It was the British supermodel Twiggy who discovered Mary Hopkin on the British ITV talent show Opportunity Knocking and alerted Paul McCartney when Apple Records was looking for talent its first artist on the label. The waifish soprano scored a huge, worldwide smash with her first Apple single, the melancholy but rabble-rousing ballad "Those Were the Days," in late 1968; it actually knocked the Beatles' own "Hey Jude" out of the number one position in the U.K. Paul McCartney lent her a further hand by producing her first album and writing her second single, "Goodbye," which was also a hit. More comfortable with refined, precious ballads and folky pop than rock, she scored several more hit singles in the U.K., although she never entered the American Top 40 again.
She was born on May 3, 1950 in Pontardawe, Wales to a Cymraeg/Welsh English-speaking family and began her musical career as a folk singer with a local group called the Selby Set and Mary. She released an EP of Welsh language songs for a local record label called Cambrian who were based in her home town, before signing to the Beatles' Apple Records.
Her debut single, Those Were the Days, produced by Paul McCartney, was released in the UK on August 30, 1968. Despite competition from a well-established star, Sandie Shaw, who released her version of the same song as a single that same year, Hopkin's version became a number one hit in the UK singles chart, and reached #2 in the United States.
On 2 October 1968 appears at St Pauls Cathedral London for the "Pop Experience" sings "Morning Of My Life", "Turn Turn Turn", "Plasir D'amour". In February 1969 her debut album, Postcard, also produced by McCartney, was released. It included covers of three songs from Donovan, who also played on the album, and one song each from George Martin and Harry Nilsson. It reached number three on the UK Albums Chart, although it proved to be her solitary success story in that particular chart.
The next single was Goodbye, written by McCartney (but credited to Lennon-McCartney), released on 28 March 1969; it reached #2 in the UK singles chart. It was kept off the top of the charts by the Beatles' single Get Back. She represented the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest singing Knock, Knock, Who's There?, which came second. Knock, Knock, Who's There? was released as a single on 23 March 1970, reaching #2 again in the UK. Her second, folky album, Earth Song, Ocean Song, was released by Apple on 1 October 1971. The record was produced by her then-husband Tony Visconti and included covers of songs written by Cat Stevens, Gallagher and Lyle, and Ralph McTell.
After marrying Visconti in 1971, she withdrew from the pop music scene to have a family. In 1981, she and Visconti divorced. The following year, she provided vocals on Rachel's Song for the Vangelis soundtrack of Blade Runner. During the 1980s, Hopkin appeared in several charity shows, including an appearance at the London Palladium with Ralph McTell.
She was born on May 3, 1950 in Pontardawe, Wales to a Cymraeg/Welsh English-speaking family and began her musical career as a folk singer with a local group called the Selby Set and Mary. She released an EP of Welsh language songs for a local record label called Cambrian who were based in her home town, before signing to the Beatles' Apple Records.
Her debut single, Those Were the Days, produced by Paul McCartney, was released in the UK on August 30, 1968. Despite competition from a well-established star, Sandie Shaw, who released her version of the same song as a single that same year, Hopkin's version became a number one hit in the UK singles chart, and reached #2 in the United States.
On 2 October 1968 appears at St Pauls Cathedral London for the "Pop Experience" sings "Morning Of My Life", "Turn Turn Turn", "Plasir D'amour". In February 1969 her debut album, Postcard, also produced by McCartney, was released. It included covers of three songs from Donovan, who also played on the album, and one song each from George Martin and Harry Nilsson. It reached number three on the UK Albums Chart, although it proved to be her solitary success story in that particular chart.
The next single was Goodbye, written by McCartney (but credited to Lennon-McCartney), released on 28 March 1969; it reached #2 in the UK singles chart. It was kept off the top of the charts by the Beatles' single Get Back. She represented the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest singing Knock, Knock, Who's There?, which came second. Knock, Knock, Who's There? was released as a single on 23 March 1970, reaching #2 again in the UK. Her second, folky album, Earth Song, Ocean Song, was released by Apple on 1 October 1971. The record was produced by her then-husband Tony Visconti and included covers of songs written by Cat Stevens, Gallagher and Lyle, and Ralph McTell.
After marrying Visconti in 1971, she withdrew from the pop music scene to have a family. In 1981, she and Visconti divorced. The following year, she provided vocals on Rachel's Song for the Vangelis soundtrack of Blade Runner. During the 1980s, Hopkin appeared in several charity shows, including an appearance at the London Palladium with Ralph McTell.
In 1989, she recorded a CD of songs called Spirit, a collection of light classical songs, featuring the single Ave Maria. To celebrate her 57th birthday this year, she has released an album called Valentine, on her new eponymous label. It includes 12 previously unheard tracks dating from 1972 to 1980, three of which were written by Hopkin. Those Were The Days will forever remain a "classic" tune from the 60's as far as I'm concerned. Even today, I often find myself humming the tune, especially when I recall my time spoke as a freelancer in Europe. Find out more about her career at: http://www.maryhopkin.co.uk/
Research info provided by: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
Research info provided by: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
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