(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice
"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" is a popular 1968 song originally written by the Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti under the title "Il paradiso" ("The Paradise"). It was first recorded by the Italian singer Ambra Borelli and released as a single through Dischi Ricordi under alias La Ragazza 77.[1] Although her version did not chart, it was later covered by other artists to much success, most notably by Patty Pravo and Amen Corner in 1969.
Patty Pravo version[edit]
"Il paradiso" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Patty Pravo | ||||
from the album Concerto per Patty | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | RCA Italiana | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Patty Pravo singles chronology | ||||
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"Il paradiso" (audio) on YouTube |
Patty Pravo recorded the song under the shortened title "Il paradiso" for her second studio album Concerto per Patty. The track was released as a single in early 1969 and reached the top 10 in the Italian chart. It was performed at Festivalbar.[2] Pravo re-recorded the song on her 2019 album Red to mark the 50th anniversary of the original version.
Track listing[edit]
- 7-inch single[3]
- A. "Il paradiso" (Lucio Battisti, Giulio Rapetti Mogol) – 2:44
- B. "Scende la notte, sale la luna" (Gianni Meccia, Bruno Zambrini) – 3:03
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Italy (Musica e dischi)[4][5] | 8 |
Amen Corner version[edit]
"(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Amen Corner | ||||
from the album Farewell to the Real Magnificent Seven | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Immediate | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |||
Amen Corner singles chronology | ||||
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The song was translated into English by Jack Fishman. When it was offered to The Tremeloes as a potential single, they rejected it. It was then recorded by Amen Corner as their debut single for their new record label, Immediate Records, and was produced by Shel Talmy.[6] The most successful of the band's six hit singles, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1969,[7] and number 34 when it was reissued in 1976.[8] There are two differing versions of the song by Amen Corner; one with orchestra and a prominent horn through the middle eight, and one version without either. However, the basic track and vocals appear the same in both.[citation needed]
Track listing[edit]
- 7" single[3]
- A. "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" (Lucio Battisti, Jack Fishman) – 2:50
- B. "Hey Hey Girl" (Andy Fairweather Low) – 3:05
Charts[edit]
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 14 |
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[10] | 15 |
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[10] | 27 |
Germany (Media Control)[9] | 12 |
Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 4 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] | 15 |
Norway (VG-lista)[13] | 7 |
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[14] | 1 |
Other cover versions[edit]
- The Dave Clark Five covered the song in 1969 and released as a single only in the US.
- Christiane Bervoets, known professionally as Samantha, recorded the song in Dutch as "Vakantiedromen" in 1969.[15]
- The song was covered by Toby Jug and released in Australia in 1970, where it peaked at number 65.[16]
- In 1978, Northern Irish pop rock band Rosetta Stone recorded the song for their self-titled debut album and released it as a single.[17] It charted at number 20 in Germany.[18]
- In 1987, Bucks Fizz member Cheryl Baker recorded the song and released it as a single.[19] It charted at number 94 in the UK.[20]
- Ricchi e Poveri covered the song on their 1992 album Allegro italiano.[21]
- Aztec Camera did a cover with the help of Andy Fairweather Low from Amen Corner for the 1992 compilation album Ruby Trax.[22]
- German actress and singer Judith Hildebrandt recorded the English version of the song on her 1999 album Judith. t was released as a single and reached number 90 in Germany.[23]
- In 2010, mother and daughter Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy recorded a medley of the song with "Ukulele Lady" on their album Gift.[24]
References[edit]
- ^ "Ambra Borelli" (in Italian). www.lavocedelledonne.it. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Festivalbar - Storia - 1969" (in Italian). www.festivalbar.it. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Patty Pravo - Il paradiso". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "M&D: Classifiche" (in Italian). musicaedischi.it. Retrieved 9 April 2023. (Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, enter "Patty Pravo" in the "Artista" field, and click "cerca".)
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 18. New York, NY. 3 May 1969. p. 65. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Amen Corner – (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice (Vinyl)". Discogs. 17 January 1969. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 229. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 22. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" (in Dutch). www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "AMEN CORNER | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Samantha - Vakantiedromen". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 311. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Rosetta Stone (2) – (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice (Vinyl)". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "ROSETTA STONE | (IF PARADISE IS) HALF AS NICE" (in German). www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Cheryl Baker – If Paradise Is Half As Nice (Vinyl)". Discogs. 1987. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "CHERYL BAKER | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Ricchi E Poveri - Allegro italiano". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Various – Ruby Trax The NME's Roaring Forty". Discogs. Discogs. 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ "JUDITH | IF PARADISE IS HALF AS NICE" (in German). www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson - Gift". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2023.