"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" is a popular 1968 song originally written by the Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti under the title "Il paradiso" ("The Paradise"). It was first recorded by the Italian singer Ambra Borelli and released as a single through Dischi Ricordi under alias La Ragazza 77. [1] Although her version did not chart, it was later covered by other artists to much success, most notably by Patty Pravo and Amen Corner in 1969.
"Il paradiso" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Patty Pravo | ||||
from the album Concerto per Patty | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | RCA Italiana | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Patty Pravo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Il paradiso" (audio) on YouTube |
Patty Pravo recorded the song under the shortened title "Il paradiso" for her second studio album Concerto per Patty. The track was released as a single in early 1969 and reached the top 10 in the Italian chart. It was performed at Festivalbar. [2] Pravo re-recorded the song on her 2019 album Red to mark the 50th anniversary of the original version.
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Italy ( Musica e dischi) [4] [5] | 8 |
"(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Amen Corner | ||||
from the album Farewell to the Real Magnificent Seven | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Immediate | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |||
Amen Corner singles chronology | ||||
|
The song was translated into English by Jack Fishman. When it was offered to The Tremeloes as a potential single, they rejected it. It was then recorded by Amen Corner as their debut single for their new record label, Immediate Records, and was produced by Shel Talmy. [6] The most successful of the band's six hit singles, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1969, [7] and number 34 when it was reissued in 1976. [8] There are two differing versions of the song by Amen Corner; one with orchestra and a prominent horn through the middle eight, and one version without either. However, the basic track and vocals appear the same in both.[ citation needed]
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40) [9] | 14 |
Belgium ( Ultratop Flanders) [10] | 15 |
Belgium ( Ultratop Wallonia) [10] | 27 |
Germany ( Media Control) [9] | 12 |
Ireland ( IRMA) [11] | 4 |
Netherlands ( Single Top 100) [12] | 15 |
Norway ( VG-lista) [13] | 7 |
UK Singles Chart ( OCC) [14] | 1 |
"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" is a popular 1968 song originally written by the Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti under the title "Il paradiso" ("The Paradise"). It was first recorded by the Italian singer Ambra Borelli and released as a single through Dischi Ricordi under alias La Ragazza 77. [1] Although her version did not chart, it was later covered by other artists to much success, most notably by Patty Pravo and Amen Corner in 1969.
"Il paradiso" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Patty Pravo | ||||
from the album Concerto per Patty | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | RCA Italiana | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Patty Pravo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Il paradiso" (audio) on YouTube |
Patty Pravo recorded the song under the shortened title "Il paradiso" for her second studio album Concerto per Patty. The track was released as a single in early 1969 and reached the top 10 in the Italian chart. It was performed at Festivalbar. [2] Pravo re-recorded the song on her 2019 album Red to mark the 50th anniversary of the original version.
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Italy ( Musica e dischi) [4] [5] | 8 |
"(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Amen Corner | ||||
from the album Farewell to the Real Magnificent Seven | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Immediate | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |||
Amen Corner singles chronology | ||||
|
The song was translated into English by Jack Fishman. When it was offered to The Tremeloes as a potential single, they rejected it. It was then recorded by Amen Corner as their debut single for their new record label, Immediate Records, and was produced by Shel Talmy. [6] The most successful of the band's six hit singles, it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1969, [7] and number 34 when it was reissued in 1976. [8] There are two differing versions of the song by Amen Corner; one with orchestra and a prominent horn through the middle eight, and one version without either. However, the basic track and vocals appear the same in both.[ citation needed]
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40) [9] | 14 |
Belgium ( Ultratop Flanders) [10] | 15 |
Belgium ( Ultratop Wallonia) [10] | 27 |
Germany ( Media Control) [9] | 12 |
Ireland ( IRMA) [11] | 4 |
Netherlands ( Single Top 100) [12] | 15 |
Norway ( VG-lista) [13] | 7 |
UK Singles Chart ( OCC) [14] | 1 |