Elvira (song)
| "Elvira" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Oak Ridge Boys | ||||
| from the album Fancy Free | ||||
| Released | March 1981 (U.S.) | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:39 (single edit) 3:45 (album version) |
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| Label | MCA | |||
| Writer(s) | Dallas Frazier | |||
| Producer | Ron Chancey | |||
| Certification | Platinum (RIAA) | |||
| The Oak Ridge Boys singles chronology | ||||
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"Elvira" is a song written by Dallas Frazier which became a famous country and pop hit by The Oak Ridge Boys. A Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts, The Oak Ridge Boys' version is considered one of their signature songs.
Contents |
[edit] Song history
Songwriter Dallas Frazier penned "Elvira" in 1966 and included it as the title track of an album he released that year. A number of recording artists, most notably Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, recorded the song through the years, to varying degrees of success.[1] Frazier's own version peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.[2]
In 1978, alternative country recording artist Rodney Crowell recorded his cover of "Elvira" (with "Ashes by Now" on the b-side)[3] which became a very minor hit that year. However, Crowell's version did have its fans — most notably, The Oak Ridge Boys. In 1980, when the band began planning for their upcoming album Fancy Free, they decided to cover the song as well.[1]
Released in March 1981 with Joe Bonsall on lead vocals,[4] "Elvira" quickly climbed the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart, and became their fourth No. 1 hit that Memorial Day weekend. Their rendition — which included bass singer Richard Sterban's deep-voiced vocal solo on the chorus ("ba-oom papa oom papa oom papa mow mow") — would also become their biggest pop hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August.
"Elvira" was certified platinum for sales of 2 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America, a distinction that, for years, it shared only with "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
[edit] Single and album edits
The single version fades out after the first key change, more than a minute earlier than the album version (which features two more key changes and "oom pa-pa mow mow" choruses).
[edit] Chart performance
[edit] Dallas Frazier
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
[edit] Rodney Crowell
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 95 |
[edit] The Oak Ridge Boys
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 26 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 13 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 13 |
| Australian Kent Music Report | 87[5] |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Allmusic, review of "Elvira."
- ^ "Dallas Frazier: Chart History". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p77627. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 109. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=DL6gHNXWToQC&pg=PA253&dq=%22joe+bonsall%22+%22elvira%22&hl=en&ei=B-p3TuitIuHi0QH-xujvDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CE8Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22joe%20bonsall%22%20%22elvira%22&f=false
- ^ David Kent: Australian Chart Book
[edit] See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.
| Preceded by "Seven Year Ache" by Rosanne Cash |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single May 30, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Friends" by Razzy Bailey |
| Preceded by "Pride" by Janie Fricke |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single June 20, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Blessed Are the Believers" by Anne Murray |
