Pepe (song)

"Pepe" is a 1960 song written by Hans Wittstatt and Dory Previn for the musical comedy film Pepe, featuring Mario Moreno ("Cantinflas") in the lead role. It was first recorded by Shirley Jones for the movie. Duane Eddy covered the song the same year. There have also been several other cover versions of this song.

"Pepe"
Single by Shirley Jones
from the album Pepe
B-side	"Lovely Day"
Released	December 1960
Recorded	1960
Genre	Pop, Easy Listening
Length	1:53
Label	Colpix Records
Songwriter(s)	Hans Wittstatt, Dory Previn
Producer(s)	George Sidney
Shirley Jones singles chronology
"Clover in the Meadow" (1957) "Pepe" (1960) "I've Still Got My Heart Joe" (1971)

Shirley Jones version

The song was originally performed in the movie by Shirley Jones.^[1] It was released as a single in 1960 on Colpix Records CP 15013.^[2] Jones' recording reached No. 4 in Spain.^[3]

Duane Eddy version

"Pepe"
Single by Duane Eddy
from the album $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang, Volume 2
B-side	"Lost Friend"
Released	December 1960
Genre	Rockabilly
Length	2:11
Label	Jamie Records
Songwriter(s)	Hans Wittstatt, Dory Previn
Duane Eddy singles chronology
"Kommotion" (1960) "Pepe" (1960) "Theme from Dixie" (1961)

Duane Eddy covered the song in 1960 on Jamie Records 1175. His version charted at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4] However, it was a much bigger hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at Number 2 in January 1961.

Charts

Chart (1961)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6]	6
Canada (CHUM Chart)[7]	17
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[8]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]	14
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	2
US Billboard Hot 100[4]	18
West Germany (GfK)[11]	3

Other versions

• Dalida covered it in French as "Pépé". It appeared on her 1961 album "Garde-moi la dernière danse" and one single from same year.^[12] It reached number 3 on the German chart,^[13] and number 10 on the Dutch chart.^[14]
• Jorgen Ingmann took a cover to number 6 in 1961 on the Norwegian Singles Chart.^[15]
• In the UK, pianist Russ Conway took his cover version to number 19 in the British charts during January 1961.^[16]
• Bert Weedon covered it in his 1976 compilation album 22 Golden Guitar Greats,^[17] which made him the first solo guitar player to top the UK Album Chart.^[18]

References

1. "Pepe (1960 Film): Various Artists, Various Artists - Soundtracks: Music". Amazon.
2. "Shirley Jones (2) - Pepe (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1960. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
3. "Hits of the World". Billboard. May 15, 1961. p. 30.
4. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 6 February 1961. p. 28.
5. "Duane Eddy – Pepe" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. "Duane Eddy – Pepe" (in French). Ultratop 50.
7. "CHUM Hit Parade - February 6, 1961".
8. "Duane Eddy". Flavour of New Zealand.
9. "Duane Eddy – Pepe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
10. "Duane Eddy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Duane Eddy – Pepe" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
12. "Dalida discography=www.dalida.com". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
13. "Dalida: Pepe [Deutsch]". Offizielle Deutsche Charts.
14. "Dalida - Pepe". Dutchcharts.nl.
15. "Jørgen Ingmann - Pepe". Norwegiancharts.com.
16. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 333. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
17. "Bert Weedon– Bert Weedon's 22 Golden Guitar Greats". www.discogs.com. 1976. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
18. "Beatles, Queen influence Bert Weedon dies aged 91". www.nme.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.