This strikingly overwrought song was recorded by Peter Sarstedt in 1969, and I used to hear it on the radio a lot back then and in the early 70's. I always used to wonder why the writer had such a sense of grievance about the rags-to-riches girl described in the story.

After searching around on the Net some, I see that the song most likely referred to Sophia Loren. Why would Peter Sarstedt have been that concerned about Sophia Loren? Anybody got any thoughts on that?

As for Sarstedt, I am unaware of anthing else he ever recorded at this point.

It certainly was an unusual song, and the FM stations in Toronto just loved it back then.