Song #83 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody”, originally by Louis Prima and covered by David Lee Roth. Here’s Prima:
Two things to note. One, the song Just A Gigolo was recorded many times before Prima’s version in 1956, with versions dating back to at least 1931. Prima was the first to combine it with I Ain’t Got Nobody, so it’s the medley for which he is the original artist. Two, the woman in the video is Keely Smith, who was Prima’s (fourth) wife and the straight man for their Vegas act. You can see how well they worked together. You can also see why this number appealed to Diamond Dave:
Do I really need to say how much I love the 80s again? Sing it with me now: “Hum-a-lay bib-a-lay zib-a-lay bib-a-lay hum-a-lay bib-a-lay zib-a-lay BOP!” All the “cameos” in this video jus took it even more over the top than it already was. “Wretched excess” just had no meaning here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is great – I have been listening to Louis Prima for years!
Nice timing w the DLR video. The new Van Halen release is out on Tuesday.