Bimbo (song)
Encyclopedia
Bimbo was a popular song written in either 1948 or 1949 by Glenn O'Dell, but credited to Rodney (Rod) Morris or "Pee Wee" King. The song was recorded by Gene Autry
and originally released on vinyl as a 78rpm single in 1954. It can also be found on the 1998 album, Always Your Pal, Gene Autry. This is an album of singalong cowboy
music for children.
It was recorded in 1953 by Jim Reeves
on Abbott
148. The song was later included in the 1965 album Up Through the Years on RCA Victor. Reeves' version became his second No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine country chart
in January 1954, and helped pave the way to his eventual superstardom. Like his previous No. 1 hit "Mexican Joe
," "Bimbo" was more of a novelty hit for Reeves; as such, "Bimbo" differed greatly from the smooth, Nashville sound
ballads - "Four Walls
" and "He'll Have to Go
" - that he later recorded and made famous.
A version sung by Suzi Miller was played on the BBC
radio station
's Children's Favourites show during the 1950s or 1960s.
A Norwegian version was released in 1969 by Rolf Just-Nilsen with the title "Bingo" on the single Triola
TN 579. Henry Ruud wrote the Norwegian lyrics.
The song is used as the theme tune to the Liverpool Comedian John Bishop
's Radio Show on City Talk.
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
and originally released on vinyl as a 78rpm single in 1954. It can also be found on the 1998 album, Always Your Pal, Gene Autry. This is an album of singalong cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
music for children.
It was recorded in 1953 by Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
on Abbott
Abbott
Abbott is a title given to the head of a monastery.Abbott may also refer to:-People:* Abbott , for people named Abbott* Abbott Handerson Thayer , American painter and naturalist-Places in the United States:* Abbott, Arkansas...
148. The song was later included in the 1965 album Up Through the Years on RCA Victor. Reeves' version became his second No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine country chart
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
in January 1954, and helped pave the way to his eventual superstardom. Like his previous No. 1 hit "Mexican Joe
Mexican Joe (song)
"Mexican Joe" is 1953 single by Jim Reeves. Accompanying Jim Reeves on "Mexican Joe" were the Circle O Ranch Boys and was Jim Reeves' debut single on the country charts...
," "Bimbo" was more of a novelty hit for Reeves; as such, "Bimbo" differed greatly from the smooth, Nashville sound
Nashville sound
The Nashville sound originated during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of honky tonk music which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s...
ballads - "Four Walls
Four Walls (song)
"Four Walls" is a country song published in 1957 by Marvin Moore and George Campbell, written by Winifred J. Bartly in 1957.Jim Reeves’ recording is the best known; it has been recorded by other artists, including Bing Crosby and Willie Nelson...
" and "He'll Have to Go
He'll Have to Go
"He'll Have to Go" is an American country and pop hit recorded on October 15, 1959 by Jim Reeves. The song, released in the fall of 1959, went on to become a massive hit in both genres early in 1960.-Background:...
" - that he later recorded and made famous.
A version sung by Suzi Miller was played on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
's Children's Favourites show during the 1950s or 1960s.
A Norwegian version was released in 1969 by Rolf Just-Nilsen with the title "Bingo" on the single Triola
Triola
The Triola is a children's musical instrument, a hand-tuned single tone wind harmonica. The Triola is manufactured by C. A. Seydel Söhne in Klingenthal, Germany....
TN 579. Henry Ruud wrote the Norwegian lyrics.
The song is used as the theme tune to the Liverpool Comedian John Bishop
John Bishop (comedian)
John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie and Emily and in the Ken Loach film Route Irish...
's Radio Show on City Talk.