Introduction:
“Black Is Black” is an iconic song by the Spanish beat music group Los Bravos, released in 1966. It served as the title track for their debut album, also titled “Black Is Black,” which was released the same year. The album had slight variations in track listings between its Spanish/UK release on Columbia Records and Decca Records, respectively, and its U.S. release on Press Records. The song primarily falls under the pop rock and soul genres, drawing heavily from the vibrant “beat” music scene of the mid-1960s, a style that blended rock and roll with a strong rhythm and blues influence. Its distinctive sound, characterized by a driving beat, an organ riff, and the powerful, English-sung vocals of German lead singer Mike Kogel, immediately captivated audiences worldwide.
The achievements of “Black Is Black” are particularly remarkable, as it propelled Los Bravos to international stardom and made them the first Spanish rock band to achieve a significant international hit single. The song became a massive global success, reaching number 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart. It soared to number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1966 and peaked at an impressive number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in October of the same year, where it spent 12 weeks. Beyond these chart performances, “Black Is Black” sold over one million copies worldwide, cementing its status as a million-selling record. Its success was partly attributed to Kogel’s vocal resemblance to American singer Gene Pitney, leading many listeners to initially believe it was a Pitney recording.
The song’s widespread popularity also led to numerous covers and adaptations. Notably, French rock and roll icon Johnny Hallyday recorded a French version titled “Noir c’est noir,” which topped the French singles chart for seven weeks in the fall of 1966. Decades later, in 1977, the French vocal trio La Belle Epoque released a disco rendition of “Black Is Black,” which also found significant chart success, peaking at number 2 in the UK and number 1 in Australia in 1978. “Black Is Black” remains a timeless classic, a testament to its catchy melody, compelling arrangement, and the unexpected international breakthrough of a Spanish band in the heart of the 1960s music revolution.