, Why Lord" (1968), written by Jean Marcel Bouchety and Phil Trim.^[1] It was the first pop song to incorporate the melody of Pachelbel's Canon in D. That single's b-side, "The Voice of the Dying Man" (based on a Johann Sebastian Bach composition) was also recorded in Spanish as "La Voz del Hombre Caido".

They are best known for their 1971 hit "Mamy Blue",^[2] referring to a son's poignant song addressed to his departed mother about his childhood memories and life in general, sometimes spelled "Mommy Blue", "Mammy Blue" or "Mummy Blue", which was a Top 10 hit throughout much of Europe, Japan (#2), and Canada (#42), and a minor Billboard Hot 100 chart hit in the United States (#57). It was covered in the US by the Stories peaking at No. 50 in 1973. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a platinum record.^[3]^[where?] The composer and lyricist of the French song "Mamy Blue" was Hubert Giraud.^[3] English lyrics were written by Phil Trim. The Pop Tops also recorded Italian and Spanish versions, with lyrics by Gefingal.

As follow-up singles they released "Suzanne Suzanne" (early 1972) and "Hideaway" (mid 1972), which were only minor hits in some European countries.

Discography

Albums

Title	Year	Peak positions
Title	Year	GER
Canarios	1968	—
Mamy Blue	1971	30
Top Pops of Pop Tops	1976	—

Singles

Title	Year	Peak positions							Album
Title	Year	AUS ^[4]	AUT	GER	ESP	SWI	UK	US	Album
"Oh Lord, Why Lord"	1968	—	—	—	—	—	—	78	Canarios
"Mamy Blue" ^[5]	1971	—	3	1	2	1	35	57	Mamy Blue
"Suzanne Suzanne"	1972	—	—	16	—	—	—	—	Top Pops of Pop Tops
"Hideaway"	1972	—	—	22	—	—	—	—	Top Pops of Pop Tops
"My Little Woman"	1973	75	—	—	—	—	—	—

Spanish releases

Barclay, Spain

1967: Con su blanca palidez / I Can't Go On
1967: Viento to otoño (Autumn Winds) / Cry
1968: Somewhere / The Voice of the Dying Man (La voz del hombre caido)
1968: Oh Lord, Why Lord / Beyond the Sea (El mar)
1968: Oh Lord, Why Lord (in Spanish) / El mar
1968: Esa mujer (That Woman) / Adagio cardenal
1968: That Woman / The Man I Am Today
1968: Pepa / Junto a ti
1969: Dzim-dzim-dzas (Love and Care) / Young and Foolish
1969: Soñar, bailar y cantar (She's Coming Back) / Anytime

Explosion, Spain

1971: Dios a todos hizo libres (Road to Freedom) / Movimento de amor
1971: Road to Freedom / Who Will Believe
1971: Mamy Blue (span.) / Love Motion
1971: Mamy Blue / Grief and Torture
1972: Suzanne Suzanne / Happiness Ville
1972: Suzanne Suzanne (in Spanish) / Walk along by the Riverside
1972: Hideaway / What a Place to Live In
1973: My Little Woman / Girl, What's on Your Mind?
1973: Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song / Where Can I Go
1973: Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song (in Spanish) / Angeline
1974: What a Way to Go / Baby I Will Cry

German releases

Bellaphon, West Germany

1971: Mamy Blue / Road to Freedom
1971: Oh Lord, Why Lord / Walk Along by the Riverside (Remake)
1972: Suzanne Suzanne / Happiness Ville
1972: Hideaway / What a Place to Live In
1973: My Little Woman / Girl, What's on Your Mind?
1973: Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song / Where Can I Go
1973: What a Way to Go / Baby I Will Cry

References

^ [1] ^{[dead link‍]}
^ Pop-Tops: Mamy Blue at Discogs (list of releases)
^ ^a ^b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 297. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 236. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (January 29, 1972). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 68–. ISSN 0006-2510. MAMMY BLUE. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)

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[1] [1] ^{[dead link‍]}

[2] Pop-Tops: Mamy Blue at Discogs (list of releases)

[The_Book_of_Golden_Discs-3] Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 297. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.

[aus-4] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 236. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[Billboard_29_January_1972-5] Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (January 29, 1972). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 68–. ISSN 0006-2510. MAMMY BLUE. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)

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