Pop Tops (or Los Pop-Tops) were a vocal/instrumental band, formed in 1967 in Madrid, Spain, with Phil Trim from Trinidad and Tobago as lead singer. Their sound was a blend of baroque pop with the soulful vocals of Trim.

Members

Original set-up included

• Phil Trim (born January 5, 1940, in Trinidad and Tobago) - lead singer
• Julián Luis Angulo - guitar, vocals
• Alberto Vega - saxophone, clarinet, vocals
• Enrique Gómez - bass, trumpet
• Ignacio Pérez - organ, piano
• José Lipiani - drums
• Ray Gómez - guitar

Some changes occurred in members:

• Francisco Urbano Romero - drums (replacing José Lipani)
• Rafael Guillermo Gertrudis - keyboards, piano (replacing Ignacio Pérez)

Hits

Their first release to gain attention was "Oh Lord, Why Lord" (1968), written by Jean Marcel Bouchety and Phil Trim.^[1] It was the first pop song to incorporate the melody of Pachelbel's Canon in D. That single's b-side, "The Voice of the Dying Man" (based on a Johann Sebastian Bach composition) was also recorded in Spanish as "La Voz del Hombre Caido".

They are best known for their 1971 hit "Mamy Blue",^[2] referring to a son's poignant song addressed to his departed mother about his childhood memories and life in general, sometimes spelled "Mommy Blue", "Mammy Blue" or "Mummy Blue", which was a Top 10 hit throughout much of Europe, Japan (#2), and Canada (#42), and a minor Billboard Hot 100 chart hit in the United States (#57). It was covered in the US by the Stories peaking at No. 50 in 1973. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a platinum record.^[3] The composer and lyricist of the French song "Mamy Blue" was Hubert Giraud.^[3] English lyrics were written by Phil Trim. The Pop Tops also recorded Italian and Spanish versions, with lyrics by Gefingal.

As follow-up singles they released "Suzanne Suzanne" (early 1972) and "Hideaway" (mid 1972), which were only minor hits in some European countries.

Discography

References