Dot 15485 (original) USA, June 1956
Words & Music by: Side A – Jimmy Drake; Side B – Jimmy Drake
Musicians: Jimmy Drake (vocals, piano, baritone ukulele), Red Blanchard
(ape calls, sound effects)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jimmy Drake and Red Blanchard at Drake’s
home studio in Oakland, CA, in May / June 1956
Highest chart positions: Side A – US #24; Side B – none
Well, this is something … different, but I love it! Nervous Norvus (Jimmy Drake) was a truck driver who bough himself an Ampex 600 tape recorder, a piano and a baritone uke – and started recording demos. His breakthrough came with the song “Transfusion” (US #8), which I have posted here.
Unlike “Transfusion”—which was banned by many stations for making light of fatal car crashes—"Ape Call” was deemed safe and harmless, leading to immediate airplay.
Red Blanchard's loud Tarzan shrieks on the A-side amused listeners, but the agonizing dog howls on the B-side caused many DJs to outright refuse to play the flip side.
The Blue Cats covered “Wild Dogs of Kentucky” on their 1992 album “The Tunnel”.
“Ultra High Fidelity” 😊
List price: $5-$10, but these have been sold in eBay for about $15.
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