Lyr Req: Ape Call (Nervous Norvus)

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From:
Date: 12 Jul 97 - 10:13 AM

I'm looking for a song called "Ape Call". I think it was a popular song during the 50's

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From: Elsie
Date: 13 Jul 97 - 01:06 PM

you do not identify yourself and you have asked for something that seems to be beyond the stated definition of this forum...please consider whether you are truly looking for a folk/ traditional song!

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From: Marsha
Date: 13 Jul 97 - 08:44 PM

After reading the What is Folk Music thread and also Elsie's reply here today, I was almost too intimidated by it all to enter my request for help here. But here goes anyway........If this really doesn't fit into anyone's definition of folk music -- sorry.

I'm looking for an old country song my father learned as a kid in the 1930s or 40s. He has gone on to heaven and all I can remember from hearing him sing it are these words, "Grandpa's getting younger every day"

If anyone can help me find this song I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From: Les Blank
Date: 13 Jul 97 - 10:32 PM

Marsha:

I don't recall the lyric you are searching for. Sorry !!

I would like to apologize on Elsie's behalf for her rather

acid remark -- we, here at Mudcat, are all used to it by

now !! So we mostly ignore her. She is living in an Ivory

Tower so high, she seldom gets to Earth and when she does,

she sometimes forgets her manners. She doesn't know much

about Italian food either !! Hope someone will know what

you are looking for, but do not put all of us in the same

basket and keep trying.

Les Blank

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Jul 97 - 11:07 PM

Please don't use non-specific thread titles. "Help, I'm looking for a song" is much less apt to get an informed response than "Ape Call" or Grandpa's Getting Younger". It's also a big help if you make one request per thread. THanx.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song.
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 15 Jul 97 - 01:53 PM

Neil Sedaka sang "I Go Ape" in '57 or '58. I've got it if you think that might be the one......Tiger

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 03:33 AM

Ape Call was by Nervus Norvus (His real name, but he was actually Jimmy Drake and died in 1968) and was my party piece at school.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 05:56 PM

Since this song was recorded by the Infamous Nervous Norvus, we really ought to have the lyrics. When I was six years old, the kid across the street had a Nervous Norvus recording of "Transfusion," with "dig" on the B-side. I made that kid play that record over and over again.
But I don't recall "Ape Call" at all.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Severn
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:26 PM

My oldest sister had the 45, so I remember it.


Actually Dr Demento's site or maybe even one of his audio complations of strange songs might be a good place to check out for info or the recording itself.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:41 PM

I don't have time to transcribe it, but I found it on YouTube (click).
Ain't YouTube wonderful?

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: APE CALL (Nervous Norvus)
From: reggie miles
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 08:19 PM

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!

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 09:26 PM

Gosh, Joe, and here I thought you resurrected this thread because it had one of the famous "Elsie" posts. Someone should tell her she is missed.

My sister had the Transfusion 45. This one I had heard, but didn't have a copy.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 11:25 PM

Requested in 1997, supplied in 2008. Good things come to those who wait.

Thanks for the words, reggie. I've heard the song, but I had no idea how many fossil creatures were in it.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 11:49 PM

Well, I came across the thread because it was combined with Grandpa's Getting Younger Every Day. I did notice the Elsie posts because of the tie to the regrettable Folk and Blues thread. But the reason I posted a message to refresh this is that I was a huge Nervous Norvus fan at the age of six.

And hey, I found out that Reggie Miles was in a band with Orville Johnson, which is almost as cool as being in a band with Mark Graham.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Helen
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 02:40 AM

Joe,

Is this a spooky coincidence or did you read this other thread before you posted here about Nervous Norvus?

My reference to Nervous Norvus at 6:19 pm Mudcat time 8 July

My message is no. 8 in the thread.

Helen

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: fumblefingers
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 03:40 PM

I have the song, by NN on an old 45. I can make it into an mp3. If you want it, send me a PM.

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 05:04 PM

Spooky coincidence, Helen - or maybe not a coincidence after all. Great minds think alike, you know - and it takes a truly great mind to appreciate Nervous Norvus....

Subject: RE: Help! I'm looking for song: Ape Call
From: Cool Beans
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 05:35 PM

There is collection of Nervous Norvus' oeuvre on CD, by Rhino Records, I think. A friend duped it and sent it to me so there's no label. Excellent liner notes. Besides "Transfusion," which was the first 45 I ever bought (I still have it), the CD has one that goes "Stick Your Head in a Garbage Can," a piece of musical therapy that advises you stick your head in said receptacle and scream whnever things get tough. Not such bad advice, come to think of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ape Call (Nervous Norvus)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 05:47 PM

Norman Cruice. I remember the song back 1956/7 and I know some words."Adam was the first boy in the land, a big malaluma daddy with an iron hand, until little eve said hiya man.
And another verse, the terradactyle was a flying fool, just a breeze flapping daddy of the old school.
And the end of the chorus:- if you want to be a cube rube, go ape. Can anyone give the whole lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ape Call (Nervous Norvus)
From: GUEST,Tex
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 01:47 AM

Google   ape call by nervous norvus
and you'll find several links both to the lyrics and sound.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ape Call (Nervous Norvus)
From: frogprince
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 09:53 AM

OMG. Haven't heard that thing since high school. One classmate in our little country school had the only copy I ever knew of, and it u got played at every school dance. I think the flip side wss "Wild Dogs of Kentucky", which I only remember because most everyone agreed it was too bad to play regularly.