In late 1972 Demis Roussos represented Greece with this song at Rio de Janeiro's 7th International Popular Song Festival (VII Festival Internacional da Canção Popular).[2][3] The festival was held at the roofed Maracananzinho Stadium in front of the audience of approximately 20,000 people.[2][4]
"Velvet Mornings" was one of the 13 songs that proceeded from semifinals (which were held on the previous Sunday) to the final.[4] Demis Roussos with "Velvet Morning" won a special prize for audience appeal.[4][5] (The other special prize for audience appeal was awarded to Brazilian Jorge Ben with "Fio Maravilha".)[4]
Commercial performance
In June 1973 the single "Velvet Mornings" was in the top 3 in Spain (according to the weekly music magazine El Musical).[6]
In Greece the single reached no. 1 in the international (non-Greek) singles chart compiled by Hellinikos Vorras and Epikera. (In June the song topped the chart as "Velvet Mornings"[7] and in October as "Velvet Mornings / Forever and Ever", i.e. as a double A-side with the song "Forever and Ever".[8])
Cover versions
Marinella's Greek version
Greek singer Marinella recorded a Greek version of the song, titled "Drigi, drigi, mana mou (Velvet mornings)" (Greek: Ντρίγκι, ντρίγκι, μάνα μου, "Drigi, drigi, my mother").
U.S. Billboard magazine reported in January 1973 that she "was to record a Greek version of Demis Roussos's hit at the recent Rio Song Festival, "Velvet Mornings", which she "had been using [...] in her act for some weeks.[9][10]
Marinella's version also charted in Greece, in October 1973 it was in the top 10 of the domestic (local Greek) singles chart compiled by Hellinikos Vorras and Epikera.[8]
German version
U.S. Billboard magazine reported in its November 10, 1973 issue: "It appears Marion Maerz is going to have a hit with the German version of Velvet Mornings — the original version was a success for Demis Roussos."[11]
Track listing
7" single Philips 6009 331 (1973, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, etc.) 7" single RTB / Philips S 53683 (1973, Yugoslavia)
^Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1973-01-13). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 43–. ISSN0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
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