This song, using a rhythm reflective of an Argentinian
tango was composed for a string orchestra in 1950, and has been performed
as an instrumental version and with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.Leroy Anderson made the debut
recording of it in 1951 and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Chart,
selling over a million copies and earning him the first Gold Disc awarded
to an instrumental.In 1952 the
orchestra leader, Ray Martin, took it to No. 8 in the UK chart and on it's
re-entry it went back up to No. 10.That same year it was released in a vocal version by Alma Cogan but
did not see the same success.In the Netherlands it was given new lyrics by Amanda Lear and she
recorded it in 1977. Other
orchestra leaders that have recorded it are Mantovani, Richard Hayman and Andre
Kostelanetz.
Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra recordings
MCA Classics MCAD2-9815 (CD: The Leroy Anderson
Collection)
