Hi Mystery guest,

I found this gem as well as Transfusion, Wild Dogs of Kentucky and others on some old 78rpm records along the garage sale trail. I started singing this one many many years ago and finally recorded it when I was performing with the jug band Strangers With Candy in 1988. The title of the recording, which has never been re-released on cd, is called, appropriately enough, "Strangers With Candy Go Ape". It features Orville Johnson, Larry Van Over, Walter Singleman and me singing and playing twelve New and Used Jug Band Blues and Novelty numbers including my rendition of the Nervous Norvus number, "Ape Call".

I still sing this fine novelty example when my voice is up to that tarzan yell part. I find that it makes a great icebreaker at private parties to get everyone ape calling along with me. Yes, I have had entire rooms full of folks ape calling along with me on this one and it's a beatiful thing. (sniff, sniff...wipes tear from eye)

Here are the words as I can recall them.

Ape Call
(by Nervous Norvus)

Way back in history before time began
All the real cool cats had a solid plan
When they dug a nervous chick they all to a man went
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Ya wanna be cool man, go ape

Young Mighty Joe swingin' through the trees
Was the king of everything roostin' in the leaves
But when he caught a girl ape a hangin' in the breeze he'd
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Ya like to be hip boy, go ape

A big dinosaur he's a long tall lizard
Driftin' through the jungle like a slow blizzard
But whe he got a double take of lady lizard
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Ya wanna be sharp cat, go ape

A pterodactyl he's a flyin' fool
Just a breeze flappin' daddy from the old school
But a mommadactyl could sure make him drool and then he'd
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Don't be a square Joe, go ape

Old papa tiger he's the boss of the Nile
A sport model cat with a solid style
He was old king cool till a girl tiger smiled and then he
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Bezorts daddyo, go ape

Adam was the first boy in the land
A big Maliruni daddy with an iron hand
But when little Evie said, "Hi man!"
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!
Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba, Ape call doodliaba
Don't be a cube Rube, go ape

You've got to remember to ape call today!
AAAAAAH YEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH!