Elvira (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Elvira


Artist = The Oak Ridge Boys
from 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 = Dallas Frazier
Producer =
Certification = Platinum (RIAA)
Last single = "Beautiful You"
(1980)
This single = "Elvira"
(1981)
Next single = "(I'm Settin') Fancy Free"
(1981)

"Elvira" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. Originally recorded and released by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, the song later 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.

ong 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. [Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. All Music Guide, review of "Elvira." [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:hzfqxzt5ld6e] ]

Oak Ridge Boys cover

In 1978, alternative country recording artist Rodney Crowell recorded his cover of "Elvira," 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. [ibid.]

Released in March 1981, "Elvira" quickly climbed the "Billboard magazine" Hot Country Singles chart, and became their fourth No. 1 hit that Memorial Day weekend. Their rendition — complete with Richard Sterban's deep voiced vocals on the chorus ("ba-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 [http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp] , a distinction that, for years, it shared only with "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

ingle 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).

ources

References

ee also

*Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
*Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.