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 line-up included:
Phil Trim (born 5 January 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 (27 February 1953 – c. 9 July 2026) – guitar
Some changes occurred in members:
Francisco Urbano Romero – drums (replacing José Lipiani) 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. 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", 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. The composer and lyricist of the French song "Mamy Blue" was Hubert Giraud. 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 GER Canarios 1968 — Mamy Blue 1971 30 Top Pops of Pop Tops 1976 —
Singles Title Year Peak positions Album AUS AUT GER ESP SWI UK US "Oh Lord, Why Lord" 1968 — — — 1 — — 78 Canarios "Mamy Blue" 1971 — 3 1 1 1 35 57 Mamy Blue "Suzanne Suzanne" 1972 — — 16 23 — — —Top Pops of Pop Tops "Hideaway" — — 22 — — — — "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 1969: Pepa / Junto a ti 1969: Dzim-dzim-dzas (Love and Care) / Young and Foolish 1970: 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
External links