Cow-Cow Boogie

Last updated
"Cow-Cow Boogie"
Song
LanguageEnglish
Published1942
Composer(s) Don Raye
Lyricist(s) Benny Carter
Gene De Paul

"Cow Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay)" is a "country-boogie"-style blues song, with music was written by Don Raye, and lyrics were written by Benny Carter and Gene De Paul. [1] The song was written for the 1942 Abbott & Costello film Ride 'Em Cowboy , which included Ella Fitzgerald as a cast member, but was cut from the movie.

Contents

Background

The song utilizes the folklore of the singing cowboy in the American West. In the lyrics, the cowboy is from the city and tells his "dogies" (motherless calves) [2] to "get hip."

First recording

The first recording was by Freddie Slack & his Orchestra, featuring vocalist Ella Mae Morse in 1942. The record was the second release by Capitol Records and their first million-seller/ number one on the charts record. Morse learned the song from hearing Fitzgerald on a soundtrack she had acquired, even though the song had been cut from the movie. Morse also recalled recording the song in a single take, which she had thought was only a rehearsal. [3]

Other recordings

Haruomi Hosono recorded the song as 'Cow Cow Boogie' on the 2013 covers album Heavenly Music. [10]

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References

  1. "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. "Dictionary definition of "Dogies"". Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 11, 2012.
  3. Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN   978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC   31611854. Tape 1, side A.
  4. "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 204.
  6. "Bear Family Records". bear-family.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  7. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 1961. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  8. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  10. https://www.discogs.com/master/1010290-Haruomi-Hosono-Heavenly-Music [ bare URL ]