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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHOPKIN, Mary(b 3 May '50, Pontardawe, Wales) UK singer; had a fairy-tale rise to the top: model and '60s icon Twiggy saw the folk-singer on TV and recommended her to Paul McCartney, who signed her to Apple; first single 'Those Were The Days' zoomed to the top '68 (no. 2 USA). Further hits included 'Goodbye', 'Temma Harbour' and 'Knock, Knock, Who's There', all UK top tens. Her album Postcard '69 emphasised her charming voice; the more successful folk LP Earth Song '71 featured Dave Cousins (from folk-rock Strawbs) and Ralph McTell. She was produced by Tony Visconte and they married '71. On tour she was said to lack stage presence; anyway she retired to raise a family; returned with 'If You Love Me' '76 (top 40 UK); sang back-up on David Bowie's Low '77; The Welsh World Of Mary Hopkin '79 on Decca was sung in Welsh; she was also in group/album Oasis '84, with Peter Skellern and Julian Lloyd Webber. 'Those Were The Days' was written by Eugene Raskin (b 1909, d 7 June 2004), a folksinger who was born and died in New York City. He performed with his wife as Gene & Francesca; McCartney heard the song, based on a Russian folk tune, and gave it to Hopkin for one of that year's most memorable hits. |