Gitarzan
| "Gitarzan" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ray Stevens | ||||
| from the album Gitarzan | ||||
| B-side | "Bagpipes - That's My Bag" | |||
| Released | January 6, 1969 | |||
| Format | 45 rpm vinyl | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length |
3:15 3:00 (7" version) | |||
| Label | Monument | |||
| Writer(s) | Ray Stevens, Bill Everette | |||
| Producer(s) | Fred Foster, Ray Stevens, Jim Malloy | |||
| Ray Stevens singles chronology | ||||
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"Gitarzan" is a novelty song released by Ray Stevens in 1969, about a character who lives in a jungle and forms a musical band with his female partner, Jane, and their pet monkey. The song features Tarzan yells, scat singing, and a funky Boogie Woogie, as well as a quote from the song "Swinging on a Star", with the line "Carrying Moonbeams Home in a Jar" sung with the wrong notes. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1969, and #10 in Canada in May 1969. The music and lyrics were written by Stevens with a title supplied by Bill Justis. Justis is officially credited as Bill Everette.
Cover versions
A cover version was recorded by country music parodist Cledus T. Judd on his tribute album Boogity, Boogity - A Tribute to the Comedic Genius of Ray Stevens in 2007. Judd's cover features Keith Urban and Heidi Newfield (former lead singer of Trick Pony).