Elvira (song)
| "Elvira" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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) | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Writer(s) | Dallas Frazier | |||
| Producer(s) | Ron Chancey | |||
| Certification | Platinum (RIAA) | |||
| The Oak Ridge Boys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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.
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 ("giddy up ba-oom papa oom papa mow mow")[5] — 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.
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).
Chart performance
Dallas Frazier
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 27 |
Rodney Crowell
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 95 |
The Oak Ridge Boys
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 87 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 26 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 13 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 8 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Allmusic, review of "Elvira."
- ↑ "Dallas Frazier: Chart History". Allmusic. 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
- ↑ Poyfair, Pat (24 June 1994). "FOR MUSIC'S OAK RIDGE BOYS, HARMONY IS A WAY OF LIFE". Deseret News. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ David Kent: Australian Chart Book
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 |