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"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 | |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1942 |
| Composer(s) | Don Raye |
| Lyricist(s) | Benny Carter Gene De Paul |
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."
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]
- The November 3, 1943 collaboration between The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald[4] resulted in a number-one hit on the Harlem Hit Parade and a number-10 hit on the pop chart.[5]
- Frankie Laine (1961) (included in the Bear Family Records 9-CD set Rawhide)[6]
- The Mills Brothers - for the album San Antonio Rose (1961).[7]
- Ray Stevens covered the song for his album Misty (Ray Stevens album) (1975).
- Mel Torme - included on the album Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass (1986).[8]
- Mother-daughter duo The Judds recorded the song for their 1987 album Heartland.[9]
Haruomi Hosono recorded the song as 'Cow Cow Boogie' on the 2013 covers album Heavenly Music.[10]
- The Ella Mae Morse version was later re-recorded as a "soundie," an early form of music video.
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