78 RPM 1947 Danny Kaye Andrews Sisters Civilization/Bread & Butter Woman 23940
$
32
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
78 RPM Decca 1947 Danny Kaye Andrews Sisters Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) /Bread And Butter Woman 23940. Vic Schoen and His Orchestra. Some Scratches & Rubs.
"Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" backed with "Bread and Butter Woman" is a 1947 single released by Decca Records (catalog number 23940) featuring Danny Kaye and The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and His Orchestra. Recorded on September 27, 1947, and released on November 14, 1947, the record became a major hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and remaining there for 10 weeks.
Written by Carl Sigman (music) and Bob Hilliard (lyrics), the song is a satirical take on post-war anxieties, particularly the fear of nuclear warfare following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The lyrics describe a native in the "Congo" who rejects the so-called benefits of "civilization," preferring his simple life over the dangers of the modern world, including the atom bomb. The song was originally featured in the Broadway musical Angel in the Wings, where it was performed by Elaine Stritch, but the Kaye/Andrews Sisters version became the most famous, noted for its uptempo boogie-woogie piano and playful vocal exchanges.
The flip side, "Bread and Butter Woman," written by Allan Roberts and Lester Lee, offers a humorous contrast by celebrating a down-to-earth, domestic partner over a high-maintenance woman. The lyrics describe a preference for a woman who is content with simple pleasures like "meat and potatoes" rather than one who demands luxury items like yachts and mansions. The track features the signature close-harmony singing of The Andrews Sisters alongside Danny Kaye's comedic vocal stylings.
price rating
