"The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" was written by Mark Barkan and Ritchie Adams to be the theme song for the children’s television program The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.[1]
Originally released in 1968 by Decca Records on the album titled We're the Banana Splits, the single release peaked at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 8, 1969.[2]
In 1995, Hollywood Library released the 1,000-copy limited-edition CD reissue We're the Banana Splits/Here Come the Beagles which, in addition to the original album version, includes an alternate version on the song.[3]
Cal Tjader covered the song in 1969 as "Tra La La Song", which appears on his album Plugs In.
The Dickies had a hit with their cover of the song, called "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)", in 1979, reaching #7 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] This cover version was later used in the 2010 film Kick-Ass.
A cover of "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)", performed by Liz Phair with Material Issue, is included on the 1995 tribute album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records.[1]
Bob Marley quotes the chorus of the song (slightly differently) in the bridge of the Bob Marley & The Wailers song "Buffalo Soldier".