D. J. David B. Spins Comics-Tunes: Allez, hop!
When I tell people what I do for a living (that is, share my collection of comics-related music with the world) they always say, “Hey, what about Alley Oop?” Yeah, it’s kind of the most obvious comics-oriented record and probably the biggest comics-related hit next to “Sugar Sugar” (which I presented way back on February 5th.
Of course, Alley Oop the comic strip, ran for years and years.
The original version of the song by the Hollywood Argyles (actually Gary Paxton, of “Monster Mash” fame) has been played to death. There were two more versions in the charts at the same time, one by Dante and the Evergreens and another by the Dyna-Sores (ouch). But this nifty recording is by the Royal Guardsmen, known primarily for “Snoopy and the Red Baron,” a different (but equally great) comic strip song. So there are actually TWO comics connections this week. How about that?
As I’ve said many times – to anyone who’ll listen – this song includes my all-time favorite lyric in all of rock and/or roll: “He’s a mean motor scooter and a bad go-getter.” I think that says it all.
To check out this prehistoric gem, click on the bar below…
(if no bar appears please click here to listen)
Be here next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel…
— C. Yoe (in the funny papers)
Nice.
The Royal Guardsmen did a song called “Down Behind the Lines,” which was probably the B-side of one of their Snoopy records. It didn’t have any comics connections, but I thought it was a pretty good song. They might have pigeon-holed themselves with their comics-related songs, but I think the group made a great decision when they left out the electronic buzzes.
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band also released a cover of Alley Oop. It was their second single, released in the UK in October 1966 on the Parlophone label, and with their cover of Button Up Your Overcoat on the b-side. The tracks were not incorporated into one of their albums, but in 1992 were included as bonus tracks in the Cornology box-set. In 2007 the reissue of their album The Doughnut In Granny’s Greenhouse included an alternate mix of Alley Oop featuring Beatlemania-parodying audience noise.
It’s not widely known that, in the wake of the announcement that Popeye would be made into a live-action Hollywood movie, Alley Oop was, too, mooted for a live-action version circa 1979, potentially starring John Belushi. Details here: http://smarterthantheaverage.tumblr.com/post/24552848 .
Most unrealised John Belushi projects were aborted due to his untimely death, but not this one - this was unquestionably aborted due to Popeye’s untimely death at the box office.
Wow, that’s faskinatin’ information! It’s nice to know we have some knowledgeable readers here on the Arf blog.
Hold on, this is exactly the same as Annie Fanny by the Kingsmen! Damn these interchangable rock’n'roll stuff!
Good point, Ryan! Of course, Alley Oop came first. Perhaps when the Kingsmen decided to write a song about Little Annie Fanny they thought it would be appropriate to base it on another comic strip song.
So, while Mr. Yoe is away on safari, it looks as though yours truly, DJ David B has the blog all to hisself. I hope our loyal Arf-lovers will stick with us until Craig returns to posting every day.
Meanwhile, enjoy this musical interlude.
Another tune awaits you next Tuesday.
Ah, so THAT’s where he got to. He could’ve told us, I’ve sent him a get-well email and everything! Ah well, thanks for the information regarding the whole Kingsmen thing. Keep it up, etc. More animation-themed stuff perhaps?
[...] was covered by Dante & the Evergreens and George Thorogood & the Destroyers among others (see July 8, 2025). Perhaps one of the biggest comic hits of all time, after “Barney Google,” “Sugar Sugar” [...]