Blue Tango - Song History

Song History

An instrumental version of "Blue Tango" recorded by Anderson (Decca Records, catalog number 27875, with the flip side "Belle of the Ball") reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1952. It first reached the Best Seller chart on December 21, 1951 and lasted 38 weeks on the chart. (According to other sources, the Anderson recording first reached the charts on December 29, 1951.) The same recording was released 1952 by Brunswick Records (United Kingdom) as catalog number 04870, with the same flip side.

Other versions of the song which charted at that time included:

  • Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra (Recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City, on January 22, 1952. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4518A, with the flip side "Gypsy Trail"). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on February 29, 1952 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #8. (Other sources give the first date on the charts as March 8, 1952, and the highest position as #6.) It was also released in Great Britain by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10277.
  • Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (Decca Records catalog number 28031, with the flip side "At Last, At Last"). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on April 11, 1952 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #16.
  • Les Baxter and his orchestra (released 1952 by Capitol Records as catalog number 1681, with the flip side "Because of You"). This version first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on March 14, 1952 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #22. (Other sources give the first date on the charts as March 15, 1952, and the highest position as #10.) This version was also released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 1966, in Australia as catalog number CP-117, and in the United Kingdom as catalog number CL 13703, all with the flip side "Please Mr. Sun."

A vocal version was recorded by Alma Cogan in the United Kingdom the same year. It was also featured on the first UK singles chart in another instrumental recording by orchestra leader Ray Martin. In the radio series Peeling Back The Years, John Peel revealed that this was the first record he ever bought.

The song was subsequently revived by Bill Black's Combo. This recording was released by Hi Records as catalog number 2027, with the flip side "Willie". It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December 12, 1960 and lasted 7 weeks on the chart. On the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached #16. This version (with the same flip side) was also released in Australia by London Records (Australia), as catalog number HL-1735.

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