He was performing his languorous ballad, "Those Were the Days" in a
nightclub when this adaptation of a Russian melody was overheard by
Paul McCartney who brought it to England and produced the hit recording
by Mary Hopkin. Gene was slightly chagrined to receive the telephone
call from Paul asking his permission to have Mary record this; as, he
had always imagined it being sung by a dashing young handsome romantic
man...ME! Needless to say, he got over it!!!