Every New Zealand #1 single…
9
Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton
Topped the NZ chart: for 3 weeks from 17 October 1963.
Bobby Vinton was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of a bandleader. He learned the clarinet and studied music composition at Duquesne University. Inspired by Elvis, he started a recording career as a vocalist.
1963’s ‘Blue Velvet’ was originally a minor hit for Tony Bennett in 1951. But Vinton’s version hit the top of the Billboard charts and is the definitive version.
It’s difficult to separate this song from its cultural heritage. Like many other listeners, I first heard ‘Blue Velvet’ in the David Lynch film of the same name. It’s difficult to tell whether the movie gives the song a darker aura than it would have otherwise. Or if the song has always had a dark undercurrent that the film taps into.
But either way, it’s a cut above most MOR hits from its era. It’s a little faster than Bennett’s version, and Vinton’s vocal is agile and vulnerable.
‘Blue Velvet’ wasn’t originally intended as a single. Vinton recorded the song because it fitted into the thematic album he was making, an entire record of songs with “blue” in the title. He recorded the vocal in two takes.
Vinton’s ‘Blue Velvet’ became a hit again in the UK in 1990, reaching #2 after featuring in a Nivea ad. Coincidentally, it charted alongside Alannah Myles’ ‘Black Velvet’.
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Great stuff as always! Thanks G
My favourite songs from the past few years:
Gus Dapperton “posthumous “
Nothing But Theives “Overcome”
Hippo Campus “way it goes”
Young the Giant “The way home”
See if you like them, and thanks again.
I agree. There’s quite a bit to like about this song. Beautiful warm old-school vocal that seems to fill up the mix and I like how the guitar is played really late. Gives a great relaxed feel to the track. And I’d never noticed the sax solo before.
But I still can’t think about it without having my brain taken over with thoughts about the Lynch film. The memories of that are too strong for me.
I haven’t seen Blue Velvet for 20 years, I think the song was my biggest takeaway from it. I should revisit, although I think it would gross my wife out.
A pretty good song, but I prefer “Blue on Blue” from that album.
Just listened to ‘Blue on Blue’ – I didn’t think I’d heard it before, but it sounds a bit familiar. My 9 year old is into listening to songs from that era on double speed on YouTube.
I was a weird kid with unusual music tastes. At the age of nine in 1963, my favorite songs were “Blue on Blue”, “Sukiyaki” and “Sugar Shack”.
I can’t listen to this song in the same way after watching the Lynch movie. I think of Dennis Hopper when I hear it. It has that BB sound to it….Before Beatles. I do like the song.
It’s one of the best songs from that early 1960s easy listening era, between the waves of rock and roll.
It’s one of those songs I heard on an oldies channel where I worked…I always liked it.
My step father was into Bobby V. It’s nice easy listening.
I don’t know many of his other songs, but ‘Blue Velvet’ is a classic.