Black Is Black – LOS BRAVOS***

Trapped/Baby Baby/Make It Easy For Me/She Believes In Me/Will You Always Love Me/Black Is Black/Stop That Girl/Give Me A Chance/Cuttin’ Out/Two Kinds Of Lovers/You Won’t Get Far/Baby Believe Me

Los Bravos comprised a rare combination of Spanish backing group with German vocalist. The title track was a massive international hit reaching No. 4 in the US and No. 2 in the UK. The group were never able to repeat anything like this fame again. (US:93 UK:29)

"The lead singer is German and the rest of the group are from Spain. The guys got a distinctive voice. Problem is, most of their work is nothing like the big radio song. If more of the tracks sounded like this upbeat rocker you'd have a tasty LP here."

"I don't think Los Bravos had another hit in their life other than Black Is Black. I loved the title track and I listened to the rest with interest. It was a Spanish group, but the singer was German and he sang in English (for marketing reasons) with an incredible accent that contributed a lot towards the success of the single. The opening riff was also a good idea. It's a funny souvenir, but I must admit that it doesn't stand the test of time too well."

"Black Is Black is a great song and the rest of the album does not disappoint. In fact it is an excellent representation of mid-60s rock/R & B/pop. After hearing this LP you will probably agree that Mike Kogel was one of the best voices of rock and it's a shame that most likely he will not get the credit he deserves. Especially if top 40 radio continues to only play Black Is Black. Get this album if you really enjoy upbeat 60s music by excellent musicians and a great singer."

"Los Bravos were one of the more unlikely stories of the 1960s top 40, breaking out of Spain with a German lead singer to achieve US one-hit wonder status with Black Is Black in 1966. The single, along with their debut album, features the Gene Pitney-like vocals of Michael Kogel and horn-heavy, soul-influenced pop that owes more to 1960s New York R & B than the British Invasion, then winding down its sweep of the world's stage. From their sound, you'd be hard-pressed to place this band as German and Spanish in origin. The group had a second hit in the UK with I Don't Care, but never really regained their footing on the US or international charts. Their debut has no other songs that compare with the catchiness and drive of the iconic hit."