(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice explained

"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" is a popular 1968 song. Originally written by the Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti under the title "Italian: Il paradiso|i=no" ("The Paradise"), it was first recorded by Italian singer Ambra Borelli and released as a single through Italian: [[Dischi Ricordi]]|i=no under alias Italian: La Ragazza 77|i=no.[1] Although her version did not chart, it was later covered by other artists to much success, most notably by Patty Pravo (in Italian) and Amen Corner (in English) in 1969.

Patty Pravo version

Italian: Il paradiso|i=no
Type:single
Artist:Patty Pravo
Album:Italian: Concerto per Patty
Released:1969
Length:2:44
Label:RCA Italiana
Prev Title:Tripoli 1969
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Italian: Concerto per Patty|i=no
Next Year:1969

Patty Pravo recorded the song under the shortened title "Italian: Il paradiso|i=no" for her second studio album Italian: Concerto per Patty. The track was released as a single in early 1969 and reached the top 10 in the Italian chart. It was performed at Festivalbar.[2] Pravo re-recorded the song on her 2019 album Red to mark the 50th anniversary of the original version.

Track listing

A. "Italian: Il paradiso|i=no" (Lucio Battisti, Giulio Rapetti Mogol) – 2:44

B. "Italian: Scende la notte, sale la luna|i=no" (Gianni Meccia, Bruno Zambrini) – 3:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Amen Corner version

(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice
Type:single
Artist:Amen Corner
Album:Farewell to the Real Magnificent Seven
Released:1969
Genre:Pop rock
Length:2:50
Label:Immediate
Producer:Shel Talmy
Prev Title:High in the Sky
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Let the Good Times Roll and Feel So Good
Next Year:1969

The song was translated into English by Jack Fishman. When it was offered to The Tremeloes as a potential single, they rejected it. It was then recorded by Amen Corner as their debut single for their new record label, Immediate Records, and was produced by Shel Talmy.[6] The most successful of the band's six hit singles, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1969,[7] and number 34 when it was reissued in 1976.[8] There are two differing versions of the song by Amen Corner; one with orchestra and a prominent horn through the middle eight, and one version without either. However, the basic track and vocals appear the same in both.

Track listing

A. "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" (Lucio Battisti, Jack Fishman) – 2:50

B. "Hey Hey Girl" (Andy Fairweather Low) – 3:05

Charts

Chart (1969)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 14
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[10] 15
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)27
Germany (Media Control)12
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[13] 7
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[14] 1

Other cover versions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ambra Borelli . www.lavocedelledonne.it . 2023-06-17 . Italian . https://web.archive.org/web/20071217101612/http://www.lavocedelledonne.it/cantante.aspx?id_cantante=388 . 2007-12-17.
  2. Web site: Festivalbar - Storia - 1969 . www.festivalbar.it . 2023-06-17 . Italian.
  3. Web site: Patty Pravo - Il paradiso . italiancharts.com . 2023-06-16.
  4. Web site: M&D: Classifiche . musicaedischi.it . 2023-04-09 . it. (Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, enter "Patty Pravo" in the "Artista" field, and click "cerca".)
  5. 1969-05-03 . Hits of the World . . New York, NY . 81 . 18 . 65 . 2023-06-16 . World Radio History.
  6. Web site: Amen Corner – (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice (Vinyl) . 17 January 1969 . . 26 March 2014.
  7. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 229.
  8. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 22.
  9. Web site: Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice . austriancharts.at . 2023-06-17 . German.
  10. Web site: Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice . www.ultratop.be . 2023-06-17 . Dutch.
  11. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know . irishcharts.ie . 2023-06-17.
  12. Web site: Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice . dutchcharts.nl . 2023-06-17 . Dutch.
  13. Web site: Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice . norwegiancharts.com . 2023-06-17.
  14. Web site: AMEN CORNER full Official Chart History . . 2023-06-17.
  15. Web site: Samantha - Vakantiedromen . dutchcharts.nl . 2023-06-17.
  16. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 311.
  17. Web site: Rosetta Stone (2) – (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice (Vinyl) . 1978 . . 4 March 2017.
  18. Web site: ROSETTA STONE (IF PARADISE IS) HALF AS NICE . www.offiziellecharts.de . 2023-06-17 . German.
  19. Web site: Cheryl Baker – If Paradise Is Half as Nice (Vinyl) . 1987 . . 4 March 2017.
  20. Web site: CHERYL BAKER full Official Chart History . . 2023-06-16.
  21. Web site: Ricchi E Poveri - Allegro italiano . italiancharts.com . 2023-06-16.
  22. Web site: Various – Ruby Trax The NME's Roaring Forty. Discogs. Discogs. 7 July 2014. 2014.
  23. Web site: JUDITH IF PARADISE IS HALF AS NICE . www.offiziellecharts.de . 2023-06-17 . German.
  24. Web site: Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson - Gift . . 2023-06-17.

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