RAY STEVENS - “The Streak”
“The Streak” isn’t awful as comedy records go, in fact musically it slips down very easily, a perky country number with a few good rhymes for “streak” as its highlight. But not only does Stevens succumb to the blight of the comedy song and shove a laugh track on his record, he also insists on using it for his least funny gag, the laboured hick voice he puts on for the streak-witnesser. Goodwill in shortish supply here.
But anyway, streaking. I was nine years old when Erica Roe streaked and…. actually, I don’t remember it at all. Sorry! But I do remember streaking being a “thing”, though somehow I assumed it was specifically British - there’s something a bit Donald McGill about it, especially as it seems to happen a lot at cricket matches. A little Wikipedia research reveals that not only was I completely wrong but that Ray Stevens was highly topical - Time Magazine had only brought the word to light the year before and by ‘74 the craze was full-blown. Wikipedia also confirms that streaking is with us still though these days the streakers tend to have the names of insurance websites painted on their backs. Poor show - in the metaphorical sense. 3
Site powered by
Mark G on October 24th, 2007
I don’t remember Brucie ever being on TOTP, however I do remember that particular episode quite clearly (Morris Albert! Chris Farlowe!)
good old selective memory!
Mark G on October 24th, 2007
.. for some reason, I remember “I’m backing Britain” w/ Freddie Parrot Face Davis. Am I a meringue?
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
You might be a plate of semolina since Freddie Parrot Face Davies definitely did a song on that topic. No, “I’m Backing Britain” was Brucie, Pye Records ‘68, and I’ve got it in the house. “In shops and supermarkets/Everybody start it/To work a little more without the PAAAAAAAAAY!”
If
mugsworkers were being asked to sacrifice some of their income they probably couldn’t afford to buy the single.Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Currently I have “The Streak” on CD as part of one of those Readers’ Digest 3CD SOUNDS OF THE SEVENTIES (1974) ORIGINAL RECORDINGS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SHOPS (well I found it in a charity shop but there you go) packages which is one of these compilations it’s handy to have to round up those elusive one-off hits, as well as other assorted oddities including Ronnie Corbett’s “Fanny,” which I distinctly remembering him performing on TOTP in ‘74. Written by Herbie Flowers and double entendres were included.
mike on October 24th, 2007
And then there was Ken Goodwin’s “Settle Down Now”, which turned the immortal catchphrase into a sentimental lullaby to a child, not played for laughs at all. I have a vague memory of Goodwin crooning it into a cot on The Golden Shot.
Weirdly, I also remember Chris Farlowe’s 1975 TOTP appearance, but not Forsyth’s…
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Gawd, “Settle Down Now,” another one Hatch and Trent tossed off in their tea break. Very much in the mode of their unforgettable “Mr And Mrs (Be Nice To Each Other),” the theme from that fantastic daytime quiz show hosted by Derek Bailey.
Erithian on October 24th, 2007
If Brucie did TOTP in October ’75 it wasn’t a long time away from Bing Crosby’s appearance on the show doing “That’s What Life Is All About”. Reportedly he emerged into the studio and drawled “Hi, gang!” to the astonished audience who promptly burst into a round of applause.
Such a shame that as late as ’75 there are TOTP editions of which no tape survives. Billy, do you know how complete the BBC archives are after that date?
mike on October 24th, 2007
I wonder if the BBC still have the tape of Bill Haley & The Comets’ March 1974 TOTP appearance, in support of the re-issued “Rock Around The Clock” (it reached #12). My abiding memory is of one clearly very pissed off young woman in the audience, dead centre in the shot, refusing to dance like everyone else, and instead standing stock still with her arms folded. I took this at the time as a wrong-headed, and yet somehow rather admirable, generational protest, i.e. she didn’t come all this way, to Britain’s most hip and happening pop TV show, only to endure a bunch of BORING OLD MEN…
Billy Smart on October 24th, 2007
Here’s a list of how many episodes of Top of the Pops exist year by year. Its a sorry showing;
1964 0
1965 0
1966 0
1967 1
1968 2
1969 1
1970 4
1971 7
1972 3
1973 8
1974 6
1975 9
1976 34
1977 48 and from 1978 they all survive. Plus some freestanding clips of individual performances.
The penultimate missing show includes Television performing ‘Prove It’ in the studio. Ngghh! How frustrating!
Billy Smart on October 24th, 2007
Oh, and…
Ronnie Corbett performed Fanny on the Top of the Pops of the 14th of November 1974, presented by Dave Lee Travis. Also in the studio that week were Ace, Cilla Black, Donny Osmond, Eddie Holman, Gary Glitter, Lynsey De Paul, Suzi Quatro and The Crystals (?! It says here, anyway). No, this one didn’t survive, either.
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Yes, “Da Doo Ron Ron” had been reissued and was back in the Top 20 so that is plausible.
“Ronnie Corbett performed Fanny” - insert punchline of your choice (try to avoid invoking the Nolan Sisters)…
Erithian on October 24th, 2007
Surely they’d all have been underage in 1974?!
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
I’m sure there were a couple of significantly older ones even then, but if not I guess he would have had to make do with, um, the Beverley Sisters…
intothefireuk on October 24th, 2007
There are some performances that still exist via some enthusiastic BBC VT ops making their own TOTP compilations and keeping them in their own private collections. Some of these have already appeared on ebay (see this recent one - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170156028931&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007)and hopefully will see the light of day at some point.
Mark G on October 24th, 2007
Rewind to comment 28:
I’m old enoough to remember the badges and things re: I’m backing Britain…
But remember folks: The ending of “Carry on up the Khyber” where the “I’m backing Britain” flag is raised, and Peter Barkworth turns to the camera and says “of course, you know, they’re all mad!”
It was only the last time I saw this film where I got what he was REALLY meaning!
Waldo on October 24th, 2007
Don’t look, Ethel!
Was this a novelty record or was it not? Not only that but a very dated novelty record, for although streaking endured (I remember an absolute vision of a girl entertaining the chaps – and no doubt one or two females – as Richard Krajicek and Malivai Washington posed by the net before their 1996 Wimbledon Final. Krajicek merely twitched slightly but Washington’s look had to be seen to be believed, his eyes bulging like a cartoon wolf-whistler. No wonder Krajicek put him through the blender in straight sets), the practice was very much rooted in the seventies as a worldwide phenomenon.
Ray Stevens’ streaker, of course, was male, a guy who appears on three separate occasions to the same middle-aged American couple. The husband (as told to an “action news reporter”) recounts these events and of his attempts to protect his wife’s eyes from them but is then left to stare incredulously at the streaker again as he sees that his wife has joined him.
Dated it may be but this was a marvellous piece of comedy by a much underrated and clever artist, who was just as adept at Country and MOR pop as he was at off the wall humour and was for a time one of the biggest name entertainers in the United States. The OTT canned laughter tracks was a Stevens speciality. “The Streak” may have owed its success to simply seizing the moment (which certainly applies to an absolutely huge number one not far away from us now) but this was high jinks indeed and quite a period piece now, I think.
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Um, shouldn’t that be Peter Butterworth? (xpost)
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
“Mr Businessman,” that was his other “socially aware” song.
I preferred Jimmy Savile’s version of “Ahab The Arab.”
Tom on October 24th, 2007
Some amazing stuff on this comments thread might I say - particularly enjoyed the dedicated streaking comic and the budgie who could say “Ray Stevens”.
Caledonianne on October 24th, 2007
#31 Marcello
That’ll be Derek BATEY “When your husband comes home at night does he put on his slippers
(a) as soon as he gets home
(b) after he’s had his tea
(c) he doesn’t wear slippers?
Does your wife
(a) always buy a particular brand of toothpaste
(b) buy whatever’s on special offer at the supermarket
(c) wear dentures?”
Cutting edge stuff at Border Television (Chairman, Lord Bragg of Wigton). And then there was the Julian Clary retread..
And - yup - Just Another Saturday was smashing, even if set in (shudder) Greenock.
Mark G on October 24th, 2007
Today, we are mostly getting surnames wrong…
mike on October 24th, 2007
Having just looked up the lyrics to “The Streak”, I am shocked - SHOCKED, I tell you - to find that I have had the chorus all wrong for the past 33 years.
MY VERSION: “Here he comes (boogity boogity (*)), there he goes (boogity boogity)…”
CORRECT VERSION: “Here he comes (look at that, look at that), there he goes (look at that, look at that)…”
(*) But pronounced “booga-dah booga-dah”, as per some imagined Deep South accent…
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Today we are missing DELIBERATE IRONY
i.e. Derek Bailey presenting Mr & Mrs:
“This is a quiz show, right? Does it go on like this? That’s my problem, you see. It goes on like a quiz show goes on and it brooks no argument. Doing quiz shows is fine except you’ve got this thing called a quiz show and it ascribes an endgame to a process which to me has no end. What do people do when they’re watching quiz shows? Have a cup of tea? That’s part of the problem. You’re not required to give your full, undivided attention to it. There seems limited scope for any improvisational stratagems here. You wouldn’t have this if Han were producing…”
Derek Batey from control booth: “OK you’re fired, I’ll do it meself! Pah!”
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
The parent album, if memory serves, was entitled Boogity Boogity.
Waldo on October 24th, 2007
For fans of “Mr and Mrs”, may I refer you to a little piece by Derek and Clive called “Mona” from one of their albums. Wonderful.
mike on October 24th, 2007
“Peter Fenn is going to play you three tunes on the Hammond Organ. Which one is your wife’s favourite?”
1. Bye Bye Blackbird.
2. Where Do I Begin? (Theme From Love Story).
3. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.
mike on October 24th, 2007
“Derek Bailey is going to play you three tunes, on a guitar which he has “prepared” especially for today’s show. Which one is your wife’s favourite?”
1. ii………………ii………………ktooo………ah-uh-ah-uh………….KRRRKH……………..bi-doop!
2. SQUIIIII THHHRPPPP KTUNNKKK HCHCHCHCHCHCH-RRRRRRUGH-HCHCHCHCHCHCH-RRRRRRUGH^^^@%&!!!##################
3. Let Me Go, Lover.
Waldo on October 24th, 2007
“Okay, Annie. When your uzbund comes ‘ome from t’labour exchange, what d’yoo ‘ave fer t’bugger’s tee?
1. Dish of tripe with bread an’ drippin’?
2. Ferret an’ chips with bread an’ drippin’?
3. Fois gras followed by duck a l’orange and a bottle of Chateau Margeaux 1961?”
Marcello Carlin on October 24th, 2007
Now why did he never do that all those years he was in the Op Knox house band? (xpost)
Caledonianne on October 24th, 2007
Ha! Ha! Unforgettable Derek Bailey. Very good.
That will teach me to read this at work…
FT's crag on October 24th, 2007
Speaking of Mr and Mrs one of my favorite TV (clutch clipboard to chest and adopt Nordenesque voice) “bloopers” was from the US version where the permagrinning host asked Wife #1 ‘Where is the most unusual place your husband has made love to you?’ to which, after some thought she innocently replied ‘In the ass?’
Apologies if easily offended….
FT's crag on October 24th, 2007
As for the Streak…”Don’t Look Ethel?” More like don’t listen - offensively bad.
Mark G on October 25th, 2007
OK (pinggg) NEXT!
Marcello Carlin on October 25th, 2007
Ah yes, the next number one…tricky subject, officer…
Nick on November 2nd, 2007
When you are 72 years of age, any kind of comedy is definitely fruit for the soul. I thought “The Streaker” was one of Ray’s best. I used to have his record but I really dont know what happened to it.
These days the pension does not run to buying disks.
Marcello Carlin on November 2nd, 2007
I think Ray himself has now approached the 70 mark. Didn’t have any more hits here after the mid-seventies but I guess he’s carried on in the States. He must have emitted a huge “GRRRRR” when Weird Al Yankovic came along, mind you.
Marcello Carlin on November 2nd, 2007
*checks Wikipedia*
Ah right, he’s one of the Branson Missouri crowd now. His last hit in the States was “Osama Yo’Mama” in 2002. Not too sure I want to hear that one…
Mark G on November 13th, 2007
Over the weekend, I got a 3CD set of “hits from 1970-1974″ as it was cheap and all on it were the original versions (apart from a terrible remake of Baby Jump)…
I’d forgotten the dubbed on laughing on this. Which made the difference between the record and the performance on TOTP all more visible (timing wise)
Marcello Carlin on November 13th, 2007
Makes me wonder how TOTP tackled “Bridget The Midget.” Don’t remember RS coming on to perform it so it must have been left to the redoubtable Pan’s People to “interpret.”
mike on November 13th, 2007
Ohhhh, that’s tickling a murky memory. I definitely remember seeing a “Bridget” figure on TV, most probably on TOTP. Long dark hair, china doll face, and a red dress. Other than that, nothing’s coming through!
Mark G on November 14th, 2007
I do remember that one, there was a miniature bridget, all else like as Mike says. I’m fairly sure that Ray Stevens was the performer there.
Geir H on December 23rd, 2007
Is there anything more pointless than comedy records that aren’t funny at all?
Would be an obvious 1 for me this one.
Linked by: ray stevens on June 3rd, 2008
[...] her budgie to say his name. … I&8217m fairly sure that ray stevens was the performer there.http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/10/ray-stevens-the-streak/OLCOTT: Sabres alumni hold fishing tournament on Lake Ontario - Lockport Union-Sun & JournalBob [...]
wichita lineman on July 26th, 2008
Re 62 and 63: I’d REALLY like to hear Osama Yo’Mama AND a dreadful remake of Baby Jump. I wonder which one is funnier?
Even as a 9-year old, me and my friends found this funny for the wrong reasons (though I could be under-estimating Ray Stevens). Which maybe shows that Britons have an in-built tendency to snigger at overt American crassness.
Whenever the hick character appears the canned laughter is so loud you couldn’t hear the lines on medium wave. From memory they’re along the lines of “DON’T LOOK ETHEL but it was too late” (screams), “she’d already been incensed” (screams), “drivel” (screams), “right in front of the shop soiled” (screams).
Which all makes it a lot funnier than most Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band records.
Marcello, good call on Mr Businessman, one of the great 68/69 middle America crisis records. It uses the word “harlot” and Jimmy Young used to play it at least once a week. Bringing dear Bing Crosby back into this, he also recorded a ‘68 45 in this vein called What Shall What We Do With The World about the futility of the space race. See also Roy Orbison’s 7-minute suicidal businessman epic Southbound Jericho Parkway. There’s a great compilation to be made.
K-Tel/Ronco alert: The Streak is the opening track on Fun Rock. My very favourite genre.
DJ Punctum on July 27th, 2008
Not “drivel” but “dribblin’” and what is this “a lot funnier than most Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band records” madness?
Agree about “Southbound Jericho Parkway”: definitive CD compilation of that period of the Big O’s career long overdue.
wichita lineman on July 28th, 2008
So he does say “right in front of the shop soiled”? How queer.
I think Ray Stevens produced, and maybe wrote, Dolly Parton’s ultra-rare Shangri-La’s-alike Don’t Drop Out. Just beautiful. It’s on the Girls Go Zonk comp, essential listening on high summer days.
The Bonzos - on my own, I know, and almost feel the need to apologise. I suppose I prefer my eccentrics without “ECCENTRIC!!!” tattooed on their forehead: Joe Meek, Lt Pigeon, Lou Christie, Kevin Rowland…
DJ Punctum on July 29th, 2008
No, it’s “right in front of the shock absorbers.”
Billy Smart on July 29th, 2008
There was a documentary about Ray Stevens on Radio 2 a few months ago. I kept on hearing the trailer, where Tony Blackburn said “It’s incredible to think that the same man can write a song like ‘Everything Is Beautiful’ and ‘The Streak’. Amazing!”
I didn’t share his incredulity.
DJ Punctum on July 29th, 2008
Yeah, if he’d really thought that he would have said “sensational” rather than “amazing.”