Guitar Tango

"Guitar Tango" is a song originally recorded in French in 1961 as "Guitare-Tango". It was written by Georges Liferman, Norman Maine and Jacques Plaint and there were versions recorded by Dario Moreno, Tino Rossi and Maya Casabianca. However, the song is best known for the instrumental version released the following year by British group the Shadows which peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.^[2]

"Guitar Tango"
Single by The Shadows
B-side	"What a Lovely Tune"
Released	27 July 1962 (1962-07-27)
Recorded	23 May and 18 June 1962[1]
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Instrumental surf
Length	2:59
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Norman Maine Georges Liferman
Producer(s)	Norrie Paramor
The Shadows singles chronology
"Wonderful Land" (1962) "Guitar Tango" (1962) "The Boys" (1962)

Track listings

7": Columbia / DB 4870

1. "Guitar Tango" – 2:59
2. "What a Lovely Tune" – 2:17

7": Columbia / C 22 243 (Germany)

1. "Guitar Tango" – 2:59
2. "Driftin'" – 2:31

7": Columbia / SCMH 5130 (Netherlands)

1. "Guitar Tango" – 2:59
2. "Nivram" – 3:19

Personnel

• Hank Marvin – acoustic lead guitar
• Bruce Welch – acoustic rhythm guitar
• Brian Locking – electric bass guitar
• Brian Bennett – drums
• Norrie Paramor Orchestra – all other instrumentation

Charts

Chart (1962)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[5]	19
France[6]	9
Germany (GfK)[7]	25
India (The Voice, Calcutta)[8]	1
Ireland (Evening Herald)[9]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	5
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[11]	5
Norway (VG-lista)[12]	10
South Africa[13]	5
Spain (Promusicae)[14]	15
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[15]	7
UK Singles (OCC)[2]	4

References

1. Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Shadows Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 9. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
2. "Shadows: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
3. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
4. "The Shadows – Guitar Tango" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
5. "The Shadows – Guitar Tango" (in French). Ultratop 50.
6. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 15 December 1962. p. 28. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
7. "The Shadows – Guitar Tango" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
8. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 22 September 1962. p. 16. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
9. "Irish Top Ten". Evening Herald. 30 August 1962.
10. "The Shadows – Guitar Tango" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
11. "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
12. "The Shadows – Guitar Tango". VG-lista.
13. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 6 October 1962. p. 16. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
14. Salaverri, Fernando (September 1971). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
15. "Guitar Tango av Shadows – Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 November 2021.