Pop Tops

The Pop Tops - actually " Los Pop - Tops" - were a Spanish pop music group that was founded in Madrid in 1967 and the early 1970s had hit parade success internationally.

History

The musical core of the Pop Tops goes back to an instrumental group, which acted as Los Tifones since 1961. In 1966 she won the live on the radio transmitted " Festival de Conjuntos Musicales de León " the first place, so that the French producer Alain Milhaud became aware of the group. Milaud had already made a name for himself as manager of the rock group Los Bravos and also produces these later. He eventually took over the fate of the combo, you procured with a native of Trinidad and Tobago African- American Phil Trim ( born January 5, 1940 as teophilus Earl Trim ) a lead singer and gave his new proteges the name " Los Pop - Tops".

For the original line-up included, in addition Trim the ex Julián Luis Angulo Tifones (also Luis Fierro, guitar, vocals), Alberto Vega (saxophone, clarinet), Enrique Gómez (bass, trumpet), Ignacio Pérez (organ, piano ) and José Lipiani (drums ). Received a boost from the band with guitarist Ray Gomez. However, there were early line-up changes; Pérez and Lipiani left the group. The square on the drums took over Francisco Urbano Romero. As a keyboard player and pianist in 1969 Rafael Guillermo ( Guillermo Rafael Gertrudis ) to do so.

Their musical style was a mixture of contemporary pop, soul and gospel, partly mixed with themes from classical music. Their first release on Barclay / Sonoplay in Spain in 1967 was the song Con su blanca palidez, a Spanish version of the classic A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum by. The single Somewhere in 1968 based on a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach, its B-side, The Voice of the Dying Man ( La voz del hombre caido ) was an homage to Martin Luther King. The gospel -like dirge Oh Lord, Why Lord had elements of the Canon in D of the Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. With this song the Pop Tops obtained for the first time outside Spain attention. However, in the following single releases of 1969 and 1970, the group showed musical disoriented and tried to find somewhere between bubblegum pop, psychedelic rock and flower-power party music.

In early 1971 they changed to the record label explosion and had to Road to Freedom ( Dios a todos Hizo libres ) in September 1971 a number 1 hit in Spain. Internationally became the group in late 1971, when her English language version of Mamy Blue in many European countries reached the top ranks of the charts. The music was written and the original French text by Hubert Giraud, the English version wrote Phil Trim. In Germany the song was for 10 weeks at No. 1, as well as in Switzerland. In the U.S. and Canada Mammy Blue [ sic] was also a minor hit for the pop tops.

In Britain, in addition to its version ( number 35 ) and a recording of Roger Whittaker on the charts (No. 31). A German version of Ricky Shayne was in Germany also became a hit ( No. 7 ) and reached gold status. Records of " Pop Tops" were published in Germany without a ligand cited by articles in the group name. In English-speaking countries " The Pop Tops" was usually given. Some publications also contained the words " featuring Phil Trim".

The follow-up singles Suzanne Suzanne and Hideaway arrived in Germany in 1972 still among the top 30 Subsequent recordings of the group were there not more successful, in contrast, Spain Los Pop Tops were a little longer popular. From 1973, the cohesion within the group began to crumble and some members turned increasingly to other projects. The declining success of Pop Tops, 1974 led to the dissolution of the band.

Guitarist Ray Goméz played after the separation of Pop Tops as a studio musician, inter alia, on albums by Stanley Clarke, Roy Buchanan, Chaka Khan, Deodato, Jack Bruce and Aretha Franklin. Singer Phil Trim began a solo career. The pianist Rafael Guillermo operated successfully as a composer.

Discography (selection)

Singles

Barclay, Spain

  • Con su blanca palidez / I Can not Go On - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20037, 1967
  • Viento to otoño ( Autumn Winds ) / Cry - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20049, 1967
  • Somewhere / The Voice of the Dying Man ( La voz del hombre caido ) - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20079, 1968
  • Oh Lord, Why Lord / Beyond the Sea (El mar) - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20124, 1968
  • Oh Lord, Why Lord (Spanish ) / El mar - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20125, 1968
  • Esa mujer ( That Woman ) / Adagio cardenal - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20166, 1968
  • That Woman / The Man I Am Today - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20166, 1968
  • Pepa / Junto a ti - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20210, 1968
  • Dzim - dzim - dzas ( Love and Care) / Young and Foolish - Barclay Sonoplay SN- 20254, 1969
  • Soñar, bailar y cantar (She's Coming Back ) / Anytime - Barclay Movieplay SN- 20478, 1970

Explosion, Spain

  • Dios a todos Hizo libres ( Road to Freedom ) / Movimento de amor - Explosion 14 961 -A, 1971
  • Road to Freedom / Who Will Believe - Explosion 14 961 -A, 1971
  • Mamy Blue (Spanish ) / Love Motion - Explosion, 14,994 -A, 1971
  • Mamy Blue / Grief and Torture - Explosion, 14,995 -A, 1971
  • Suzanne Suzanne / Happiness Ville - Explosion 10,551 -A, 1972
  • Suzanne Suzanne (Spanish ) / Walk along by the Riverside - Explosion 10,627 -A, 1972
  • Hideaway / What a Place to Live In - Explosion 10 679 -A, 1972
  • My Little Woman / Girl, What's on Your Mind? - Explosion E -34500, 1973
  • Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song / Where Can I Go - Explosion E- 34510, 1973
  • Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song (Spanish ) / Angeline - Explosion E- 34513, 1973
  • What a Way to Go / Baby I Will Cry - Explosion E- 34522, 1974

Bellaphon, Germany

  • Mamy Blue / Road to Freedom - Bellaphon BF 18049 Finger, 1971
  • Oh Lord, Why Lord / Walk Along by the Riverside - Bellaphon BF 18070 Finger, 1971 ( Remake)
  • Suzanne Suzanne / Happiness Ville - Bellaphon BF 18077 Finger, 1972
  • Hideaway / What a Place to Live In - Bellaphon BF 18105, 1972
  • My Little Woman / Girl, What's on Your Mind? - Bellaphon BF 18154, 1973
  • Happy, Hippy, Youppy Song / Where Can I Go - Bellaphon BF 18189, 1973
  • What a Way to Go / Baby I Will Cry - Bellaphon BF 18222, 1973

LPs ( Germany )

  • Mamy Blue - Bellaphon finger, 1971
  • Top Pops of Pop Tops - Bellaphon, 1976
Singing Bass guitar Electronic keyboard France Gospel music Baroque music List of number-one hits of 1971 (Germany) Eumir Deodato
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