confranfan 10th Sep 2017
| | It is not surprising that Mexico can boast the largest Connie Francis catalog of the Spanish speaking countries of Central and South America given its immense population. This was achieved by three separate periods of distribution:
- CoRo S.A. from 1959-1962
- Discos Universales S.A. (DUSA) from 1962-1969
- Polydor/Polygram from 1970 onward
Original licensees CoRo S.A. were, in the main, responsible for local pressings of early U.S.A. MGM E/SE series releases which, judging by publicity material of the period, would all appear to have been supplied in original picture sleeves. Of greater interest, however, is a series of singles featuring, for the most part, Spanish-sung material and remarkably consecutively numbered from MGM SM-1001 through SM-1007.
DUSA marketed what by any standards, could be deemed a very healthy catalog, comprising albums, EPs, and singles; the most important release of which was the all-Spanish MGM (6)60011 CONNIE FRANCIS EN "EL PATIO". Issued in a number of editions in Mexico, the compilation, retaining its original picture sleeve, also appeared as MUCHAS GRACIAS in Chile and INVIERNO TRISTE in Venezuela, while in Brazil it was repackaged as CONNIE FRANCIS NO MEXICO.
As well as laying claim to having established Latin America's largest catalog of Connie Francis releases, Mexico was also responsible for marketing then 'unique' performances of some recordings. These include a 3:28 Italian only version of Al Di La, first issued on EP MGM EXPL 1034 DETRAS DEL AMOR and, though similar in presentation, differs to the 3:49 rendition to be found on Italy LP MGM EM 102 CONNIE IN ITALIA; and Que Sola Estoy, included on CONNIE FRANCIS EN "EL PATIO", but without a narrated passage in Spanish to be found on releases of this title in Spain.
On taking over the MGM label, Polydor set about reissuing albums handled by its predecessors. Like both CoRo S.A. and DUSA, the new licensees, produced a local edition of USA MGM SE 3853 SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN FAVORITES on MGM 17001 and followed this with a reissue of CONNIE FRANCIS "EL PATIO" on MGM 17001 and USA MGM SE 4474 GRANDES EXITOS DEL CINE DE LOS ANOS 60 on MGM 17004 before releasing a new all-Spanish compilation titled LO MEJOR DE CONNIE FRANCIS in both single and gatefold sleeve editions on MGM 17005.
Little has been marketed since then, but in 1979 EMI Capitol de Mexico S.A. released UNITED ARTISTS SLEM-849 CONNIE FRANCIS EN ESPANOL, A Spanish adaptation of UK LP UNITED ARTISTS UAS 30182 WHO'S HAPPY NOW? One of only two Central/South American nations to issue U.A. material - the other was Colombia - the Mexican edition differs from 10-track album marketed in Spain, and included 12 tracks; comprising all the United Artists recordings cut in this language. |