Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Last updated
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrews Sisters.jpg
Single by The Andrews Sisters
B-side "Bounce Me, Brother, with a Solid Four"
RecordedJanuary 2, 1941
Studio Decca, Hollywood, California
Genre
Songwriter(s) Don Raye, Hughie Prince
The Andrews Sisters singles chronology
"Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat"
(1941)		"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
(1941)		"I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)"
(1941)
Music video
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Official Music Video) on YouTube

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is a World War II jump blues song written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince which was introduced by The Andrews Sisters in the Abbott and Costello comedy film, Buck Privates (1941). [1] The Andrews Sisters' Decca recording reached number six on the U.S. pop singles chart in the spring of 1941 when the film was in release. The song is ranked No. 6 on Songs of the Century. Bette Midler's 1972 recording of the song also reached the top ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to "The Last Time I Saw Paris". [2]

The song is closely based on an earlier Raye-Prince hit, "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," which is about a virtuoso boogie-woogie piano player. [3]

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" has become an iconic song of World War II, [4] [5] commonly featured and referenced in media set during that era. The song inspired the 1941 cartoon Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B produced by Walter Lantz Productions, [6] and the Christina Aguilera song "Candyman" (released as a single in 2007) from Aguilera's hit album Back to Basics , as a tribute to both the Andrews Sisters and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". [7]

Storyline

Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (1941)
Sample of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by The Andrews Sisters.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

According to the lyrics, a renowned trumpet player from Chicago, Illinois is drafted into the U.S. Army but is reduced to blowing the wake-up call ("Reveille"). Restrained from playing boogie-woogie, he is depressed until the captain empathizes and drafts other musicians. The bugler now plays "Reveille" in his own style, with a positive effect on the rest of the company.

Creation

Abbott and Costello's first starring film for Universal pictures, Buck Privates , was designed to capitalize on the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. The studio added the Andrews Sisters, who were also under contract, for musical relief, and hired Don Raye and Hughie Prince to compose songs for the film. (The sisters also performed songs written by others in the film.) Raye and Prince had previously composed the hits "Rhumboogie" and "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" for the trio. The songwriters turned in "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith"; "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"; and "Bounce Me Brother, With a Solid Four", while also composing a novelty tune, "When Private Brown Becomes a Captain", for Lou Costello.

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" closely follows the template of "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", which is about a famous syncopated piano player. However, in its earliest stages, "Boogie Woogie Bugler" (as it was then known) was originally conceived for Lou Costello, but reworked for the Andrews Sisters, while a separate song was composed for the comedian. [8]

Inspiration

Articles published in Stars & Stripes on 19 March 1943, as well as Billboard Magazine and The Christian Science Monitor during WWII claimed that Clarence Zylman of Muskegon, Michigan, was the original Boogie Woogie Bugler. [9] The song's lyrics agree with several aspects of Zylman's life. Drafted at age 35, Clarence had been performing for 20 years, beginning with Chicago radio station WBBM and then with several big bands, beginning with Paul Specht and Connie Connaughton, and most recently with the Tommy Tucker Orchestra. He brought his playing style to England where he was a bugler for an engineer company, playing "Taps" and "Reveille". He eventually was transferred to an army band. Articles in Billboard and The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) support this, and go on to claim that Clarence was sent to teach other buglers his techniques. However, Clarence Zylman did not enlist in the Army until June 9, 1942, well after "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was written and recorded. Nonetheless, a sculpture of Zylman as the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy has been dedicated in his hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, at the LST-393 Veterans Museum. The sculpture was created by artist Ari Norris. [10]

Bette Midler version

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Bette Midler.jpg
Single by Bette Midler
from the album The Divine Miss M
B-side "Delta Dawn"
ReleasedMay 1973
Genre Traditional pop
Length2:32
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Don Raye, Hughie Prince
Producer(s) Barry Manilow
Bette Midler singles chronology
"Do You Want to Dance?"
(1972)		"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
(1973)		"Friends"
(1973)

American actress and singer Bette Midler included a remake of the song on her 1972 The Divine Miss M album, and released it as the B side of the album's second single, "Delta Dawn". However, faced with the near-simultaneous release of Helen Reddy's rendition of Delta Dawn (which would peak at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts) on Long Hard Climb, Midler's singles were quickly flipped, with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" becoming the new A side. [11] Midler's version peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in mid-1973, introducing it to a new generation of pop music fans. The single was produced by Barry Manilow. The track was also a number-one single on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. [12]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
Chart (1973)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [13] 7
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [14] 8
Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [15] 3
New Zealand ( NZ Listener ) [16] 17
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 8
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [18] 1
US Cash Box Top 100 [19] 6

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
Chart (1973)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [13] 56
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [20] 94
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] 71
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) [22] 7
US Cash Box Top 100 [23] 78

Other versions

Katy Perry performing the song alongside Keri Hilson and Jennifer Nettles Katy Perry IMG 4927.jpg
Katy Perry performing the song alongside Keri Hilson and Jennifer Nettles
Canadian actress Michelle Creber performing the song Michelle Creber.jpg
Canadian actress Michelle Creber performing the song

Samples

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is one of the tracks that was sampled for "Moments in Love" by Art of Noise, which appeared on both the 1983 EP Into Battle with the Art of Noise and their debut studio album Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? (1984).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Andrews Sisters</span> American vocal group

The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (1911–1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (1916–1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie Andrews (1918–2013). The sisters have sold an estimated 80 million records. Their 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" can be considered an early example of jump blues. Other songs closely associated with the Andrews Sisters include their first major hit, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön " (1937), "Beer Barrel Polka " (1939), "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" (1940), "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree " (1942), and "Rum and Coca-Cola" (1945), which helped introduce American audiences to calypso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bette Midler</span> American actress and singer (born 1945)

Bette Midler is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden Globe Awards, three Grammy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Dawn</span> 1972 song written by Larry Collins and Alex Harvey

"Delta Dawn" is a song written by musician Larry Collins and country songwriter Alex Harvey. The first notable recording of the song was in 1971 by American singer and actress Bette Midler for her debut album The Divine Miss M. However it is best known as a 1972 top ten country hit for Tanya Tucker and a 1973 US number one hit for Helen Reddy.

<i>Buck Privates</i> 1941 film by Arthur Lubin

Buck Privates is a 1941 American musical military comedy film directed by Arthur Lubin that turned Bud Abbott and Lou Costello into bona fide movie stars. It was the first service comedy based on the peacetime draft of 1940. The comedy team made two more service comedies before the United States entered the war. A sequel to this movie, Buck Privates Come Home, was released in 1947. Buck Privates is one of three Abbott and Costello films featuring The Andrews Sisters, who were also under contract to Universal Pictures at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Raye</span> American songwriter

Don Raye was an American songwriter, best known for his songs for The Andrews Sisters such as "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", "The House of Blue Lights", "Just for a Thrill" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." The latter was co-written with Hughie Prince.

<i>The Divine Miss M</i> 1972 studio album by Bette Midler

The Divine Miss M is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Bette Midler, released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records label. The title of the album refers to Midler's famous stage persona. The album was co-produced by Barry Manilow, and includes several songs that since have become repertoire standards, such as "Do You Want to Dance?", "Chapel of Love", "Hello In There", "Friends" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". The album art was designed by Richard Amsel. It was released on CD for the first time in 1990. A remastered version of the album was released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995. A remastered deluxe edition was released in October 2016.

<i>Live at Last</i> (Bette Midler album) 1977 live album by Bette Midler

Live at Last is the first live album by American singer Bette Midler, a two-disc set released in 1977, Midler's fourth album release on the Atlantic Records label. The album spawned from her live, recorded performance, "The Depression Tour" in Cleveland, entitled "The Bette Midler Show". The album was released on CD for the first time in 1993. A limited edition remastered version of the album was released by Friday Music in 2012.

<i>Divine Madness</i> (Bette Midler album) 1980 live album by Bette Midler

Divine Madness is an album by American singer Bette Midler and the Harlettes, released in 1980. It is a live recording taken from Midler's Divine Madness concert film, released the same year. The album, however, does not contain any of Midler's comedy routines and features only her musical performances from the show and it in fact only provides half of the songs that appear in the film. The original live recordings were also to a large extent edited and re-recorded in the studio for the soundtrack album.

<i>Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits</i> 1993 greatest hits album by Bette Midler

Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American singer Bette Midler, featuring many of her best-known songs. The fourteen track compilation was released on Atlantic Records in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar</span> 1940 single by Will Bradley and His Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley

"Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" is a song written in 1940 by Don Raye, Hughie Prince, and Ray McKinley. It follows the American boogie-woogie tradition of syncopated piano music.

<i>The Best of Bette</i> (1978 album) 1978 greatest hits album by Bette Midler

The Best of Bette is the first compilation album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in 1978. This greatest hits album was issued in the UK, Continental Europe, Scandinavia and Australia to coincide with Midler's first world tour. Later editions released in 1979 also came with a free poster promoting her then upcoming movie The Rose. The Best of Bette, confusingly released with near identical cover art to 1973's Bette Midler, featured songs from Midler's first four studio albums with the addition of one track from 1977's Live at Last, the studio recording "You're Moving Out Today". The version included on The Best of Bette is the rare single mix which features an extra verse that is not found on the Live at Last album or on many of the single releases worldwide.

<i>Jackpot! The Best Bette</i> Compilation album by Bette Midler released in 2008

Jackpot! The Best Bette, released as The Best Bette in Europe, is a compilation album of recordings by American singer Bette Midler released on September 23, 2008. The album release was originally set to coincide with Midler's Las Vegas show, Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On which debuted on February 20, 2008 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, but was postponed to April, then August 26, and later to the actual September release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bette Midler discography</span>

American singer Bette Midler has released 13 studio albums, four soundtrack albums, five live albums, one spoken word album, seven greatest hits compilations, four video albums, 39 official singles, nine promotional singles, and 11 music videos.

"In This Life" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, and recorded by American country music singer Collin Raye that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released in July 1992 as the first single and title track from his CD In This Life.

<i>The Best of Bette</i> (1981 album) 1981 greatest hits album by Bette Midler

The Best of Bette is a compilation album by American singer Bette Midler, released on the K-tel label in Australia and New Zealand in 1981. The album was the second compilation to use the title The Best of Bette, the previous version with different cover art and an entirely different track list having been released on the Atlantic Records label in both the UK, Continental Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand in 1978.

<i>Just Hits</i> 1987 greatest hits album by Bette Midler

Just Hits is a compilation album by American singer Bette Midler, released on the Atlantic Records label in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. The album was the third greatest hits compilation with Midler to be released in Australia, following 1978's The Best of Bette and a second release with the same title on the K-tel label in 1981.

<i>The Bette Midler Show</i> 1976 film

The Bette Midler Show is an HBO television special of one of Bette Midler's tours entitled "The Depression Tour," shot at the Cleveland Music Hall during February 1976 and also issued on Midler's album Live at Last.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friends (Bette Midler song)</span> 1973 single by Bette Midler

"Friends" is a 1973 hit single by Bette Midler. It was written by Buzzy Linhart and Mark "Moogy" Klingman. In the United States, the song reached No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone That I Used to Love</span> Song originally recorded by Bette Midler in 1977

"Someone That I Used to Love" is a torch song written by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin that first became a success for Natalie Cole in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hughie Prince</span> American songwriter

Hugh Durham Prince, also known as Hughie Prince, was an American film composer and songwriter. He composed "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" with lyricist Don Raye for the movie comedy, Buck Privates, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1942.

References

  1. ↑ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo. "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood." Perigee Books, 1990.
  2. ↑ "The 14th Academy Awards | 1942". Oscars.org.
  3. ↑ Palumbo, Ron. "Buck Privates: The Complete Filmscript." Bear Manor Media.
  4. ↑ Edmondson, Jacqueline (2013-10-03). Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture [4 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   979-8-216-12039-1.
  5. ↑ ""Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy": Music in World War II". www.wwiimemorialfriends.org. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Karl F. (2013-10-18). Forbidden Animation: Censored Cartoons and Blacklisted Animators in America. McFarland. ISBN   978-1-4766-0725-2.
  7. ↑ Moss, Corey (2007-02-21). "Xtina X Three: Aguilera Has Multiple-Personality Disorder In Clip – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  8. ↑ Palumbo, Ron. "Buck Privates: The Complete Filmscript." Bear Manor Media, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Boogie Woogie Reveille". Billboard . Vol. 55, no. 14. Billboard. 1943-04-03. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Clarence Zylman: person, pictures and information - Fold3.com". Fold3. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  11. ↑ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits. New York City: Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 126. ISBN   0-8230-7693-8.
  12. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 170.
  13. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN   978-0-646-11917-5.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4875." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4890." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. 1973-07-09. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  17. ↑ "Bette Midler Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Bette Midler Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 7/28/73". Tropicalglen.com. 1973-07-28. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  20. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Year-End Charts 1973" (PDF).
  23. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1973". Tropicalglen.com. 1973-12-29. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  24. ↑ Robin de Peyer (2015-05-09). "VE Day 70th anniversary concert: Katherine Jenkins, Pixie Lott and Status Quo lead celebrations". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.