Nut Rocker: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | "'''Nut Rocker'''" was an [[instrumental rock]] single by [[USA|American]] instrumental ensemble [[B. Bumble and the Stingers]] that went to number 1 in the [[UK singles chart]] in May 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_the_no1_songs.php?show=2 |title=The Official UK Charts Company : ALL THE NUMBER 1 SINGLES |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> |
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{{Infobox Single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> |
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| Name =Nut Rocker |
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| Cover = |
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| Cover size = |
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| Caption = |
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| Artist =[[B. Bumble and the Stingers]] |
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| Album = |
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| A-side = |
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| B-side = Nautilus |
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| Released = |
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| Format =7", 45 rpm |
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| Recorded = |
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| Genre = [[Instrumental rock]] |
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| Length =1:59 |
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| Label =Rendezvous R 166-1 (UK [[Rank Organisation|Top Rank Records]]) |
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| Writer =[[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]], [[Kim Fowley]]<ref>[http://www.theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=135 The Official UK Charts Company : ALL THE No.1's]{{dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref> |
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| Producer =[[Kim Fowley]] |
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| Certification = |
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| Last single = |
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| This single ="Nut Rocker"<br>(1962) |
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| Next single = |
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| Misc = |
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}} |
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{{Infobox Single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> |
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| Name =Nut Rocker (Live) |
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| Cover = |
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| Cover size = |
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| Caption = |
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| Artist =[[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] |
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| Album = |
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| A-side = |
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| B-side = The Great Gates Of Kiev |
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| Released = |
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| Format =7", 45 rpm |
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| Recorded = |
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| Genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[jazz fusion]] |
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| Length = 4:25 |
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| Label =Cotillion |
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| Writer = |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | "'''Nut Rocker'''" was an [[instrumental rock]] single by [[USA|American]] instrumental ensemble [[B. Bumble and the Stingers]] that went to number 1 in the [[UK singles chart]] in May 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all_the_no1_songs.php?show=2 |title=The Official UK Charts Company |
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The recording was made by the house band of session musicians at [[Rendezvous Records]] in [[Los Angeles]], including drummer [[Earl Palmer]] and guitarist [[René Hall]], who had already had hits in the US charts with rocked-up versions of "[[In The Mood]]" (1959, credited to the [[Ernie Fields]] Orchestra) and "Bumble Boogie" (1961, also credited to B. Bumble and the Stingers, with [[Ernie Freeman]] on piano). "Nut Rocker" was produced by [[Kim Fowley]], and, since Freeman didn't show up, featured pianist [[Al Hazan]].<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/b__bumble.htm |title=B. Bumble And The Stingers |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> |
The recording was made by the house band of session musicians at [[Rendezvous Records]] in [[Los Angeles]], including drummer [[Earl Palmer]] and guitarist [[René Hall]], who had already had hits in the US charts with rocked-up versions of "[[In The Mood]]" (1959, credited to the [[Ernie Fields]] Orchestra) and "Bumble Boogie" (1961, also credited to B. Bumble and the Stingers, with [[Ernie Freeman]] on piano). "Nut Rocker" was produced by [[Kim Fowley]], and, since Freeman didn't show up, featured pianist [[Al Hazan]].<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/b__bumble.htm |title=B. Bumble And The Stingers |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> |
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In 1962, Fowley secured the copyright to an arrangement of [[Tchaikovsky]]'s "March of the Wooden Soldiers" from his ballet ''[[The Nutcracker]]'', and took this to local entrepreneur and pianist [[H. B. Barnum]]. Barnum recorded it as by "Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks" on the small Del Rio label. However, when Rod Pierce of [[Rendezvous Records]] heard it, he convinced Fowley that his label could do a better version with their own band. A new recording was quickly arranged, but on the day, Ernie Freeman, who had played piano on "Bumble Boogie", didn't show, apparently due to heavy partying the night before. In his place, guitarist and arranger René Hall rushed pianist Al Hazan into the Rendezvous office, which was rigged up as an improvised studio. According to Hazan, "Rod decided to record the first take while I was still trying to practice the piece with the other musicians. Because I was so rushed to learn 'Nut Rocker', I was not happy at all with my performance on that first take. However, in spite of my asking Rod to let me do it over again, he said he liked it just fine the way it was."<ref name=hazan>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectropop.com/NutRocker/ |title=Nut Rocker |publisher=Spectropop.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> Released as "Nut Rocker" in February 1962, the record went to # 23 in the US and # 1 in the UK.<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/b__bumble.htm |title=B. Bumble And The Stingers |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> |
In 1962, Fowley secured the copyright to an arrangement of [[Tchaikovsky]]'s "March of the Wooden Soldiers" from his ballet ''[[The Nutcracker]]'', and took this to local entrepreneur and pianist [[H. B. Barnum]]. Barnum recorded it as by "Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks" on the small Del Rio label. However, when Rod Pierce of [[Rendezvous Records]] heard it, he convinced Fowley that his label could do a better version with their own band. A new recording was quickly arranged, but on the day, Ernie Freeman, who had played piano on "Bumble Boogie", didn't show, apparently due to heavy partying the night before. In his place, guitarist and arranger René Hall rushed pianist Al Hazan into the Rendezvous office, which was rigged up as an improvised studio. According to Hazan, "Rod decided to record the first take while I was still trying to practice the piece with the other musicians. Because I was so rushed to learn 'Nut Rocker', I was not happy at all with my performance on that first take. However, in spite of my asking Rod to let me do it over again, he said he liked it just fine the way it was."<ref name=hazan>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectropop.com/NutRocker/ |title=Nut Rocker |publisher=Spectropop.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> Released as "Nut Rocker" in February 1962, the record went to # 23 in the US and # 1 in the UK.<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/b__bumble.htm |title=B. Bumble And The Stingers |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-27}}</ref> |
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At the time of release in the UK, the BBC had a policy of banning records which parodied classical music. "Nut Rocker" was put to committee for consideration, however it was felt that "This instrumental piece is quite openly a parody of a Tchaikovsky dance tune, is clearly of an ephemeral nature, and in our opinion will not offend reasonable people." and was not therefore banned. <ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/unfit-for-aunties-airwaves-the-artists-censored-by-the-bbc-765106.html</ref> |
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The song is a fast, lively track that is purely instrumental and was the band's biggest hit. It has been featured in many commercials, movies and television programmes such as ''[[The Butcher Boy (1997 film)|Butcher Boy]]'' (1998), ''[[Big Momma's House]]'' (2000) and [[ITV]]'s ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' in 2006. The song is used as the theme tune for the Stock Rod racing formula on many of the UK's short oval car racing circuits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spedeworth.co.uk/formula.php?name=sr |title=Spedeworth Motorsports : Stock Rods page}}</ref> It was also used by Romanian gymnast [[Simona Amanar]] in her floor exercise routine which won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics. |
The song is a fast, lively track that is purely instrumental and was the band's biggest hit. It has been featured in many commercials, movies and television programmes such as ''[[The Butcher Boy (1997 film)|Butcher Boy]]'' (1998), ''[[Big Momma's House]]'' (2000) and [[ITV]]'s ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' in 2006. The song is used as the theme tune for the Stock Rod racing formula on many of the UK's short oval car racing circuits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spedeworth.co.uk/formula.php?name=sr |title=Spedeworth Motorsports : Stock Rods page}}</ref> It was also used by Romanian gymnast [[Simona Amanar]] in her floor exercise routine which won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics. |
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Revision as of 19:01, 7 August 2013
"Nut Rocker" was an instrumental rock single by American instrumental ensemble B. Bumble and the Stingers that went to number 1 in the UK singles chart in May 1962.[1]
The recording was made by the house band of session musicians at Rendezvous Records in Los Angeles, including drummer Earl Palmer and guitarist René Hall, who had already had hits in the US charts with rocked-up versions of "In The Mood" (1959, credited to the Ernie Fields Orchestra) and "Bumble Boogie" (1961, also credited to B. Bumble and the Stingers, with Ernie Freeman on piano). "Nut Rocker" was produced by Kim Fowley, and, since Freeman didn't show up, featured pianist Al Hazan.[2]
In 1962, Fowley secured the copyright to an arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "March of the Wooden Soldiers" from his ballet The Nutcracker, and took this to local entrepreneur and pianist H. B. Barnum. Barnum recorded it as by "Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks" on the small Del Rio label. However, when Rod Pierce of Rendezvous Records heard it, he convinced Fowley that his label could do a better version with their own band. A new recording was quickly arranged, but on the day, Ernie Freeman, who had played piano on "Bumble Boogie", didn't show, apparently due to heavy partying the night before. In his place, guitarist and arranger René Hall rushed pianist Al Hazan into the Rendezvous office, which was rigged up as an improvised studio. According to Hazan, "Rod decided to record the first take while I was still trying to practice the piece with the other musicians. Because I was so rushed to learn 'Nut Rocker', I was not happy at all with my performance on that first take. However, in spite of my asking Rod to let me do it over again, he said he liked it just fine the way it was."[3] Released as "Nut Rocker" in February 1962, the record went to # 23 in the US and # 1 in the UK.[2]
At the time of release in the UK, the BBC had a policy of banning records which parodied classical music. "Nut Rocker" was put to committee for consideration, however it was felt that "This instrumental piece is quite openly a parody of a Tchaikovsky dance tune, is clearly of an ephemeral nature, and in our opinion will not offend reasonable people." and was not therefore banned. [4]
The song is a fast, lively track that is purely instrumental and was the band's biggest hit. It has been featured in many commercials, movies and television programmes such as Butcher Boy (1998), Big Momma's House (2000) and ITV's Heartbeat in 2006. The song is used as the theme tune for the Stock Rod racing formula on many of the UK's short oval car racing circuits.[5] It was also used by Romanian gymnast Simona Amanar in her floor exercise routine which won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics.
It was reissued in 1972 in the UK, and again made the charts (No. 20, week ending July 8). It was a live favourite when performed by prog-rockers Emerson, Lake & Palmer, whose single was also released in 1972. The main keyboard they used was not a piano but a Clavinet. In 2009, Trans-Siberian Orchestra released a version of "Nut Rocker", featuring Greg Lake, on their album Night Castle.
"Nut Rocker" is possibly the prime inspiration for The Ventures' similar work "Nutty", which became identified with the American NHL's Boston Bruins ice hockey team as the intro song for telecast Bruins games for two decades. Dropkick Murphys released a version as one of the tracks on their 2004 Tessie EP, whose title track is devoted to another Boston major league sports team, the Red Sox.
References
- ^ "The Official UK Charts Company : ALL THE NUMBER 1 SINGLES". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
{{cite web}}: no-break space character in|title=at position 31 (help) - ^ a b "B. Bumble And The Stingers". Rockabillyeurope.com. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ^ "Nut Rocker". Spectropop.com. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/unfit-for-aunties-airwaves-the-artists-censored-by-the-bbc-765106.html
- ^ "Spedeworth Motorsports : Stock Rods page".