One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (song) explained

"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" is the title of several different songs, mostly in the R&B genre, deriving from a common African-American phrase with the general meaning of "one setback should not impede progress".[1] The first known recording with this title was by Stick McGhee and His Buddies in 1950. Commercially successful songs with this title were recorded by Joe Tex (1965), Honey Cone (1971) and Little David Wilkins (1975).

Stick McGhee song

"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" was recorded by Stick McGhee and His Buddies in 1950.[1] The song was written by McGhee,[2] and released on an Atlantic Records 78, A937, in 1951.[3]

Big Maybelle song

Big Maybelle recorded another song with the same title in 1955. It was issued as the B-side of her original version of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On".[4] It was written by Charlie Singleton and Rose Marie McCoy.[5] A version was recorded by Bette Midler on her 1998 album Bathhouse Betty.[1]

Joe Tex song

A different same-titled song was both written and recorded by Joe Tex in 1965,[6] and reached No. 20 in the US Billboard R&B chart.[7] In 1966, it was covered by The Animals on their UK album Animalisms and its US counterpart, Animalization.[8] They also performed it on BBC Radio and on several live shows. A cover version of the Joe Tex song was also recorded by Terry Knight and the Pack in 1967.[9]

Honey Cone song

In 1971, the all-girl group Honey Cone took a song with the same title to No. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also charted in Australia and Canada.[10] [11] This was written by General Johnson and Greg Perry.[12] It appeared on the group's Soulful Tapestry album (Hot Wax HA-707).[13]

Little David Wilkins song

Another song with the same title was recorded by Little David Wilkins for MCA in 1975, reaching No. 11 on US Billboard Hot Country Songs and No. 48 on CAN RPM Country Playlist.[14] [15] [16] This one was written by Wilkins and Tim Marshall.[17] [18]

Other songs

Notes and References

  1. https://oldschoolrecordreview.com/2014/01/21/yeah-but-do-you-know-what-that-song-is-actually-about-1/comment-page-1/ Matt Rector, "Yeah, But Do You Know What That Song Is Actually About? #1: One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", Old School Record Review, January 21, 2014
  2. Web site: One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Georgian Festival Orchestra,Sticks McGhee | Song Info . . 2004-05-25 . 2016-07-09.
  3. Web site: Atlantic Records 78rpm numerical listing discography . 78discography.com . 2016-07-18.
  4. Web site: Cub Koda . The Okeh Sessions - Big Maybelle | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 2016-07-09. Cub Koda .
  5. http://www.45cat.com/record/47060 Big Maybelle, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", 45cat.com
  6. Web site: Joe Tex - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show / Build Your Love (On A Solid Foundation) (Vinyl) . Discogs.com . 1965 . 2016-07-09.
  7. [Joel Whitburn]
  8. Web site: The Animals - Animalization (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2014-02-01 . 2016-07-09.
  9. http://www.45cat.com/record/le236 Terry Knight and the Pack, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", 45cat.com
  10. Book: Australian Charts Book 1970–1992. David Kent. 0-646-11917-6. 1993. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W..
  11. Web site: CAN Charts > Honey Cone. RPM. 2013-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208161131/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=jubcb7jtu2qgrhs5kdihgo5qv4&q1=Honey+Cone&q2=&interval=20. 2015-12-08. dead.
  12. Web site: Honey Cone - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 1971 . 2016-07-09.
  13. Web site: Honey Cone - Soulful Tapestry (Vinyl, LP, Album) . Discogs.com . 1971 . 2016-07-18.
  14. Web site: Discogs - Tracks Beta. Discogs.com. 4 May 2021.
  15. Web site: Hot Country Songs Chart. Billboard.com. 4 May 2021.
  16. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly. Library and Archives. Canada. 17 July 2013. Bac-lac.gc.ca. 4 May 2021.
  17. Web site: Billboard. 52. 13 September 1975. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 4 May 2021. Google Books.
  18. Web site: Little David Wilkins - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show. 4 May 2021. 45cat.com.
  19. Web site: Hank Ballard - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show. 4 May 2021. 45cat.com.
  20. Web site: Jessie Rogers – One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (1983, Vinyl). 4 May 2021. Discogs.com. 1983 .
  21. Web site: Zac Johnson . Soul Journey - Gillian Welch | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 2003-06-03 . 2016-07-09.