Post by jchalfantnew on May 16, 2022 6:23:28 GMT
The World Popular Song Festival was held annually in Tokyo from 1970-1987*. It was an outgrowth of the Yamaha Popular Song Contest (“Popcon”). Of course, a lot of the songs seem to never have had commercial release. I have collected here what seem to be the truly lost (not just rare, though there are a lot of those) songs from the contest:
1970:
France: Herbert Léonard: “Litanies pour un été (Ô dis ô)”
A cover version by Nicoletta exists, but this version by its original composer seems to have been lost.
Singapore: Ahmad Daud: “Head for the Shore”
Malaysia: Samad Haroun: “Hidupku untokmu”
Mexico: Alejandro Algara: “Está llorando la tierra”
Greece: Zoi Kurukli: “Ine kapios allos”
A cover version by Greek singer Christina exists.
Bolivia: Oscar Roca: “Sin amor sin esperanza”
Chile: Osvaldo Diaz: “Toma mi mano”
Japan: Yoichi Sugawara: “Michiyuki”
Usually the Yamaha Foundation is good at preserving recordings of homegrown artists (the 1987 WPSF notwithstanding) but somehow this song by Japan’s legendary King of Tango seems to have disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Austria: Paul Moro: “Es war nur liebelei”
The only known recording of this song is by its lyricist, André Heller.
West Germany: Peter Petrel: “Brother Help Me”
France: Frida Boccara: “L’amour est un jardin”
1972:
Chile: Marcelo: “Está en ti”
Venezuela: Elaiza Romero: “Amor, espina y rosa”
Bulgaria: Boris Godjunov: “Here on Earth”
Austria: The Eye: “Black and White”
An instrumental version appears on the 1973 “library music” album Studies for Guitar and Drama Beat.
United Kingdom: Neil Reid: “Me and My Dog”
Malta: Mary Rose Mallia: “Id-dinja tagħna”
Nigeria: I. K. Dairo & His Blue Spot Band: “There Is No King as God”
Curaçao: Humberto Nivi: “Señor compositor” (see post below)
Argentina: Pedro Villar: “Quiero saber si te acuerdas de mi”
1973:
Venezuela: Neyda Perdomo: “El fulgor de una estrella”
USA: Don Preston: “Oh, the Sunshine”
Never recorded in English, but a French version (“Viens le soleil”) by Johnny Hallyday does exist. Incidentally, this is Don Preston of the Shelter People, not the Frank Zappa associate.
Yugoslavia: Sklavini: “Magija”
South Africa: Paul Andrews: “When I See a Rainbow”
Sri Lanka: The Cats Eye: “The Coconut Man”
USA: Lee Dresser: “Storms of Troubled Times”
The song is something of a standard, a Jim Weatherly composition recorded by, among many others, Gladys Knight & the Pips. No recording of Dresser singing it seems to exist, though.
Sweden: Bibi Johns: “Tomorrow I’ll Dream and Remember”
Here’s a weird one: only after this song took part, it was discovered to have been originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954!
Spain: Los Chaqueños: “El gringo y mi tierra”
One of the most mysterious entries in the entire WPSF. I can find no information on this group or song (composer: Victor Zokaliski, lyricist: Chela Sayar).
Argentina: Marcelo San Juan: “Yo caminé hasta el fin”
Mexico: Veronica Castro: “Nunca imaginé querer tanto”
1974:
Malta: Carmen & Enzo Gusman: “World of Sunshine”
Argentina: Charlie Leroy: “El último adiós”
Austria: Peter Cornelius: “Ich verschenke meine Träume”
Switzerland: Peter, Sue & Marc: “Pretty Witty, Chick Chick”
Romania: Dida Dragan: “Samînta nemuririi”
USA: A Taste of Honey: “Life (Don’t Have to Get You Down)”
Yes this is THAT Taste of Honey, albeit a different lineup featuring original guitarist Carlita Dorhan and an unknown male lead singer.
Italy: Rosanna Fratello: “Prendi la mia mano”
Sweden: Bibi Johns: “Goodbye, I’m on My Way to Somewhere”
Colombia: José y Darío: “Bus”
Switzerland: Olivia Gray: “S.O.S., I Need Your Love”
France: Benedicte: “Je ne sais pas si c’est l’amour”
Philippines: Joel Navarro: “Ang puso’y buksan”
Belgium: Les Nanas: “Sin piedad”
1975:
Chile: Paolo Salvatore: “La fotografía”
Singapore: Hillary Francis: “Say You’ll Always Be Mine”
Switzerland: Eliane Dambre: “Baby et Lady”
Luxembourg: Joan Orleans: “Give Me Any Sentimental Reason”
Malta: Mary Spiteri: “Go On”
Italy: Marisa Sacchetto: “Dialogo (Con una tromba)”
Philippines: Didith Reyes: “There Is No Other Way”
Yugoslavia: Lidija & Luj: “Neka tambura svira”
Poland: Magda-Jadwiga Bielecka: “Nigdy w piątek”
1976:
Greece: Mariangela: “Think I’m Losing My Men”
Confirmed by Mariangela herself: this was never recorded.
France: Caroline Verdi: “Cent baisers à la seconde”
Spain: Miguel Pons: “No soy de aquí”
USA: Lee Mark Spiro & Home Brew: “Bluegrass Dream”
West Germany: Danny Rhoder: “What Have I Got (I’ve Got You Babe)”
Covered in both German and English by Connie Francis.
Netherlands: Heathermae Reading: “Now That I Love You”
USSR: Lyudmila Barykina: “Ty ne khodu v ossennii sad”
Many versions of this song exist, including one by the group Korobeiniki (vocalist: Lyudmila Ponomareva) and one by popular Russian singer Sofia Rotaru. But the WPSF version by Lyudmila Barykina seems not to exist.
Switzerland: Véronique Müller: “Last Year’s Dreams”
1977:
Italy: Daniela Davoli: “Confessioni”
Hong Kong: Eddie Vas: “Gypsy Tears”
Bulgaria: Mimi Nikolova: “Once Again”
Philippines: Carmen Pateña: “Kaibigan”
USA: Buzz Cason: “Everybody’s Listenin’ but You”
1978:
Greece: Anna Vissi: “An to boreis” (see below)
USA: Scott English: “You Could Have Had It All”
USA: Rowena Cortes: “In the Morning”
An Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition from the late 60s! This seems to have been skullduggery from Elton’s former label boss Dick James. What a Cantopop star from the Philippines was doing representing the United States is anyone’s guess.
United Kingdom: Original Cast: “Let’s Dance”
Not to be confused with the Original Caste (who were popular in Japan), this group with the annoyingly generic name was comprised of Tony Burrows, David Martin, Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie...in other words, more or less the original lineup of Brotherhood of Man.
USA: Rocap & Sherwood: “Manhattan Skyline”
France: Herbert Léonard: “Litanies pour un été (Ô dis ô)”
A cover version by Nicoletta exists, but this version by its original composer seems to have been lost.
Singapore: Ahmad Daud: “Head for the Shore”
Malaysia: Samad Haroun: “Hidupku untokmu”
Mexico: Alejandro Algara: “Está llorando la tierra”
Greece: Zoi Kurukli: “Ine kapios allos”
A cover version by Greek singer Christina exists.
Bolivia: Oscar Roca: “Sin amor sin esperanza”
Chile: Osvaldo Diaz: “Toma mi mano”
Japan: Yoichi Sugawara: “Michiyuki”
Usually the Yamaha Foundation is good at preserving recordings of homegrown artists (the 1987 WPSF notwithstanding) but somehow this song by Japan’s legendary King of Tango seems to have disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Austria: Paul Moro: “Es war nur liebelei”
The only known recording of this song is by its lyricist, André Heller.
West Germany: Peter Petrel: “Brother Help Me”
France: Frida Boccara: “L’amour est un jardin”
1972:
Chile: Marcelo: “Está en ti”
Venezuela: Elaiza Romero: “Amor, espina y rosa”
Bulgaria: Boris Godjunov: “Here on Earth”
Austria: The Eye: “Black and White”
An instrumental version appears on the 1973 “library music” album Studies for Guitar and Drama Beat.
United Kingdom: Neil Reid: “Me and My Dog”
Malta: Mary Rose Mallia: “Id-dinja tagħna”
Nigeria: I. K. Dairo & His Blue Spot Band: “There Is No King as God”
Argentina: Pedro Villar: “Quiero saber si te acuerdas de mi”
1973:
Venezuela: Neyda Perdomo: “El fulgor de una estrella”
USA: Don Preston: “Oh, the Sunshine”
Never recorded in English, but a French version (“Viens le soleil”) by Johnny Hallyday does exist. Incidentally, this is Don Preston of the Shelter People, not the Frank Zappa associate.
Yugoslavia: Sklavini: “Magija”
South Africa: Paul Andrews: “When I See a Rainbow”
Sri Lanka: The Cats Eye: “The Coconut Man”
USA: Lee Dresser: “Storms of Troubled Times”
The song is something of a standard, a Jim Weatherly composition recorded by, among many others, Gladys Knight & the Pips. No recording of Dresser singing it seems to exist, though.
Sweden: Bibi Johns: “Tomorrow I’ll Dream and Remember”
Here’s a weird one: only after this song took part, it was discovered to have been originally recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1954!
Spain: Los Chaqueños: “El gringo y mi tierra”
One of the most mysterious entries in the entire WPSF. I can find no information on this group or song (composer: Victor Zokaliski, lyricist: Chela Sayar).
Argentina: Marcelo San Juan: “Yo caminé hasta el fin”
Mexico: Veronica Castro: “Nunca imaginé querer tanto”
1974:
Malta: Carmen & Enzo Gusman: “World of Sunshine”
Argentina: Charlie Leroy: “El último adiós”
Austria: Peter Cornelius: “Ich verschenke meine Träume”
Switzerland: Peter, Sue & Marc: “Pretty Witty, Chick Chick”
Romania: Dida Dragan: “Samînta nemuririi”
USA: A Taste of Honey: “Life (Don’t Have to Get You Down)”
Yes this is THAT Taste of Honey, albeit a different lineup featuring original guitarist Carlita Dorhan and an unknown male lead singer.
Italy: Rosanna Fratello: “Prendi la mia mano”
Sweden: Bibi Johns: “Goodbye, I’m on My Way to Somewhere”
Colombia: José y Darío: “Bus”
Switzerland: Olivia Gray: “S.O.S., I Need Your Love”
France: Benedicte: “Je ne sais pas si c’est l’amour”
Philippines: Joel Navarro: “Ang puso’y buksan”
Belgium: Les Nanas: “Sin piedad”
1975:
Chile: Paolo Salvatore: “La fotografía”
Singapore: Hillary Francis: “Say You’ll Always Be Mine”
Switzerland: Eliane Dambre: “Baby et Lady”
Luxembourg: Joan Orleans: “Give Me Any Sentimental Reason”
Malta: Mary Spiteri: “Go On”
Italy: Marisa Sacchetto: “Dialogo (Con una tromba)”
Philippines: Didith Reyes: “There Is No Other Way”
Yugoslavia: Lidija & Luj: “Neka tambura svira”
Poland: Magda-Jadwiga Bielecka: “Nigdy w piątek”
1976:
Greece: Mariangela: “Think I’m Losing My Men”
Confirmed by Mariangela herself: this was never recorded.
France: Caroline Verdi: “Cent baisers à la seconde”
Spain: Miguel Pons: “No soy de aquí”
USA: Lee Mark Spiro & Home Brew: “Bluegrass Dream”
West Germany: Danny Rhoder: “What Have I Got (I’ve Got You Babe)”
Covered in both German and English by Connie Francis.
Netherlands: Heathermae Reading: “Now That I Love You”
USSR: Lyudmila Barykina: “Ty ne khodu v ossennii sad”
Many versions of this song exist, including one by the group Korobeiniki (vocalist: Lyudmila Ponomareva) and one by popular Russian singer Sofia Rotaru. But the WPSF version by Lyudmila Barykina seems not to exist.
Switzerland: Véronique Müller: “Last Year’s Dreams”
1977:
Italy: Daniela Davoli: “Confessioni”
Hong Kong: Eddie Vas: “Gypsy Tears”
Bulgaria: Mimi Nikolova: “Once Again”
Philippines: Carmen Pateña: “Kaibigan”
USA: Buzz Cason: “Everybody’s Listenin’ but You”
1978:
USA: Scott English: “You Could Have Had It All”
USA: Rowena Cortes: “In the Morning”
An Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition from the late 60s! This seems to have been skullduggery from Elton’s former label boss Dick James. What a Cantopop star from the Philippines was doing representing the United States is anyone’s guess.
United Kingdom: Original Cast: “Let’s Dance”
Not to be confused with the Original Caste (who were popular in Japan), this group with the annoyingly generic name was comprised of Tony Burrows, David Martin, Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie...in other words, more or less the original lineup of Brotherhood of Man.
USA: Rocap & Sherwood: “Manhattan Skyline”
The above-listed Original Cast recorded a song with this title, I wonder if it’s the same one...?
1979:
USA: Paul Nicholas: “Foolin’ Myself”
No recording of Nicholas’ version seems to exist, but this appears as an album track on Tonight You’re Mine by Eric Carmen (the songwriter).
Italy: Marcella (Bella): “Senza me”
Norway: Benny Borg: “Gina”
USA: Peter Noone: “I’ll Stop Living When You Stop Loving Me”
Another sketchy Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition. Until very recently, even the 60s demo version was impossible to hear, but it has since resurfaced. Peter Noone’s cover remains elusive.
United Kingdom: Magic: “You”
Another Tony Burrows project with an impossible to search name!
1980:
South Korea: Cheuni: “I Think Our Love’s Something Like That, Too”
Jamaica: Carlene Davis: “Still Moving On”
Argentina: Graciela Yuste: “Señor adolescente”
Indonesia: Bob Tutupoly: “Senja merah (Red Twilight)”
Exists in its original form sung by Marini (the singer who won with this song at the FLPI), as well as in a cover by Faisal Amir.
France: Chantal Billon: “Ce printemps”
Canada: Corey Hart: “Trudy Blue”
1981:
Canada: Lisa Dal Bello: “Never Gonna Say Goodbye”
Venezuela: María Conchita Alonso: “Hello, How Are You?”
USA: Holly Penfield: “Loyalty & Love”
USA: Jim Photoglo: “Don’t Play Another Love Song”
1982:
Belgium: Stella (Maessen): “I Never Knew”
Taiwan: Sarah Chen: “Promise Me Tonight”
1983:
France: Astrid Kley: “Chacun son étoile”
1984:
Spain: Remedios Amaya & Paco Escudero: “Amor gitano”
France: Annick Thoumazeau: “J’ai lasse une chance à l’amour”
United Kingdom: Harry Bogdanovs: “Vigilante”
A cover of this song by Toyah exists
USA: Charlene: “Jericho”
Yes, that’s “I’ve Never Been to Me” Charlene. A cover of this song by Susan Anton exists.
1985:
Thailand: Osoth & Viyada: “Reality”
USA: Alan Scott: “Thrill of the Chase”
This song was covered by El DeBarge for his self-titled album in 1986.
United Kingdom: Vikki Benson: “Fire, Fire”
Denmark: Sisa: “You Haunt Me”
1986:
United Kingdom: Simone: “Live Dangerously”
A cover version by Angie Gold exists.
1987:
Japan: Because: “Mirror”
Japan: Presents: “My Dirty Life”
Put an asterisk next to this one: this group later changed its name to Bazaar, and this song appeared on their only (self-titled) CD from 1989.
Japan: Criss: “Deceitful Love”
*There was to be a 1988 edition, but owing to the death of Emperor Hirohito it was cancelled. The 1989 edition was a benefit for Unicef featuring acts who had performed at previous festivals.
