"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.

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

Background

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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

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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

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

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  • The Ella Mae Morse version was later re-recorded as a "soundie," an early form of music video.

References

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  1. ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. 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]
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