| Gypsy Woman | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Impressions |
| Album: | The Impressions |
| B-Side: | As Long as You Love Me |
| Released: | October 1961 |
| Studio: | Universal Recording (Chicago)[1] |
| Genre: | Rhythm and blues |
| Length: | 2:20 |
| Label: | ABC-Paramount |
| Prev Title: | For Your Precious Love |
| Prev Year: | 1958 |
| Next Title: | Grow Closer Together |
| Next Year: | 1962 |
"Gypsy Woman" is a 1961 rhythm and blues song written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group the Impressions. The group's first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler, it reached No. 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart, No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and number 17 on the Cash Box chart. It also appeared on the group's 1963 eponymous debut album. Joe Bataan (1967), Brian Hyland (1970), Bobby Womack (1985), Steve Marriott (1989), and Santana (1990) covered this song.
According to a 1995 British interview, Mayfield wrote "Gypsy Woman" when he was 12 years old.[3]
| Gypsy Woman | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Brian Hyland |
| Album: | "Brian Hyland" |
| B-Side: | You and Me (#2) |
| Released: | 10 June 1970 |
| Length: | 2:32 |
| Label: | Uni |
| Producer: | Del Shannon |
| Prev Title: | Stay and Love Me All Summer |
| Prev Year: | 1969 |
| Next Title: | Lonely Teardrops |
| Next Year: | 1971 |
In 1970, Brian Hyland recorded his version of the song, produced by Del Shannon and featuring Max Crook on keyboards which went up to Number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in Canada,[4] and number 4 in South Africa.[5]
Hyland's version became a gold record. In that same year 1970, Major Lance also recorded the song.[6]
Santana covered "Gypsy Woman" in 1990, from the album Spirits Dancing in the Flesh. It was released as a single and charted on both Adult Contemporary charts of the US and Canada, at numbers 31 and 29 respectively.
| Chart (1961-1962) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard R&B | 2 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100[7] | 17 |
| Chart (1970-1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)[8] | 9 |
| Italian Singles (Musica e dischi)[9] | 61 |
| South Africa (Springbok) | 4 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[10] | 3 |
