Artist:Mac and Katie Kissoon
Song:Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
Album:Hard to Find 45s on CD Vol. 11: Sugar Pop Classics
The brother sister duo of Mac and Katie Kissoon scored a top 20 hit with the 1971 single Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. It was their only chart single in the US so they are a one hit wonder. The two were born in Trinidad and moved to England with their family in 1962. Katie Kissoon recorded four singles in 1965 as Peanut. Then she was a member of The Rag Dolls and they released a couple of singles. Mac Kissoon was a member of The Marionettes. Then he led a band that toured US military bases in Europe. He released a solo album in 1970. Lally Stott wrote Chirpy Chirpy Cheep and it was a hit in Italy where he was living at the time. The Scottish band Middle of the Road were living in Italy and producer Giacomo Tosti signed them to RCA and produced a 1971 album featuring Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. That recording topped the British Singles chart and was a hit across Europe. But it went nowhere in the US. Mac and Katie Kissoon recorded Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep with producer Miki Dallon. He sold it to ABC Records in the US. The record reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. I'm not sure why the Middle of the Road version didn't chart in the US. But I get the impression that the band didn't like the song and planned to tour in the US and didn't want Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep to be their calling card. You can get Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep on this various artists comp from the oldies label Eric Records. This was Mac and Katie Kissoon's only US chart single. But they had success in England with hits like Sugar Candy Kisses and Don't Do It Baby in 1975. After recording five albums in the 70s, Mac and Katie Kissoon became session singers singing backup for all kinds of acts. Both were regulars in James Last's band in the 80s. It looks like they are now retired. Here's a video for Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Mac and Katie Kissoon.
Frank, thank-you so much for the story behind this song. I love the version that is sung by the band Middle of the Road and have it in my music library. I had no idea they did not like it and wanted to do something else instead. And I did not know this duo were the ones to write and perform the song. Nice. Thanks Frank. David.
ReplyDelete