Los Bravos - Black Is Black (1966)

This band was the first group from Spain to have an international hit single, reaching that milestone with their signature song heard below. Formed in 1965 from two local pop bands, Los Sonor and The Runaways, the group featured the German-born Mike Kogel on lead vocals who had moved to Spain in 1960 when he was fourteen or fifteen. Although primarily remembered to be a one-hit wonder, the group actually released a successful single, “I Don’t Care,” in October 1966 to follow-up their hit heard below. “I Don’t Care” reached number sixteen in the UK, but their subsequent singles didn’t fare nearly as well, reaching number ninety-one (“Going Nowhere”) and number fifty-one (“Bring a Little Lovin',” a cover of The Easybeats). Sadly, Manuel Fernandez, the band’s organist, took his own life in May 1967 after learning of the death of his wife, Lottie, who had died in an automobile accident. The band officially called it quits in 1968.

Released as the A-Side of their debut single in 1966 for Decca Records, this song was written by Michelle Grainger, Tony Hayes, and Steve Wadey. After having worked with the Spanish division of Decca, the group wanted to tap into the English-language market and went to England to work on a song. Kogel’s vocals were so close to sounding like Gene Pitney’s, many people believed the song was a Gene Pitney single when they heard it on the radio. The song reached number four in the US, number two in the UK, and number one in Canada. It featured the B-Side “I Want a Name.”



Los Bravos - Black Is Black (1966)

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Lyrics:

Black is black
I want my baby back
It's gray, it's gray
Since she went away, oh, oh
What can I do?
'cause I- I'm feelin' blue

If I had my way
She'd be back today
But she don't intend
To see me again, oh, oh
What can I do?
'cause I- I'm feelin' blue

I can't choose
It's too much to lose
My love's too strong
Wow!
Maybe if she
Would come back to me
Then it can't go wrong

Bad is bad
That I feel so sad
It's time, it's time
That I found peace of mind
What can I do?
'cause I- I'm feelin' blue

I can't choose
It's too much to lose
My love's too strong
Wow, maybe if she
Would come back to me
Then it can't go wrong

Black is black
I want my baby back
It's gray, it's gray
Since she went away, oh, oh
What can I do?
'cause I- I'm feelin' blue
'cause I- I'm feelin' blue