Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)

"Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)"
Song by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra vocals by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly[1]
LanguageSpanish, English
English titleGreen Eyes
A-side"María Elena"
Written1929
ReleasedApril 1941 (1941-04)
RecordedMarch 19, 1941 (1941-03-19)
LabelDecca 3698
SongwritersAdolfo Utrera, Nilo Menéndez
Lyricists1931 English lyrics: Eddie Rivera, Eddie Woods
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra vocals by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly[1] singles chronology
"Yours"
(1941) 		"Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)"
(1941) 		"My Sister and I"
(1941)

"Green Eyes" is a popular song, originally written in Spanish under the title "Aquellos Ojos Verdes" ("Those Green Eyes") by Nilo Menéndez in 1929, with lyrics by Adolfo Utrera.[2] The English translation was made by Eddie Rivera and Eddie Woods in 1931.

Spanish version

The song, a bolero, was written in 1929[2] and recorded in Cuba the same year. It was the only major hit, both originally in Cuba and then again in the Latin community in New York, for Cuban pianist Nilo Menéndez. The lyrics were supplied by Cuban tenor Adolfo Utrera.[3]

English version

The English version of the song was written in 1931 but did not become a major hit until it was recorded by the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra around ten years later.[2] The recording was made on March 19, 1941 with vocals by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly[1] and released by Decca Records as catalog number 3698 with "Maria Elena" on the flip side.[4] The record first reached the Billboard charts on May 9, 1941 and lasted 21 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.[5] Since "Maria Elena" was also a #1 hit, this was a major double-sided hit recording.

Other recordings

Parodies

  • Allan Sherman recorded a version of the song titled "Green Stamps", a parody of S&H Green Stamps. During the recording session (according to the liner notes on the album), Sherman had a talk with the college types who hadn't heard of "Green Eyes." He said it was, like the Bossa Nova, once a red-hot tune by Helen O'Connell. He asked, "Any of you remember red-hot Helen O'Connell?" (About half did.)

Recorded versions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 2, side A.
  2. ^ a b c "Nilo Menendez, Composer of 'Green Eyes,' Dies at 84". Los Angeles Times. 1987-09-25. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  3. ^ Josephine Powell Tito Puente: When the Drums Are Dreaming 2007 Page 21 2007 "Fellow Cuban Adolfo Utrera, a well-known tenor part of a core of singers recording consistently with Enric Madriguera, supplied the lyrics. Cugat wasn't pleased when his orchestra arrived in New York and the song had gained national recognition."
  4. ^ "Jimmy Dorsey - Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  6. ^ "The Ravens Featuring Jimmy Ricks - Green Eyes/The Bells of San Raquel". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  7. ^ "The Shadows – Jigsaw". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  8. ^ "Ibrahim Ferrer - Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  9. ^ Stent, Sabina (2021-01-07). "Hollywoodland: The Best Neo-Noir You Probably Haven't Seen". CrimeReads. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  10. ^ "Green Eyes / Tangerine by Cass Elliot". YouTube. 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eyes_(Aquellos_Ojos_Verdes)