Mississippi (song)

"Mississippi"
Black and white photograph of the members of Pussycat band with blue border on top and below
Single by Pussycat
from the album First of All
B-side "Do It"
Released April 1975 (1975-04)
Format 7" single
Recorded 1975
Length 4:33
Label EMI (Europe)
Sonet (UK)
Private Stock (US)
Songwriter(s) Werner Theunissen
Producer(s) Eddy Hilberts
Pussycat singles chronology
"Mississippi"
(1975)		 "Georgie"
(1976)

"Mississippi"
(1975)		 "Georgie"
(1976)

"Mississippi" is a song by Dutch country pop band Pussycat. Written by Werner Theunissen and produced by Eddy Hilberts, "Mississippi" was the group's only number-one single in their home country, as well as their only number-one single in most countries worldwide. In New Zealand and South Africa, however, "Mississippi" was their first of two number-one singles; in the latter country, "Mississippi" was the best-selling single of 1977.

History

Werner Theunissen wrote "Mississippi" in 1969 being inspired by the Bee Gees song "Massachusetts". The song grabbed EMI Bovema's attention, and they decided to sign the band. By December 1975, the song had topped the Dutch Singles Chart.[1] Its international success came in 1976, when it reached number one in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as number two in Australia, number four in Austria, and number six in Sweden. In South Africa, "Mississippi" was the highest-selling single of 1977.[2] It is estimated to have sold five million copies worldwide.[3] Outside the Netherlands, Pussycat would later receive more number-one singles in New Zealand and South Africa,[4][5] but in most territories, "Mississippi" was their highest-charting effort.

The song was promoted by John Saunders Hughes in the UK through a Liverpool radio station. The lyrics are about the history of music, and how rock music became more popular than country music.

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Germany (BVMI)[25] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Covers

Swedish dansband Vikingarna covered the song in Swedish, with lyrics by Margot Borgström, in April 1976, less than six months after the original release. The Swedish song title was also "Mississippi", and it appeared on the band's album Kramgoa Låtar 3 the same year.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dutchcharts.nl – Pussycat – Mississippi" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  2. 1 2 "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1977". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2005). 100 UK Number One Hits. London, England: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
  4. ↑ "Search for: Pussycat". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts P". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-64611-917-5.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Pussycat – Mississippi" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Pussycat – Mississippi" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pussycat – Mississippi". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mississippi". Irish Singles Chart.
  11. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1975" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  12. ↑ "Charts.nz – Pussycat – Mississippi". Top 40 Singles.
  13. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Pussycat – Mississippi". VG-lista.
  14. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Pussycat – Mississippi". Singles Top 100.
  15. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Pussycat – Mississippi". Swiss Singles Chart.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1975" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  18. ↑ Kent (1993). "1976 Top 25 Singles". p. 428.
  19. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1976" (in German). Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1976" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1976" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "End Of Year Charts 1976". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1976" (in German). Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Top 50 Singles of 1976". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 25. 25 December 1976.
  25. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pussycat; 'Mississippi')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  26. ↑ "British single certifications – Pussycat – Mississippi". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Mississippi in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  27. ↑ "Svensk mediedatabas". Retrieved 25 May 2011.
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