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LYNNE RANDELL
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) USA 1967 #14 Sydney #3 Melbourne #5 Brisbane #10 Adelaide #5 Perth  Recorded in New York by Australian singer Lynne Randell (1950-2007), a former Melbourne hairdresser born in Liverpool UK, who toured the US on the same bill as The Monkees and Jimi Hendrix. With orchestra arranged & conducted by Herb Bernstein. Single released on Epic label in USA, on CBS in Australia. See also That's A Hoe Down.Co-charted in Sydney and Adelaide with UK version by The Montanas. Larry Weiss & Scott English also wrote Bend Me, Shape Me (American Breed, Amen Corner), Help Me Girl (Animals), Hi Ho Silver Lining (The Attack, Jeff Beck).Larry Weiss wrote Rhinestone Cowboy (Glenn Campbell) and recorded his own version. Scott English co-wrote Brandy which was a hit for Scott English in the UK and Bunny Walters in New Zealand, and became Mandy when Barry Manilow recorded it. Further reading: The Lynne Randell entry at Wikipedia is comprehensive and well-sourced. It is especially good on the circumstances of Randell's "discovery" in a hairdressing salon, showing that she was an aspiring singer who had already performed in public, and that she was not merely overheard singing as she worked. Highly recommended.
GROUP CHECK
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) Netherlands 1968 Group Check: band also known as Check or Surfgroup Check. Something of a hit in The Netherlands. See personnel, discography and sleeve shots at DHP. Thanks to Randy for version alert.
THE MONTANAS
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) UK 1967 #14 Sydney #10 Adelaide #5 Perth Co-charted with Lynne Randell's version. Produced by Tony Hatch: see also Bev Harrell - One In A Million.
THE ETERNAL FLAME
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) USA 1967 Single on Viva label. This is clearly not the rock band Eternal Flame, formed early 90s (King of the King, 2002).
THE TOYS
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) USA 1967 Original version Single on Philips label. This appears to have the edge as the original. Thanks to Phil Chapman.
THE CULT
Edie (Ciao Baby) USA 1989 Red herring Not the same song as 'Ciao Baby' by Lynne Randell. Single on Warner Bros. Later versions:
RAY RIVERA AND ORCHESTRA
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) USA 1968 Later version Instrumental version, on 1968 Mercury LP Latin Workout, arranged and produced by Claus Ogerman. See sleeve shot and details at The Works Of Claus Ogerman. Another Weiss-English title, Bend Me, Shape Me, also appears on the LP.  For more details on jazz musician and composer Ray Rivera, see Dinah Lee - Do The Blue Beat (The Jamaican Ska): Ray recorded the original version. Thanks to Ray Rivera.
LONG JOHN BALDRY
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) UK Later version Circa 1969? Bonus track on The Pye Anthology (Let The Heartaches Begin), a 1998 CD reissue of two late-60s albums. Probably unreleased previously.  
MEL TORME
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) USA Later version Late 60s? Appeared as a previously unreleased bonus track on CD of Right Now (original LP released 1966). Also on In The Lounge With... Mel Torme (2001). 
CATHERINE MCKINNON
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) Canada 1970 Later version Single by Canadian singer (b. 1944), often on Canadian radio, TV and records from the mid- 60s. See entry on Catherine McKinnon at The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.
CRAIG SCOTT
Ciao Baby (Larry Weiss-Scott English) New Zealand 1971 Later version #4 NZ Singer from Dunedin, often on the NZ charts in the 70s, groomed as a solo pop star after fronting bands that included Battle of the Bands winners Revival (Viva Bobby Joe, 1969,#14 NZ). See career biography at Bruce Sergent's New Zealand Music site. See also Smiley (1971) and Rock 'n' Roll (1973). Corrections or comments? Contact the writer. |
