The best-known version of that joyful ode to getting smashed,
Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee, would surely be the
Jerry Lee Lewis rendition, and Memphis rockabilly singer
Johnny Burnette recorded a
hopping little version of the tune as well. But the song was written and
originally recorded by
Stick (aka "Sticks") McGhee, who adapted it from a chant he learned during his stint in the Army. And yes, "spo-dee-o-dee" was a substitute for
another word, which, though fine for the Army, wasn't exactly radio friendly. Stick wrote a few other tunes in celebration of the alcoholic beverage, including
"Six To Eight" and "Jungle Juice". And as has been pointed out
previously, the song title was likely the inspiration for the alcoholic concoction known as the "
spodi". Drink up!
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Apr 13, 2008 -
8 comments
Anybody out there remember
The Left Banke? They were a kinda Beatle-y 60's pop/rock outfit out of New York City. Critics labeled them "baroque-pop", apparently due to the "classical" influences in their music. They're surely best known for their catchy little harmony vocals hit from 1966,
Walk Away Renée. And in a reversal of the more common trend of white artists covering Motown hits, a rather unexpected version by
The Four Tops turned up. Arguably, the song wasn't
exactly a perfect fit for the soul vocal quartet at the time they first recorded it, but more
recent performances show that they've grown comfortable with it over the years: maybe it's the slower tempo. Here's the
lyrics. And the
story behind the song. And what the hell, the
Wikipedia page. And
Songfacts. They all have something of interest to offer concerning this durable little number, originally written by a 16-year-old!
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Jul 24, 2007 -
51 comments
