Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything's Alright)
Encyclopedia
"Little Ole Man" is a 1967 single recorded and released by comedian
Bill Cosby
, released as a single off the entertainer's first musical comedy album, Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings
.
A comedic parody which Cosby narrated about "a little ole man" who he discovers twice, first getting hit by a train, and later being run over by elephants. The musical instrumental and accompanying background vocals were based on the Stevie Wonder
classic, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)
".
The single became an unexpected hit for Cosby charting as high as number four on the Billboard Hot 100
making Cosby one of the first comedians to have a charted hit single on the Billboard music charts. Fellow comics like Steve Martin
and parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic
later followed him on the Billboard charts with their comedy records.
On the album 200 M.P.H., Cosby states that the song was dedicated to his grandfather.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, released as a single off the entertainer's first musical comedy album, Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings
Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings
Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings is the fifth album by Bill Cosby.-Background:This was Cosby's first album that was recorded in the studio, as well as his first album that showcased his singing, backed by the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band...
.
A comedic parody which Cosby narrated about "a little ole man" who he discovers twice, first getting hit by a train, and later being run over by elephants. The musical instrumental and accompanying background vocals were based on the Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
classic, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
".
The single became an unexpected hit for Cosby charting as high as number four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
making Cosby one of the first comedians to have a charted hit single on the Billboard music charts. Fellow comics like Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
later followed him on the Billboard charts with their comedy records.
On the album 200 M.P.H., Cosby states that the song was dedicated to his grandfather.