The “Golden Hits Of The 60s“ 

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PAUL MAURIAT

“LOVE IS BLUE”

(Andre Popp, Pierre Cour)

Philips 40495

No. 1   February 10, 1968

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No one expected fireworks and bliss from the union of Paul Mauriat and an innocent item called

”L’Amor Est Bleu” (“Love Is Blue”).   In 1967, the tune was selected to represent Luxembourg at the

annual Eurovision Song Contest.   Vicky Leandros sang the number at the festi­val, where it came in

fourth; on record, even recorded in 19 languages, it sold only mildly. No instrumental had topped the

American charts in more than five years, and no born-in-France single had ever reached number one on

the pop charts.   In short, no one expect­ed Mauriat’s mood music to pillage the charts, but the dulcet

ditty did.

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Born in 1925, Paul Mauriat grew up in a house full of music.   When he was four years old, Mom and Dad

taught him how to have his way with a piano.   At the age of 10, when his family moved to Paris, he

enrolled in the Conservatoire.   And by his 17th year, Paul was lead­ing an orchestra and touring Europe’s

concert halls.   He soon found a nice niche arranging, conducting, and producing artists like Charles

Aznavour and himself.   In 1962, under a pseudonym (Del Roma Mauruit) Paul co-wrote “Chariot” a

major European hit for Petula Clark.   The following year-retitled “I Will Follow Him”–the ditty topped

the U.S. charts by Little Peggy March.

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There is no indication that Paul conceived of “Love Is Blue” as anything more than just another track for

his Blooming Hits album.   The tune remained at the top of the charts for five weeks, as did the LP which

featured the song and reportedly eventually totaled sales of 2 million copies. Two further singles, “Love

in Every Room” (#60, 1968) and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (#76, 1969) later appeared on Billboard’s

Hot 100.