Jump to content

Eloise (Paul Ryan song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Eloise"
Single by Barry Ryan
from the album Barry Ryan Sings Paul Ryan
B-side"Love I Almost Found You"
Released4 October 1968 (1968-10-04)
StudioIBC, London
Genre
Length5:50
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)Paul Ryan
Producer(s)Bill Landis
Barry Ryan singles chronology
"Goodbye"
(1968) 		"Eloise"
(1968) 		"Love Is Love"
(1969)

"Eloise" is a song first released in 1968 on the MGM label. It was sung by Barry Ryan, and written by his twin brother Paul Ryan. Running for over five minutes, it features strong orchestration, melodramatic vocals, and a brief slow interlude. It sold three million copies worldwide,[2] and reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart as published by Record Retailer,[3] but hit No. 1 in the NME and Melody Maker charts.[4][5] It topped the chart in 17 countries,[2][6] including Italy,[7] the Netherlands[8] and Australia.[9]

The single was released as "Barry Ryan with the Majority".[10] The Majority were a pop band who, for a period, were the backing band for Ryan and who, after renaming to Majority One, had some success in Europe.[11] Ryan also released an Italian-language version of the song, "Eloise (Versione Italiana)", in 1968.[12]

Background and recording

[edit]

After not being able to cope with the success of some of his hits as a duo with Barry, Paul decided to take a step away from the limelight and to concentrate on songwriting. "Eloise" was the second song he wrote and was influenced by Richard Harris's arrangement of "MacArthur Park" after listening to a rough mix of it at a party at Harris's house.[13][14] After listening to it, Paul locked himself away and wrote "Eloise" in three days. The song was then recorded at IBC Studios at the end of a recording session with their mother Marion and they had only two takes to do it due to the length of the song. The session musicians included Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, both of whom went on to form Led Zeppelin, and Glenn Ross Campbell. Everyone then wanted to go to the mixing desk to listen to the result because it was so unusual and they said it was going to be a big hit.[13]

According to Barry Ryan, the record influenced Freddie Mercury of Queen. He said in a 2017 interview: "I remember reading Freddie’s memoirs. He was influenced by it. He really, really liked it and also he used it as an argument to release 'Bohemian Rhapsody' because his record company didn’t want to release it but he said “That Barry Ryan had a big five and half minute hit. Why can’t we do it too?”"[15]

Charts

[edit]

The Damned version

[edit]
"Eloise"
Single by the Damned
B-side"Temptation"
Released27 January 1986 (1986-01-27)
Recorded14–15 October 1985, Music Works, London
23–24 November 1985, Eel Pie, London[49]
Genre
Length5:10
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Paul Ryan
Producer(s)Jon Kelly
The Damned singles chronology
"Is It a Dream?"
(1985) 		"Eloise"
(1986) 		"Anything"
(1986)

On the back of the commercial success of the 1985 Phantasmagoria album, the Damned released their cover of the track as a single in 1986. It reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.[50]

Background and release

[edit]

Dave Vanian had been thinking about doing a cover of the song from at least 1980 and in 1985 wanted to do a non-album single. Rat Scabies did not want a third single released from Phantasmagoria, which MCA Records wanted to do. It was decided that "Eloise" could be recorded as long as "Is It a Dream?" was released as the third single.[51]

The single was released in the UK with two different 12" mixes. The first was nine and a half minutes long and is known as the 'Extravagant Mix'. The second was shorter, lasting less than seven minutes and was released with the parenthesised 'No Sleep Until Wednesday Mix'. It was also a limited release of 2,000 copies.

"Eloise" was not included on any studio albums, but has since been issued on several Damned compilations, and it appeared as a bonus track on the 1986 reissued LP versions of Phantasmagoria in Australia, Germany and Italy. MCA also issued the single in Germany, Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

At the same time, a version of "Eloise" by Far Corporation singer Robin McAuley was released. McAuley said that the Damned's version had "got absolutely no chance of making it in the charts". Of the two competing versions at the time, Barry Ryan said that "I like the Damned's version best, it's even better than mine".[51]

Recording

[edit]

The backing track was recorded at Music Works Studios in London on 14 and 15 October 1985. There were due to be a further two days of recording at the studios, but they were cancelled due to a death in one of the band's family. The band were very committed to touring, so were unable to continue recording for a while. Recording finally continued on 23 November at Eel Pie Studios, and was finished by the next day. It was then mixed at Swanyard Studios with the help of Stuart Bruce.[49]

Steve Kutner, who signed the Damned to MCA, has said that "it was a nightmare track to record", being "originally twice as long as what came out". Scabies was not convinced by the song and has said that "it never sounded finished to me" and Roman Jugg has said that Vanian had ended up calling MCA to ask them not to release it.[51]

Track listing

[edit]

7": MCA / GRIM 4 (UK)

  1. "Eloise" (Ryan) – 5:10
  2. "Temptation" (Jugg, Scabies, Vanian, Merrick) – 4:05

12": MCA / GRIMT 4 (UK)

  1. "Eloise" – 9:31
  2. "Beat Girl" (Barry, Peacock) – 2:21
  3. "Temptation" – 4:12

12": MCA / GRIMX 4 (UK)

  1. "Eloise" (No Sleep Until Wednesday Mix) – 6:50
  2. "Beat Girl" – 2:21
  3. "Temptation" – 4:12

12": MCA / MCA-23625 (US & Canada)

  1. "Eloise" – 5:10
  2. "Beat Girl" – 2:16
  3. "Temptation" – 4:05

A shorter extended version of the song has also since been released, with a duration of 7:46.

Production credits

[edit]

Musicians

Technical

  • Jon Kelly – producer ("Eloise" only)
  • The Damned – producer ("Temptation" and "Beat Girl")
  • Martin Jackson – design, illustration
  • The Leisure Process – design, illustration

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Tino Casal version

[edit]
"Eloise"
Single by Tino Casal
from the album Lágrimas de Cocodrilo
LanguageSpanish
B-side"Angel Exterminador"
Released1988
Recorded1987
StudioAbbey Road, London
Genre
Length5:28
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Paul Ryan
Producer(s)Julián Ruiz
Tino Casal singles chronology
"Teatro de a Oscuridad"
(1984) 		"Eloise"
(1988) 		"Oro Negro"
(1988)

Spanish musician Tino Casal recorded a techno-pop[61] version in 1987 for his album Lágrimas de Cocodrilo and it was released as the first single from the album in 1988. "Eloise" was one of his biggest hits,[62] managing to be number one for several weeks in Spain and reaching number one on Los 40 Principales in June 1988 .[63][64] After a long convalescence after having suffered necrosis in both legs due to a badly treated sprain resorting to self-medication,[65] Casal's friend, the announcer and producer Julián Ruiz, suggested that he record "Eloise" to return to the stage.[66]

Over time this song has become a classic of Spanish pop and one of Casal's most remembered songs.[67][68][69] The vocals for this song took a week to record in Studio 1 of Abbey Road[70][71] with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,[72] conducted by Andrew Powell.[71] The budget for the recordings was approximately €12,000.[71] The lyrics were adapted by Casal,[73] as well as the costumes for the recording of the videoclip, an aquamarine blue sequin suit.[63][74][75] After the success of the song, Tino Casal recorded an extended version of the song at the Eurosonic Studio.[71]

A remix by Pumpin' Dolls was released as a promo single in 2000 by Chrysalis Records to promote the compilation album Casal Vive.[76]

Track listings

[edit]

7": EMI / 006 12 2255 7

  1. "Eloise" – 5:28
  2. "Angel Exterminador" – 4:45

12": EMI / 052 12 2274 6

  1. "Eloise" (Version Maxi) – 5:42
  2. "Eloise" – 6:08
  3. "Angel Exterminador" – 4:45

Promo CD: Chrysalis / PE00061 (2000)

  1. "Eloise" (Pumpin' Dolls Radio Edit) – 4:25
  2. "Eloise" (Pumpin' Dolls Hyperdrama Club Mix) – 9:08
  3. "Eloise" – 5:23

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Spain (AFYVE)[77] 1
Spain (Los 40 Principales)[63] 1

Other versions

[edit]
  • In 1968, French pop star Claude François released a French-language version, which was a top 10 hit in France and Belgium, and charted at the same time as Ryan's version.[13][78] This version was then covered the following year by Donald Lautrec and released in Quebec, where it was a number one hit.[79]
  • Also in 1968, Argentine band Los Náufragos released a Spanish-language version as a non-album single.[80]
  • In 1969, Tapani Kansa released a Finnish-language version on his eponymous debut album, which went to number 3 in the Finnish charts.[81]
  • Johnny Dynamo and Los Leos recorded a Spanish version for Discos Orfeón in 1969 that was very successful in the Mexican market. [82]
  • In 1970, Karel Gott released a Czech-language version as a single from his 1969 album Poslouchejte! Karel Gott zpívá Lásku bláznivou a další hity.[83][84]
  • In 1981, German band, the Teens covered the song as a non-album single, which reached number 55 in the German charts.[85]
  • In 2006, the Turtles lead singer Howard Kaylan covered the song for his 2006 solo album Dust Bunnies.[86]
  • In 2016, a previously unreleased cover of the song was included on the Associates' album The Very Best Of, and is a punky version from an early demo of their debut album The Affectionate Punch.[87][88]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Pop Gets Sophisticated: Soft Rock". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 195. CN 5585.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 476. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ "NME Top 30" (PDF). New Musical Express. No. 1141. 23 November 1968. p. 9. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Melody Maker Pop 30" (PDF). Melody Maker. 16 November 1968. p. 2. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Barry Ryan – Eloise" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. ^ Billboard. 19 April 1969. p. 73. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  8. ^ 50 Jaar Nummmer 1 Hits, Johan van Slooten, 2006
  9. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Go-Set National Australian Top 40, 29th January 1969". www.poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Barry Ryan - Eloise". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Majority One | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise (Versione Italiana) (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1968. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  13. ^ a b c "Barry Ryan Interview". The Strange Brew. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  14. ^ Webb, Robert (15 July 2013). 100 Greatest Cover Versions: The Ultimate Playlist. McNidder and Grace Limited. ISBN 978-0-85716-057-7.
  15. ^ Jason Barnard, "Barry Ryan Interview", The Strange Brew, 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2021
  16. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 29 January 1969". www.poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1968". www.top100singles.net.
  18. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5884." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  21. ^ a b "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 9. 1 March 1969. p. 79. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  22. ^ Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit ROY - RÖY". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  23. ^ "TOP 40 TMP France - 26 janvier 1969 #397". laurentpons.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  24. ^ "TOP - Janvier 1969". www.top-france.fr. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Eloise". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 13. 19 April 1969. p. 73. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Barry Ryan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  28. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  29. ^ a b "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 27. 5 July 1969. p. 77. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  30. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise". VG-lista.
  32. ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  33. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 6. 8 February 1969. p. 77. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  34. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  35. ^ "Listas de superventas: 1969". 12 February 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  36. ^ "HITS ALLER TIJDEN". www.hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Barry Ryan – Eloise". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1992). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (1st ed.). Boxtree Ltd. p. 201. ISBN 1852837462.
  39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Barry Ryan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 1/25/69". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Barry Ryan – Eloise" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Barry Ryan"
  43. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1968". Ultratop. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Top 100 1968 - UK Music Charts". www.uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  45. ^ "AMR Top Singles of 1969". www.top100singles.net.
  46. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1969". Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1969". Ultratop. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  48. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1969 - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  49. ^ a b Betteridge, Jim (April 1986). "Track Record: The Damned (IM Apr 1986)". International Musician & Recording World (Apr 1986): 112–113.
  50. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 138. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  51. ^ a b c Tyler, Kieron (12 June 2017). Smashing It Up: A Decade of Chaos with The Damned. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-78323-890-3.
  52. ^ "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1986". Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  53. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Eloise". Irish Singles Chart.
  54. ^ "Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995". www.ukmix.org. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  55. ^ "The Damned – Eloise". Top 40 Singles.
  56. ^ "The Damned: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  57. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Damned – Eloise" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  58. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  59. ^ "Top 100 1986 - UK Music Charts". www.uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  60. ^ "British single certifications – The Damned – Eloise". British Phonographic Industry.
  61. ^ Fanjul, Sergio C. (1 August 2016). "Tino Casal resucita 25 años después a través del 'crowdfunding'". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  62. ^ H, Madrid Creada 18-09-2016 | 22:03 H/Última actualización 18-09-2016 | 22:03 (18 September 2016). "Tino Casal, un alienígena "glam"". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  63. ^ a b c LOS40. "Cuando nací era número 1 de los 40: (19880604)Tino Casal–Eloise". LOS40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  64. ^ "Amaia Romero y otros artistas que han hecho suyas canciones ajenas | Música | LOS40". 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  65. ^ tino casal habla de su enfermedad, tve1 (1988) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLRM1ZU2JwI
  66. ^ Muñoz, Elisa (22 September 2016). "El inglés, un esguince y el miedo a los 40: los fantasmas de Tino Casal". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  67. ^ "El primer ganador de 'La Voz España' interpreta Eloise de Tino Casal". telecinco (in European Spanish). 1 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  68. ^ "Germán Scasso, un huracán al estilo de Tino Casal con 'Eloise'". Antena3 (in Spanish). 2 July 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  69. ^ "Suárez se inspira en Tino Casal para su colección de joyas ' Eloise'". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 13 July 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  70. ^ "Glam, brillantina y lamé". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 21 September 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  71. ^ a b c d julianruizgarrido (20 September 2011). "♫ HISTORIA DE LAS CANCIONES DE TINO CASAL POR JULIAN RUIZ | PyD" (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  72. ^ "10 cosas que quizás no sabías de Tino Casal | Fotogalería | Música | LOS40". 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  73. ^ Lechado, José Manuel; García, José Manuel Lechado (2005). La movida: una crónica de los 80 (in Spanish). EDAF. ISBN 978-84-96107-46-5.
  74. ^ "Tino Casal, un artista único con un armario lleno de locura y libertad - La vida al bies. Blog de moda de Rafael Muñoz". blog.rtve.es. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  75. ^ "Eloise [1988] | Videoclip | Actualidad | LOS40". 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  76. ^ Casal – Eloise (2000, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
  77. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  78. ^ "Claude François - Éloïse". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  79. ^ "The Astounding, Incredible French Canadian Market" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 21. 24 May 1969. p. C-20. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  80. ^ "Los Naufragos - Eloise / Vuelvo A Naufragar". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  81. ^ Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit K - KAR". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  82. ^ "Eloisa by los Leos and Johnny Dynamo on WhoSampled". WhoSampled.
  83. ^ "Karel Gott - Eloise / Píšťala A Hůl". Discogs. 1970. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  84. ^ a.s, SUPRAPHON. "Poslouchejte! Karel Gott zpívá Lásku bláznivou a další hity – Karel Gott – Supraphonline.cz" (in Czech). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  85. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  86. ^ "Howard Kaylan - Dust Bunnies". Discogs. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  87. ^ "The Associates - The Affectionate Punch/Fourth Drawer Down/Sulk reissues". UNCUT. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  88. ^ "Associates – The Very Best Of". theafterword.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eloise_(Paul_Ryan_song)&oldid=1257832737"