Kiss of Fire

"Kiss of Fire" (Spanish: "El Choclo", meaning "the ear of corn"more accurately " The Corn Cob") is a popular song written by Angel G. Villoldo, an Argentine musician. Allegedly written in honour of and taking it's title from the nick name of the proprietor of niteclub, who was known as El Choclo.

The piece was premiered in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1903 - the date appears on a program of the venue - at the elegant restaurant "El Americano" on 966 Cangallo Street (today Teniente General Perón) by the orchestra led by Jose Luis Roncallo.

A number of versions were recorded in 1952, but the most popular was the one by Georgia Gibbs, which reached #1 on the Billboard chart. Tony Martin's version reached #6, Toni Arden's #14, Billy Eckstine's #16, Louis Armstrong's #20, and Guy Lombardo's version reached #30.There is a Spanish version of "Kiss of Fire" by Connie Francis. In 1953 Olavi Virta released a Finnish version, titled "Tulisuudelma", which means "Kiss of Fire". The Finnish words, by "Kullervo" (Tapio Kullervo Lahtinen), closely follow the English.

Recorded versions

*Olavi Virta (1915 - 1972) of Finland (1952)
*Toni Arden (1952)
*Louis Armstrong (1952)
*Dick Beavers
*Billy Eckstine (1952)
*Lester Ferguson
*Georgia Gibbs (1952)
*David Hughes
*Mickey Katz Parody entitled "Kiss of Meyer"
*Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (vocal: Kenny Gardner) (1952)
*Tony Martin (1952)
*Anne Shelton
*Victor Silvester
*Caterina Valente
*Jimmy Young (1952)
*Ikue Mori (1995)