Gregory Bithikotsis recorded this song in 1960, but despite the more modern sounding production values, it sounds like it comes from the depths of the golden age of rebetiko. Not surprising: it was written by Markos Vamvakaris and the rebetiko pioneer was one of two bouzouki players on it.
At the time, Bithikotsis as one of the best-known singers and composers in Greece. He started recording in the late 1920s and written a handful of late rebetiko pieces. But was his pioneering work with composers Mikis Theodorakis (whom he met when Theodorakis was sent
into exile in Makronissos), and Manos Hadjidakis that established his preeminence as a singer and songwriter.
He composed more than 200 songs, was reportedly the first popular Greek singer to set music to poetry and was well known to the public for his 1960s recordings.
He was also well liked by Vamvakaris, who was out of the spotlight through much of the 1950s. In his biography, Vamvakaris reports that Bithikotsis was one of the few rising stars of the time to seek him out. Bithikotsis was also one of the “new” singers that he liked most.
This recording was part of a brief return to the public eye for Vamvakaris as part of a small resurgence of interest in rebetiko.
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