Italy singles releases: overview
In addition to the couple of Italian single known to have Top of the Pops links, there are plenty more which appear as if they might - although we lack confirmation at present. There are three labels in the frame - and we look at each below.
Saint Martin Records
The Italian St Martin Records label was created in 1965 and had nothing directly to do with Top of the Pops. However come 1970, and specifically Top of the Pops Volume 12, there is a curious cross-over which suggests a meeting of ways. This manifested in at least 4 singles being released whose A-sides (but not B-sides) appear to be from the album, although it has not been confirmed that they are the same versions.
The evidence in favour is that on the A-sides, Allan Crawford is credited as co-producer. The tracks are listed as "Recorded In England", and the names of the acts - probably fictional - include Tommy Sterne whose name was also used in Spain for what definitely WAS a Top of the Pops single release.
The singles which appear to come from volume 12, all of which have consecutive catalogue numbers, are as follows:
CAT 452 - THE ALFRESCOS - In The Summertime / Military School
CAT 453 - TOMMY STERNE - Lady D'Arbanville / WILLIAM ASH - Beautiful
CAT 454 - VELVET ANVIL - Neanderthal Man / THE CHILDREN - Pictorial
CAT 455 - SMOOT - Lola / BABY GRUMPLING - Gilded Cage
The evidence in favour is that on the A-sides, Allan Crawford is credited as co-producer. The tracks are listed as "Recorded In England", and the names of the acts - probably fictional - include Tommy Sterne whose name was also used in Spain for what definitely WAS a Top of the Pops single release.
The singles which appear to come from volume 12, all of which have consecutive catalogue numbers, are as follows:
CAT 452 - THE ALFRESCOS - In The Summertime / Military School
CAT 453 - TOMMY STERNE - Lady D'Arbanville / WILLIAM ASH - Beautiful
CAT 454 - VELVET ANVIL - Neanderthal Man / THE CHILDREN - Pictorial
CAT 455 - SMOOT - Lola / BABY GRUMPLING - Gilded Cage
Universal International
The Universal International label was later used in Italy
for bona-fide Top of the Pops albums, and they also issued a lengthy
run of singles in the second half of the 1970s. Most of these were
covers of chart hits, some of which adopted assumed names for the acts
which were teasingly close to the original artists - eg the Glitter Band
become Little Band; KC & The Sunshine Band become KJ & The Main
Line Band, and so on.
Many of the tracks in the discography are part of the Top of the Pops catalogue, although at the time of writing we cannot confirm whether any are the same recordings, except for "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "Art For Art's Sake".
It is noted that there is sometimes a Union Flag printed on the covers, as per the Italian pressing of Volume 66, indicating that the contents are UK-sourced. There are at least 70 of them, and a few also appeared on the related Euro Music label. Selected titles from the series are listed below, and it will be noted that these mainly conicide with the period that Top of the Pops LPs were being pressed in Italy:
N. 5090 102 BARRY BOWITH - Mandy / Give A Little Love
[A-side from volume 44? / B-side from volume 46?]
N. 5090 106 BETTY McNOLAN - Lady Bump / Hallelujah Day
[B-side from volume 31?]
N. 5090 107 GREEN FLY - Bohemian Rhapsody / Art For Art's Sake
[Both sides from volume 49]
N. 5090 108 THE DRAGONS - Let It Be / Money Honey
[Both sides from volume 49?]
N. 5090 109 NICK STEVE - Holy Roller / This Old Heart Of Mine
[B-side from volume 49?]
N. 5090 110 VERTIGO BAND - Sky High / Show Me You’re A Woman
[B-side from volume 49?]
N. 5090 112 K. J. & THE MAIN LINE BAND - That's The Way (I Like It) / Papa Oom Mow Mow
[A-side from volume 47?]
N. 5090 118 VIRGIN CORPORATION - Itchycoo Park / Wide Eyed and Legless
[Both sides from volume 50?]
N. 5090 122 [Act??] Mississipi / Concrete and Clay
[A-side from volume 55? / B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 123 LITTLE BAND - People Like You People Like Me / I Wanna Stay With You
[Both sides from volume 51?]
N. 5090 126 DONNA MUSIC - Fernando / Do You Know Where You're Going To
[A-side from volume 52?]
N. 5090 130 BARRY BOWITH - Music / Love Really Hurts Without You
[B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 134 STAN KOLDER - Silver Star / Fallen Angel
[Both sides from volume 52?]
N. 5090 135 JIMMY BAKER - Let Your Love Flow
[From volume 52?]
N. 5090 138 GREEN FLY - Silly Love Songs / Arms Of Mary
[A-side from volume 52?]
N. 5090 139 BETTY McNOLAN - 1-2-3 Fire! / Young Hearts Run Free
[B-side from volume 53?]
N. 5090 141 EVA NASH - Young Hearts Run Free / You Just Might See Me Cry
[Both sides from volume 53?]
N. 5090 143 DAVID WILLIAMS - Man To Man / You See The Trouble With Me
[A-side from volume 53? / B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 145 BILLY BRYAN - You To Me Are Everything / You're My Best Friend
[Both sides from volume 53?]
N. 5090 146 LA QUINTA FACCIA - Let ‘Em In / I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You Babe
[Both sides from volume 54?]
N. 5090 149 VIRGIN CORPORATION - Money Money Money / Dancing Queen
[A-side from volume 56? / B-side from volume 54?]
N. 5090 150 WASHINGTON EXPRESS - If You Leave Me Now / Play That Funky Music
[Both sides from volume 55?]
N. 5090 151 GOLDEN CONVENTION - Sunny / Shaba Dab
[A-side from volume 58?]
N. 5090 155 DALLY MARROW - I Remember Elvis Presley / Suspicion
[A-side from volume 62? / B-side from volume 57?]
N. 5090 163 JESSICA & TONIA - Love Me / Sorrisi
[A-side from volume 56?]
Many of the tracks in the discography are part of the Top of the Pops catalogue, although at the time of writing we cannot confirm whether any are the same recordings, except for "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "Art For Art's Sake".
It is noted that there is sometimes a Union Flag printed on the covers, as per the Italian pressing of Volume 66, indicating that the contents are UK-sourced. There are at least 70 of them, and a few also appeared on the related Euro Music label. Selected titles from the series are listed below, and it will be noted that these mainly conicide with the period that Top of the Pops LPs were being pressed in Italy:
N. 5090 102 BARRY BOWITH - Mandy / Give A Little Love
[A-side from volume 44? / B-side from volume 46?]
N. 5090 106 BETTY McNOLAN - Lady Bump / Hallelujah Day
[B-side from volume 31?]
N. 5090 107 GREEN FLY - Bohemian Rhapsody / Art For Art's Sake
[Both sides from volume 49]
N. 5090 108 THE DRAGONS - Let It Be / Money Honey
[Both sides from volume 49?]
N. 5090 109 NICK STEVE - Holy Roller / This Old Heart Of Mine
[B-side from volume 49?]
N. 5090 110 VERTIGO BAND - Sky High / Show Me You’re A Woman
[B-side from volume 49?]
N. 5090 112 K. J. & THE MAIN LINE BAND - That's The Way (I Like It) / Papa Oom Mow Mow
[A-side from volume 47?]
N. 5090 118 VIRGIN CORPORATION - Itchycoo Park / Wide Eyed and Legless
[Both sides from volume 50?]
N. 5090 122 [Act??] Mississipi / Concrete and Clay
[A-side from volume 55? / B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 123 LITTLE BAND - People Like You People Like Me / I Wanna Stay With You
[Both sides from volume 51?]
N. 5090 126 DONNA MUSIC - Fernando / Do You Know Where You're Going To
[A-side from volume 52?]
N. 5090 130 BARRY BOWITH - Music / Love Really Hurts Without You
[B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 134 STAN KOLDER - Silver Star / Fallen Angel
[Both sides from volume 52?]
N. 5090 135 JIMMY BAKER - Let Your Love Flow
[From volume 52?]
N. 5090 138 GREEN FLY - Silly Love Songs / Arms Of Mary
[A-side from volume 52?]
N. 5090 139 BETTY McNOLAN - 1-2-3 Fire! / Young Hearts Run Free
[B-side from volume 53?]
N. 5090 141 EVA NASH - Young Hearts Run Free / You Just Might See Me Cry
[Both sides from volume 53?]
N. 5090 143 DAVID WILLIAMS - Man To Man / You See The Trouble With Me
[A-side from volume 53? / B-side from volume 51?]
N. 5090 145 BILLY BRYAN - You To Me Are Everything / You're My Best Friend
[Both sides from volume 53?]
N. 5090 146 LA QUINTA FACCIA - Let ‘Em In / I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You Babe
[Both sides from volume 54?]
N. 5090 149 VIRGIN CORPORATION - Money Money Money / Dancing Queen
[A-side from volume 56? / B-side from volume 54?]
N. 5090 150 WASHINGTON EXPRESS - If You Leave Me Now / Play That Funky Music
[Both sides from volume 55?]
N. 5090 151 GOLDEN CONVENTION - Sunny / Shaba Dab
[A-side from volume 58?]
N. 5090 155 DALLY MARROW - I Remember Elvis Presley / Suspicion
[A-side from volume 62? / B-side from volume 57?]
N. 5090 163 JESSICA & TONIA - Love Me / Sorrisi
[A-side from volume 56?]
Euro Music Corporation
This label also hosted Top of the Pops albums in Italy at the same time these singles were emerging. A few likely contenders are given below:
EUN 014 SMOKING - Oh Boy / Only Yesterday
[Both sides from volume 45?]
EUN 016 MOTO PERPETUO - In Dulce Jubilo / Glass Of Champagne
[Both sides from volume 50?]
EUN 017 RED BUS - Evil Woman / Sunshine Day
[A-side from volume 50?]
EUN 020 PEOPLE'S CONVENTION - Fernando
[From volume 52?] -- Re-issue of N. 5090 126 on Universal International?
EUN 014 SMOKING - Oh Boy / Only Yesterday
[Both sides from volume 45?]
EUN 016 MOTO PERPETUO - In Dulce Jubilo / Glass Of Champagne
[Both sides from volume 50?]
EUN 017 RED BUS - Evil Woman / Sunshine Day
[A-side from volume 50?]
EUN 020 PEOPLE'S CONVENTION - Fernando
[From volume 52?] -- Re-issue of N. 5090 126 on Universal International?