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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ella Mae Morse</span> American singer (1924–1999)

Ella Mae Morse was an American singer of popular music whose 1940s and 1950s recordings mixing jazz, blues, and country styles influenced the development of rock and roll. Her 1942 recording of "Cow-Cow Boogie" with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra gave Capitol Records its first gold record. In 1943, her single "Get On Board, Little Chillun", also with Slack, charted in what would soon become the R&B charts, making her one of the first white singers to do so. Morse stopped recording in 1957 but continued to perform and tour into the 1990s. In 1960 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Slack</span> American pianist and bandleader

Frederick Charles Slack was an American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haruomi Hosono</span> Japanese musician (born 1947)

Haruomi Hosono, sometimes credited as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in Japanese pop music history, credited with shaping the sound of Japanese pop for decades as well as pop music outside of Japan. He also inspired genres such as city pop and Shibuya-kei, and as leader of Yellow Magic Orchestra, contributed to the development and pioneering of numerous electronic genres.

<i>Reveille with Beverly</i> 1943 film by Charles Barton

Reveille with Beverly is a 1943 American musical film starring Ann Miller, Franklin Pangborn, and Larry Parks directed by Charles Barton, released by Columbia Pictures, based on the Reveille with Beverly radio show hosted by Jean Ruth. It is also the name of the subsequent soundtrack album.

<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.

"It's De-Lovely" is one of Cole Porter's hit songs, originally appearing in his 1936 musical, Red Hot and Blue. It was introduced by Ethel Merman and Bob Hope. The song was later used in the musical Anything Goes, first appearing in the 1956 film version ; in the 1962 revival where it was sung by Hal Linden and Barbara Lang, and in the 2004 biographical film De-Lovely, where it was performed by Robbie Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Only a Paper Moon</span> 1933 popular song

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose.

"I'm Beginning to See the Light" is a popular song and jazz standard, with music written by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James and lyrics by Don George and published in 1944.

"Moonlight Becomes You" is a popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was written for the Paramount Pictures release Road to Morocco (1942) and published in 1942 in connection with the film. Vic Schoen wrote the arrangement.

<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.

"Let's Take a Walk Around the Block" is a popular song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ira Gershwin and E.Y. Harburg.

"This Time the Dream's on Me" is a song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was written for the 1941 film Blues in the Night when it was sung by Priscilla Lane.

"Change Partners" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1938 film Carefree, in which it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1938, but lost out to "Thanks for the Memory."

"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is a 1938 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics added by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo and John Redmond. The song became a number one hit for Ellington in 1938. Other hit versions the same year were by Benny Goodman, Connee Boswell, Hot Lips Page, and Mildred Bailey. It was performed as part of The Cotton Club Parade of 1938.

"Cotton Tail" is a 1940 composition by Duke Ellington. It is based on the rhythm changes from George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm". The first Ellington recording is notable for the driving tenor saxophone solo by Ben Webster. Originally an instrumental, "Cotton Tail" later had lyrics written for it by Ellington. Later, more lyrics were written, based on the 1940 recording, by Jon Hendricks, and recorded by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.

Clarence Francis Cherock known professionally as Shorty Sherock was an American swing jazz trumpeter.

"Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" is a popular song composed by Illinois Jacquet and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics written by Al Stillman. It was originally recorded by Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra as an instrumental on April 6, 1949 as "Black Velvet". Al Stillman later added lyrics and Harry James recorded it as "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" on December 12, 1949 on Columbia 38682.

"Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" is a 1944 song performed as a duet by The Ink Spots, featuring Bill Kenny, and Ella Fitzgerald. Their recording was made on August 30, 1944 for Decca Records. The song was written by Allan Roberts (lyrics) and Doris Fisher (melody). The name of the song originates from a quotation of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from the poem "Rainy Day". The song has also been included in the soundtrack for several videogames.

"The House of Blue Lights" is a boogie woogie-style popular song written by Don Raye and Freddie Slack. Published in 1946, it was first recorded by Slack with singer Ella Mae Morse and Raye.

Charles Nelson Miller was an American singer and pianist who had a US top ten hit in 1955 with his version of "The House of Blue Lights".

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