Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Spanish Flea
View on Wikipedia| "Spanish Flea" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass | ||||
| from the album Going Places | ||||
| A-side | "What Now My Love" | |||
| Released | 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Studio | Gold Star Studios, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | Pop, Jazz | |||
| Length | 2:07 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter | Julius Wechter | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Spanish Flea" on YouTube | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
Spanish Flea | ||||
"Spanish Flea" is a popular song written by Julius Wechter in the 1960s with lyrics by his wife Cissy Wechter. The original version was recorded by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in 1965. Cover versions of the song have been recorded by dozens of artists worldwide.
Composition and recording
[edit]Julius Wechter was a percussionist in Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, most notably on marimba. "Spanish Flea" was one of several songs he wrote for the group. It was released as an instrumental on the B-side to the single "What Now My Love" from their 1965 album Going Places. The album was a No. 1 hit in the U.S., and the single peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Spanish Flea" featured Alpert's trumpet over a Latin rhythm backing.[1]
The original version was recorded on August 13, 1965 at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.[2] Two other songs were recorded during that session, those being "And I Love Her" and "More And More Amor"[2] In the United States, the song is closely associated with the long-running game show The Dating Game, for which it was played when the bachelor entered into the stage to ask questions to learn and choose which bachelorette had best suited the needs of that bachelor.[3]
Chart history
[edit]| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 9 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 28 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[4] | 6 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[5] | 6 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 27 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 4 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[8] | 21 |
Other recordings
[edit]Teresa Brewer, The Modernaires, Frankie Randall, and Soupy Sales were among the artists who quickly recorded vocal versions of "Spanish Flea" with Cissy Wechter's original lyrics.[9][10][11][12]
The song was also recorded by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 on their 1966 debut album, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66.
"Spanish Flea" was also covered by Trudy Pitts on her debut album Introducing the Fabulous Trudy Pitts (1967), by the Doodletown Pipers on The Doodletown Pipers Sing-along '67 (1967) and by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley on Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Spotlight on the Moog, also recorded in 1967. Julius Wechter himself, with his Baja Marimba Band, recorded the song on the 1971 album As Time Goes By.
Marcel Stellman wrote a different set of lyrics for "Spanish Flea". Kathy Kirby used them in her 1966 recording of the song.[13]
The Glenn Miller Orchestra included the song as the last track on their album Something New: The Glenn Miller Orchestra plays the Tijuana Brass (1966).[citation needed]
Mel Blanc parodied the song as "The Flea" on the Jack Benny variety show in December 1966, during a "Si-Sy-Sue" skit along with his group 'The Tijuana Strings'.[citation needed]
Allan Sherman also parodied the song on his album Togetherness (1967). Another parodic cover version, spoofing Alpert's version, appeared on the mock Alpert tribute album Sour Cream & Other Delights by the Frivolous Five.[citation needed]
In popular culture
[edit]In film and television
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2022) |
"Spanish Flea" has been used in a variety of film and television soundtracks.[14] It was one of two Alpert songs in a 1966 animated cartoon by John Hubley, A Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Double Feature.
The song was used by Mazda in TV commercials during the 1970's to advertise their GLC model, "Its a great little car"
The tune has been featured in four episodes of The Simpsons: "The Otto Show" (with Homer singing the original lyrics), "Team Homer", "Natural Born Kissers", and "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday".[15]
In the fingerprint scene in Rosewood's home in Beverly Hills Cop II, Eddie Murphy (playing Axel Foley) and Judge Reinhold (playing Billy Rosewood) improvised the idea of humming the tune. When Taggart (John Ashton) asks what the tune is, Rosewood replies, "The Dating Game!".
In the 1996 film Striptease, the song is played inside a laundromat while Erin Grant (Demi Moore) and her daughter Angela (Rumer Willis) take all the clothes out of the dryer machine.[16]
In the 1997 film Perdita Durango, the two main characters happily groove to the song while abducting two teenagers.
Its melody is possibly referenced in the 1998 Kare Kano anime TV series soundtrack Act 1.0 song: 14 - "Miyazawa Ikka".
In an episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Vic Reeves plays the song through a prosthetic arm.
In the Philippine Noontime show It's Showtime on ABS-CBN, this song was constantly played for taking a picture of a person's face with a frame called "Face Dance". Soon after the "Face Dance" game became a regular staple on the network's out-of town shows.
In American Pie 2, the band camp counselor plays the song on his trumpet, not knowing that the trumpet had just been inserted into Jason Biggs' character's anus.
In the 2000 film The Dish, it plays at 12:03 before showing a ball preparation at the town hall.
In the 2001 film ‘’Ocean’s Eleven’’, the song plays as ambient background music while Bernie Mac negotiates the purchase a van from a used car dealership.[17]
The Nickelodeon TV series The Fairly OddParents uses the song in many episodes such as episode 4b season 1 “Apartnership”.
In an episode of Supernatural, the song is played when a pair of demons call Crowley (the King of Hell) from a hunter's trap.
In the 2013 film White House Down, the ringtone can be heard repetitively in the film on the character of Richard Jenkins' mobile cell phone.
The song has been heard on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s time by time between 1999 and 2013.
In the 2019 film Joker, the song plays with the Indian-head test pattern when the broadcast of Live with Murray Franklin gets cut off after the Joker shoots Franklin. In the DVD credits, the song is credited to Ray Davies and His Button Down Brass.[18]
In the 2023 HBO miniseries Love & Death in the episode "Encounters", it was performed by the character Pat on his trumpet at the dinner table.
In podcasts
[edit]"Spanish Flea" acts as the opening and closing music to the Fangraphs audio podcast. The song is also used as the closing music for the soccer podcast Low Limit Futbol, hosted by Joe Uccello and Roberto Rojas. It is used as background music for the ad-reads on the 'We Hate Movies' podcast. It is also used as the closing theme for Chris & Andi Porter's 'One Millionth Podcast', although it is sung by the siblings themselves - a different way every time. It also appears in the jingle that precedes the ‘Three by Three’ segment by John C. Dvorak during the “No Agenda” podcast.
References
[edit]- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles
- ^ a b "Phonograph Recording Contract Blank - American Federations Of Musicians" (PDF). Wrecking Crew Film. August 13, 1965.
- ^ Madrid, Alejandro. Transnational Encounters: Music and Performance at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Oxford University Press, 2011. 240.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1966-03-14. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1966-04-18. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
- ^ "Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 4/23/66". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ Teresa Brewer – Texas Leather And Mexican Lace at Discogs
- ^ The Modernaires With Paula Kelly – Salute Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass at Discogs.
- ^ Frankie Randall – Spanish Flea at Discogs.
- ^ Soupy Sales - – Spanish Flea / That Wasn't No Girl at Discogs
- ^ Kathy Kirby - Spanish Flea at Discogs
- ^ Julius Wecther at IMDb
- ^ "Composer Julius Wechter Dies at 63". The Washington Post. 1999-02-06. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 2269358. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Sight and Sound. British Film Institute. 1996.
- ^ {{Spanish Flea Written by Julius Wechter and Cissy Wechter Performed by Powerpack Orchestra Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd. Under license from EMI - Capitol Music Special Markets}}
- ^ Editions, Insight (2022-11-15). Joker: The Official Script Book. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-64722-892-7.
External links
[edit]Spanish Flea
View on GrokipediaComposition
Musical Structure
"Spanish Flea" is classified as a Latin-tinged jazz-pop instrumental incorporating mariachi influences, characteristic of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass's signature "Tijuana Sound."[13][14] The piece was composed by Julius Wechter, with lyrics by his wife Cissy Wechter.[13] The song is structured around a simple, repeating melodic motif in B♭ major, featuring a blues-derived chord progression that supports its playful, bouncy character.[15] It unfolds in a verse-like form with variations, emphasizing a lively 12-bar blues framework adapted to Latin rhythms. The upbeat tempo, approximately 160 beats per minute, contributes to its energetic feel.[16] Central to the composition is the prominent lead trumpet melody performed by Herb Alpert, which delivers a catchy, peppy line evoking the "jumping" antics of a flea through syncopated, ascending and descending phrases.[13] Supporting this are Latin-infused percussion elements, including marimba and vibraphone played by Julius Wechter, which provide a distinctive rhythmic bounce. The rhythm section—comprising drums, bass, and additional brass instruments—underpins the ensemble with a driving, mariachi-inspired groove, creating a full brass band texture typical of the Tijuana Brass.[13][17]Lyrics
The lyrics for "Spanish Flea" were written by Cissy Wechter, wife of the song's composer Julius Wechter, and depict an anthropomorphic Spanish flea with dreams of becoming a singing sensation, drawing inspiration from popular acts like The Beatles and The Chipmunks.[13] The narrative humorously follows the flea's journey from humble aspirations to performing on stage, complete with a Latin-infused twist that mirrors the song's rhythmic flair. These words were crafted after the instrumental track had already been composed and recorded, transforming the piece into a whimsical story while preserving its core melody.[13] Key excerpts from the lyrics highlight the flea's ambition and playful persona. The opening lines set the scene: "There was a little Spanish flea / A record star he thought he'd be / He'd heard of singers like Beatles / The Chipmunks he'd seen on TV / Why not a little Spanish flea?" The chorus builds on this with: "He wanted to be a star / So he bought himself a guitar / To play rock 'n' roll / He practiced night and day / He said 'I'm on my way' / To be a Spanish flea."[18] These verses emphasize the character's determination and tie into the 1960s pop culture zeitgeist, blending references to British Invasion bands and novelty cartoon music with a lighthearted pursuit of fame. Thematically, the lyrics infuse the song with humor and levity, portraying the flea's quest for stardom through a lens of Latin flair and exaggerated self-confidence, which complements the track's upbeat, mariachi-inspired rhythm without overshadowing its instrumental appeal.[13] Vocal performances of these lyrics remain rare compared to the ubiquitous instrumental version by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, which dominated airplay and cultural usage in the mid-1960s, often rendering the words secondary or unheard in mainstream contexts.[13]Recording and Production
Original Session
The original recording session for "Spanish Flea" took place on August 13, 1965, at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood, California.[19] This session was part of the broader production for the album Going Places, which spanned multiple dates throughout 1965, including April 12, April 28, June 29, July 6, August 6, August 10, August 13, and August 17, across studios such as United Recording Studio, Columbia Records, and Gold Star.[19] The song was composed by Julius Wechter, a percussionist and arranger associated with the Tijuana Brass.[13] Herb Alpert served as the producer, overseeing a live band setup that captured the ensemble's performance in the studio with minimal overdubs to preserve the track's spontaneous feel.[20] Both mono and stereo mixes were produced during post-session processing, allowing the track to align with A&M Records' dual-format release strategy for the Going Places album in October 1965, which highlighted the live energy of the Tijuana Brass sound.[19]Key Personnel
The original recording of "Spanish Flea" was composed by Julius Wechter, a percussionist who played marimba on the track and contributed to many Tijuana Brass sessions.[1] Wechter, leader of the Baja Marimba Band, crafted the song's distinctive Latin-infused melody, which became a signature element of the band's sound.[21] Lyrics for the tune were written by his wife, Cissy Wechter, though the hit version remained instrumental. Herb Alpert served as the band's leader, performing the prominent lead trumpet lines that defined the recording's bright, playful tone.[21] As co-founder of A&M Records with Jerry Moss, Alpert also handled arrangement duties, shaping the track's energetic arrangement during a brief session at Gold Star Studios in 1965.[22] The supporting Tijuana Brass ensemble included Tonni Kalash on trumpet, Bob Edmondson on trombone and percussion, John Pisano on guitar, Pat Senatore on bass, Nick Ceroli on drums, and Lou Pagani on piano and vibes, providing the rhythmic foundation and brass interplay essential to the song's infectious groove.[21] Larry Levine engineered the session.[20] Jerry Moss, Alpert's business partner and A&M co-founder, provided production oversight, ensuring the polished sound that propelled the track from the album Going Places.[22]Release
Album Context
"Spanish Flea" served as the fourth track on Side A of the album !!Going Places!!, the fifth studio release by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, issued by A&M Records in October 1965.[20] The LP featured 12 instrumental tracks blending jazz-pop, easy listening, and mariachi influences, with a thematic emphasis on evocative journeys and Latin-inspired locales, as seen in titles like "Tijuana Taxi" and "Cinco de Mayo."[20] "Spanish Flea" exemplified this playful exotism through its upbeat, trumpet-driven arrangement that captured a whimsical Spanish flair.[23] This album arrived in the wake of the Tijuana Brass's breakthrough with Whipped Cream & Other Delights earlier in 1965, which sold millions and established the group as a commercial powerhouse in easy listening music.[24] !!Going Places!! capitalized on this momentum, further solidifying the band's popularity with its accessible, feel-good sound that resonated widely upon release.[23] Initially, "Spanish Flea" garnered attention as an integral album track, contributing to the LP's cohesive travel motif before later promotion as a standalone single.[20] The album received positive notices for its vibrant energy and musicianship, earning a retrospective rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from AllMusic for its enduring appeal in the genre.[25]Single Release
"Spanish Flea" was issued as a standalone single by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in January 1966 in the United States through A&M Records, catalog number 792, in the standard 7-inch 45 RPM vinyl format.[26] The A-side featured the upbeat instrumental track "Spanish Flea," while the B-side was the vocal ballad "What Now My Love," both drawn from the group's 1965 album Going Places.[27] This release exemplified A&M Records' approach in the mid-1960s of selecting standout album cuts for single promotion to extend the commercial lifecycle of their artists' LPs and capitalize on radio play. Promotion for the single capitalized on the Tijuana Brass's surging popularity following their breakthrough albums, including frequent television appearances that showcased their lively performances.[28] For instance, the group performed "Spanish Flea" on the UK show Top of the Pops in early 1966, helping to build anticipation ahead of international markets.[28] The single's packaging included a picture sleeve with cover art prominently displaying Alpert's signature trumpet against a vibrant, Latin-themed background, underscoring the track's playful instrumental appeal and the band's pseudo-Mexican mariachi style.[29] Following the U.S. launch, "Spanish Flea" saw releases across Europe and the UK, often under licensing agreements with local labels to align with regional distribution networks.[30] In the UK, it was released on Pye International (catalog number 7N.25335) with B-side "Cinco de Mayo," reflecting adaptations for international audiences while maintaining the core track's infectious trumpet melody.[31] These efforts ensured the single's broad accessibility, tying into A&M's global expansion strategy during the height of the Tijuana Brass phenomenon.[30]Commercial Success
Chart Performance
"Spanish Flea," released as the B-side to "What Now My Love" in late 1965, entered major charts in early 1966 and benefited from exposure on the ABC television program The Dating Game, where it served as the bachelorette introduction theme.[32] In the United States, the track debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 19, 1966, at number 66 before climbing to its peak position of number 27 on April 16, 1966, where it held for three weeks and charted for a total of 12 weeks. It also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[33][34] The song performed more strongly internationally. On the UK Singles Chart, it entered on December 15, 1965, and reached number 3 on February 10, 1966, spending 19 weeks in the top 40 and 20 weeks total on the chart.[10]| Country | Chart | Peak Position | Date of Peak | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | RPM Top Singles | 6 | March 1966 | 9 |
| Australia | Kent Music Report | 28 | 1966 | - |
| Germany | Official German Charts | 26 | 1966 | 1 |
| Belgium (Flanders) | Ultratop 50 | 19 | 1966 | 1 |
