Cinderella Rockefella

Last updated

"Cinderella Rockefella"
Cinderella rockefella.jpg
German picture sleeve
Single by Esther & Abi Ofarim
from the album 2 in 3
B-side "Lonesome Road"
Released9 February 1968 [1]
Recorded1967 [2]
Genre Novelty
Length2:29
Label Philips BF 1640 (UK) [2]
Songwriter(s) Mason Williams, Nancy Ames [2]
Producer(s) Abi Ofarim, Chaim Semel [2]
Esther & Abi Ofarim singles chronology
"Morning of My Life"
(1967)		"Cinderella Rockefella"
(1968)		"One More Dance"
(1968)
Official audio
"Cinderella Rockefella" on YouTube

"Cinderella Rockefella" is a novelty song written by Mason Williams and Nancy Ames. It was originally recorded and released by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim on their 1967 album 2 in 3 . It became an international hit single in 1968.

Contents

Original version

Esther Ofarim and the Smothers Brothers first performed "Cinderella Rockefella" on the CBS variety program The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in April 1967. Mason Williams, who co-wrote the song, was a writer for the series. Ofarim recorded the song with her husband Abi Ofarim that year. The words of the song imitate yodelling, with a somewhat 1920s-style arrangement structured like a twelve-bar blues.

The single was released on Philips Records in February 1968 in the UK. Esther & Abi Ofarim made an appearance on The Eamonn Andrews Show on ITV to promote it in the UK. [2] The single peaked at No. 1 in the British singles chart on 5 March 1968, where it remained for three weeks. [3] It was also No. 1 on the NME chart for four weeks. As of 2020, Esther & Abi Ofarim remain the only act from Israel to achieve a UK No. 1 single. [4] The record was an international hit, reaching the top 10 in various countries. It was less successful in the U.S., peaking at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1968. [5]

The song appeared on the albums 2 in 3 (1967) in Europe and Cinderella Rockefella (1968) in the US.

According to Radio Caroline DJ Andy Archer, the song was the last to be played on Radio Caroline South on the night of 2–3 March 1968, before its radio ship (like that of its sister station Radio Caroline North) was towed into harbour over unpaid debts on the morning of 3 March.[ citation needed ]

Williams recorded his own version of the song for his 1968 album The Mason Williams Ear Show on Warner Bros.-Seven Arts. For his rendition the duet vocal was performed by one of his Smothers Brothers collaborators, Jennifer Warnes. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Record World Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]

Cash Box (9 March 1968): "Out of the left field arena of novelty songs comes this wierd [sic] rollick complete with mock yodel and tuba-banjo backdrop. Crazy romp that shows the duo in rare form, very rare for these 'straight' talents. Could very easily repeat the track’s monster Enlish [sic] breakout on this side of the Atlantic. Exceptional long shot." [8]

Record World (9 March 1968): "Hilarious parody duet that is camp enough to connect with the populace. Pair are terrific." [7]

Chart performance

Esther & Abi Ofarim
Chart (1968)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40) [9] 14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [10] 3
Belgium (Ultratop) [10] 2
Canada (RPM 100) [11] 6
Germany (GfK Entertainment) [10] 5
Ireland (IRMA) [12] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [10] 1
New Zealand ( Listener ) [13] 12
Norway (VG-lista) [10] 8
Spain (El Gran Musical) [14] 8
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade) [10] 10
UK ( NME Top 30) [15] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [3] 1
US (Billboard Hot 100) [16] 68
US (Cash Box Top 100) [17] 67
US ( Record World 100 Top Pops) [18] 92
Venezuela [19] 7

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esther Ofarim</span> Israeli singer

Esther Zaied, better known by her married name Esther Ofarim, is an Israeli singer. She came second in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "T'en va pas", representing Switzerland. After marrying Abi Ofarim in 1958, she was half of the husband-and-wife folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim in the 1960s. After the couple divorced, she undertook a successful solo career.

<i>Songs from a Room</i> 1969 studio album by Leonard Cohen

Songs from a Room is the second album by Canadian musician Leonard Cohen, released in 1969. It reached No. 63 on the US Billboard Top LPs and No. 2 on the UK charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Morning After (Maureen McGovern song)</span> 1973 single by Maureen McGovern

"The Morning After" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, winning Best Original Song at the 45th Academy Awards. Following this success, Maureen McGovern recorded a single version that became a No. 1 hit in the US for two weeks during August 1973, with Gold record sales. Billboard ranked it as the No. 28 song for 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Johnston</span> American record producer and musician

Donald William "Bob" Johnston was an American record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, and Simon & Garfunkel.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, soon followed by Wayne King and His Orchestra with vocals by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, it has seen well over 400 recorded versions.

"Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)" (also known as In Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home) is a song written by American blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940.

"Les Trois Cloches" is a Swiss song written in French by Jean Villard. Edith Piaf recorded the song a cappella with the French vocal group Les Compagnons de la chanson in July 1946. The song became one of Édith Piaf's biggest hits, and when Piaf toured the US with Les Compagnons de la chanson, they introduced this song to an American audience. Tina Arena also recorded a hit version in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abi Ofarim</span> Israeli musician and dancer (1937–2018)

Abi Ofarim was an Israeli musician and dancer. He is better known for his work in the 1960s as half of the duo Esther & Abi Ofarim with his then-wife Esther Ofarim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esther & Abi Ofarim</span> Israeli vocal duo

Esther & Abi Ofarim were an Israeli musical duo active during the 1960s, consisting of husband and wife Abi Ofarim and Esther Ofarim. They enjoyed particular success in Germany. They had hits in Europe with their songs "One More Dance," "Morning of My Life," and "Cinderella Rockefella."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cracklin' Rosie</span> 1970 single by Neil Diamond

"Cracklin' Rosie" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1970, with instrumental backing by Los Angeles session musicians from the Wrecking Crew, including Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, Al Casey on guitar and Gene Estes on percussion – arranged by Don Randi. The song was included on Diamond's album Tap Root Manuscript. In October 1970 the song became Diamond's first American No. 1 hit within the Billboard Hot 100, and his third to sell a million copies. It was his breakthrough single on the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 3 for four weeks in November and December. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 17 song of 1970. It also reached No. 2 in both the Australian Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart. Its best performance was in New Zealand, where it stayed at No. 1 for five weeks at the end of the year.

"What Have They Done to the Rain" is a protest song against above-ground nuclear testing written by Malvina Reynolds. The song has been sung by many singers such as Joan Baez, and a version by the English band The Searchers was released as a single, which charted in the US and UK.

"The Lonesome Road" is a 1927 song with music by Nathaniel Shilkret and lyrics by Gene Austin, alternately titled "Lonesome Road", "Look Down that Lonesome Road" and "Lonesome Road Blues." It was written in the style of an African American folk song.

"Someday Soon" is a song composed by Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson who recorded the song with Sylvia Fricker as the duo Ian & Sylvia in 1963. Cited by Richie Unterberger of Allmusic as "clearly point[ing] toward [its writer's] future C&W/cowboy direction", "Someday Soon" would be brought to prominence via a 1968 recording by Judy Collins, and subsequently recorded by a number of artists primarily in the country and western field. In 2010 "Someday Soon" was honored by the Western Writers of America as one of the "Top 100 Western Songs" of all time.

"Juanita Banana" is a novelty song adaptation from Mexican folk music by Tash Howard and Murray Kenton. The song, which tells the story of a Mexican banana farmer's daughter with operatic ambitions and whose chorus is an adaptation of "Caro Nome" from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto, was originally released in the United States in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Dance</span> Song written by C. C. Carter

"One More Dance" is a song written by C. C. Carter. It is a satirical song about cynical lovers. It was first recorded by South African singer Miriam Makeba with Charles Colman for her debut album Miriam Makeba (1960). Makeba performed the song live with American singer Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall in 1960. Their duet was released on his album Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall (1960). Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim recorded popular renditions of the song in different languages.

<i>Esther Ofarim and Abraham</i> 1963 studio album by Esther & Abi Ofarim

Esther Ofarim and Abraham is the American debut album by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. It was released on Philips Records in 1963. The album was titled Songs Der Welt in Germany.

<i>2 in 3</i> 1967 studio album by Esther & Abi Ofarim

2 In 3 is an album by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. It was released on Philips Records in Europe in 1967. This is their most successful album, containing their hits "Cinderella Rockefella" and "Morning of My Life."

<i>Sing!</i> (album) 1966 studio album by Esther & Abi Ofarim

Sing! is an album by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. It was released on Philips Records in 1966. The album was released as The New Esther & Abi Ofarim Album in the UK, Sing Hallelujah! in the Netherlands, and Das Neue Esther & Abi Ofarim Album in Germany.

<i>Thats Our Song</i> 1965 studio album by Esther & Abi Ofarim

That's Our Song is an album released by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. It was released in Europe on Philips Records in 1965. The album was released as Neue Songs Der Welt in Germany.

The Pfister Siblings is a Swiss-German comedy band founded in Berlin in the early 1990s. Their music incorporates elements of folk, pop, bossa nova, vaudeville, swing, and yodeling. In 2022, Mannschraft Magazin described them as a "queer music cabaret trio."

References

  1. ↑ "70,000 a day for a hot hit" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo . 9 March 1968. p. 17. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 114. ISBN   0-85112-250-7.
  3. 1 2 "Cinderella Rockefella". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 216–7. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ "The Hot 100 (week of May 4, 1968)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Cinderella-Rockafella" on YouTube
  7. 1 2 "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Record World: 10. 9 March 1968.
  8. ↑ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 18. 9 March 1968.
  9. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 8 May 1968". poparchives.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Esther & Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "RPM Weekly: May 4, 1968" (PDF). bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts - Cinderella Rockafella". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 8 June 1968. p. 52.
  15. ↑ "New Musical Express: March 1968". skidmore.edu. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "Cinderella Rockefella (song by Esther & Abi Ofarim)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box: 4. 27 April 1968.
  18. ↑ "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World: 27. 27 April 1968.
  19. ↑ "Hits of the Word: Venezuela" (PDF). Billboard. 22 June 1968. p. 43.
  20. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 1 May 1968". poparchives.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "COVER.INFO – Cover Versions, Samples, Medleys". COVER.INFO. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Cinderella Rockefella (Quartetto Cetra, 1968) , retrieved 20 September 2022
  23. ↑ Cinderella Rockefella- Carpenters 1972 'Live In Australia' , retrieved 20 September 2022
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.