Song:(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window
Album:The Complete US Hits 1948-62
Patti Page was already one of the most popular singers in America when the 1953 single Doggie in the Window made her an even bigger star. Though Tennessee Waltz is her signature song, Doggie in the Window is her biggest hit. It is very durable for a novelty song. Doggie in the Window was written by Bob Merrill. Though Merrill wrote Broadway shows like Carnival! and Funny Girl, he started out writing songs for Dorothy Shay, known as the Park Avenue Hillbilly. Then he co-wrote If I Knew You Were Coming I'd've Baked a Cake which was a hit for Eileen Barton in 1948. He also wrote the Rosemary Clooney hit Mambo Italiano. Patti's long time producer Joe Reisman was the man behind Doggie in the Window. He even did the barking dogs. The song topped the charts for eight weeks. It should have been a bigger hit but Mercury Records delayed the British release. And that gave time for Ted Heath singer Lita Roza to score a top ten hit in England. Doggie in the Window is frequently cited as impetus for the rise of Rock 'N' Roll. Pop music at the time was very bland. The song is still popular with children. And Patti recorded a reworked version of the song in 2009 to benefit the American Humane Society. And legendary country comedians Homer and Jethro recorded a parody that crossed over to be a top 20 pop hit. That's pretty good for a silly novelty song. Here's Patti Page performing (How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window on The Perry Como Show 1953.
No comments:
Post a Comment