It was late 1970 and Middle of the Road were teamed up with a bright, up and coming Italian producer, Giacomo Tosti. Then began the search for suitable material to launch RCA Italiana's latest signing. Lally Stott, one of the many Brits working in Rome's lively music recording scene, approached RCA with a song he had written and recorded himself. Giacomo heard it and immediately volunteered to produce a new version featuring his new Scottish band. When Ken, Ian and Eric heard it they fell about laughing.
They reckoned that if anyone in the UK or any English speaking territory heard this, Middle of the Road would never be able to hold their heads up in public ever again. Sally, however, thought it was really catchy and finally the boys agreed to do it on condition that the recording session was supported with a supply of Bourbon to keep the spirits up.
By a strange coincidence RCA executives from all over the world were visiting the studios for a company convention and they were invited to the studio to hear the finished product. They all gave it the thumbs up and master copies were sent to all territories for release there. "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" was set loose on the unsuspecting world.
It was now obvious that more material was needed to follow up this first single and writers and arrangers Mario and Giosy Capuano joined the production team.
They shared many long and tiresome recording sessions in the enormous Studio One of the RCA complex in Rome. Often they would be leaving the studios to go home when the morning shift of engineers was coming in to begin their day. The combination of their production team, jointly known as Catoca, and the Scottish quartet was to prove to be a spectacular formula for success.
Thanks to middle of the road-popgroup for this partial biography
Viva Los Caracas | El Condor Pasa |
Anyone | Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep |
Lo Schiaffo | The Sun In Your Skin |
Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum | Soley Soley |
LOS CARACAS | |
↓ U.K. (performing as Los Caracas) Viva Los Caracas (E.P.) 1968 ↓ | |
↓ Italy El Condor Pasa (promo V.A.) October 1970 ↓ | |
ANYONE | |
↓ Italy (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone (promo V.A.) January 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Italy (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone January 1971 ↓ | |
↓ France (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone (Test Pressing and release) February 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Japan (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone 26th June 1971 ↓ | |
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
↓ U.K. (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone 1971 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.A. (Sophia Loren & Middle of the Road) Anyone (promo) 1971 ↓ | |
CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP CHEEP | |
↓ U.K. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (promo and release) 15th January 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Angola Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (EP) ↓ | |
↓ Argentina
Hei Mihi / Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(promo only)
1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Australia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep promo 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Brazil Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Canada Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Ecuador Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ France Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep March 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Germany Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (alternate
covers, promo & release) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Greece Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ↓ |
|
↓ Holland Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Hungary Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ | |
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
↓ India Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Iran Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Iran Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Iran Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Israel Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ↓ |
|
↓
Italy Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(Two versions of labels) October 1970 ↓ |
|
↓ Jamaica Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Japan Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Japan Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various artists EP) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Malaysia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various artists E.P.) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Malaysia (alternate sleeve) 1971 ↓ | |
↓
Malaysia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(various
artists EP) ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(various
artists EP) ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(various
artists EP) ↓ |
|
↓ Mexico Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
(promo & release)
July 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Mexico Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (EP) September 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
New Zealand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Peru Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Portugal Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (EP) ↓ |
|
↓
Singapore Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Singapore Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (Extended
Play) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ South Africa Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1st & 2nd editions) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Spain Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Spain Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (Four Spanish edition
covers) 27th April 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Sweden Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (alternate covers) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (EP) ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #1) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #2) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #3) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #4) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #5) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #6) ↓
|
|
↓ Thailand Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (various
artists EP) (Union Jack #7?) ↓
|
|
This copy could just be
a mixing of the cover of Union Jack #4 and the record of Union Jack #5 |
|
SORRY NO PICTURE YET |
|
↓ Turkey Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (RCA
three versions of covers & two versions of labels) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Turkey Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (ABC
two versions of covers & two versions of labels) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ U.S.A. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (4 promo's & 1 release) January 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Yugoslavia Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (alternate sleeves) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Italy (Jordan & Middle of the Road) Lo Schiaffo (promo & release) February 1971 ↓ | |
THE SUN IN YOUR SKIN | |
↓
Japan The Sun In Your Skin
1971 ↓ |
|
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET |
↓ Mexico (Gianni Marchetti & Middle of the Road) The Sun In Your Skin 1974 ↓ |
↓ Spain (Gianni Marchetti & Middle of the Road) The Sun In Your Skin 1971 ↓ | |
TWEEDLE DEE TWEEDLE DUM | |
↓ U.K. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo & release)
20th August 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ U.K. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(and Chirpy Chirpy...) (RCA various artist promo)
September
1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Angola Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP) ↓ |
|
↓ Angola Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (alternate covers) (EP) ↓ | |
↓ Argentina Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
|
|
↓ Australia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo & release) 26th August 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Brazil Twiddle Dee Twiddle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Canada Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum ↓ | |
↓ Chile Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Colombia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum February 1972 ↓ |
|
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1973 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum February 1973 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1974 ↓ | |
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET |
|
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1975 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1976 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum February 1976 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1977 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1978 ↓ | |
↓ Czechoslovakia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum January 1979 ↓ | |
↓ France Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ France Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1972 ↓ | |
↓ Germany Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (test
pressing, promo & release) 31st March 1971 ↓ |
|
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
↓ Greece Twiddle Dee Twiddle Dum 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Holland Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
1971 ↓ |
|
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET |
|
↓ India Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ |
|
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
↓ Iran Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Israel Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum ↓ |
|
↓ Italy Twiddle Dee Twiddle Dum (first edition of the sleeve) March/April 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Italy Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (later editions of the sleeve) March/April 1971 ↓ | |
Click here for the full FIAT 127 video | |
↓ Italy Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo V.A.) April 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Italy Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (jukebox edition) June 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Japan Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Kenya Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Madagascar Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Malaysia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET | |
↓ Mexico Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ New Zealand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Nigeria Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Peru Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (Meddle of the Road - Toca Dee Toca Dum) ↓ |
|
↓ Portugal Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP) ↓ |
|
↓ South Africa Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Spain Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(original and slightly later sleeve)
26th June 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Spain Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo, original and slightly later corrected labels) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Spain Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (later Spanish version promo) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Thailand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(E.P. #1) Sept. 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(E.P. #2) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(E.P. #3) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(E.P. #4) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(E.P. #5) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Turkey Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
(two sleeve variations) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP lime-green and white labels) 1975 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP white labels, different sleeve and layout of side 1) 1975 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with red labels) 1975 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with yellow vinyl) circa 1974/75 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with pink labels) 1976 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with blue labels) 1976 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with pink labels) 1977 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with yellow labels) 1977 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with white labels) 1977/1980 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.S.R. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (EP with white labels) 1979 ↓ | |
↓ U.S.A. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (promo only) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Yugoslavia Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum (Two versions of labels) 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Malaysia Fate Strange Fate (EP) 1971 ↓ | |
SOLEY SOLEY | |
↓ U.K. Soley Soley (promo and release) 26th November 1971 ↓ |
|
These next 4 UK Soley Soley singles are from a different pressing plant | |
↓ Angola Soley Soley
(SIN-616 EP) 1972 ↓ |
|
↓ Angola Soley Soley (TP-616 EP) 1972 ↓ | |
↓ Angola Soley Soley
(SIN-616 EP) 1973 ↓ |
|
↓ Argentina Soley Soley 1973 ↓ |
|
↓ Australia Soley Soley (promo
& release) February 1972 ↓ |
|
↓ Australia Soley Soley
(Extended Play)
May 1973 ↓ |
|
↓ Brazil Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Canada Soley Soley February 1972 ↓ | |
↓ Chile Soley Soley 1971 ↓ | |
↓ El Salvador Soley Soley 1971 ↓ | |
↓ France Soley Soley 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Germany Soley Soley (promo & release) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Greece Soley Soley 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Holland Soley Soley (Error MCA & correct RCA picture covers) August 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Hungary Soley Soley ↓ |
|
↓ Iran Soley Soley blue and black ↓ |
|
↓ Israel
Soley Soley ↓ |
|
↓ Italy Soley Soley
(at least four editions of the sleeve) July 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Italy Soley Soley (jukebox edition) November 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Japan Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Kenya Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Madagascar Soley Soley 1971 ↓ | |
↓
Malaysia Soley Soley
(Extended Play) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1972 ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Malaysia Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Mexico Soley Soley (promo) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Mexico Soley Soley (EP) May 1972 ↓ |
|
↓
New Zealand Soley Soley 1972 ↓ |
|
↓ Peru Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Portugal Soley Soley (TP-616 EP (two versions of covers & labels)) 1972 ↓ | |
↓ Singapore Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
SORRY NO IMAGE JUST YET |
|
↓
Southern Rhodesia Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Spain Soley Soley
(promo & release) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Thailand Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Thailand Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Thailand Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Thailand Soley Soley
(various artists EP) 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
Turkey Soley Soley 1971 ↓ |
|
↓
U.S.A. Soley Soley
(2 editions of the promo & 1 release) 7th February 1972 ↓ |
|
↓ Yugoslavia This copy plays a Yugoslavian group called Plave Zvijezde 23rd November 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Identical labels to the above single, but does play Soley Soley & To Remind Me 15th December 1971 ↓ | |
↓ Yugoslavia Soley Soley
15th December 1971 ↓ |
|
↓ Yugoslavia Soley Soley
11th February
1972 ↓ |
|