B-side "Quatermasster's Stores" (Trad: arr Bill Shepherd) Released July 1960 United Kingdom | ||
"Apache" is a much-recorded instrumental written by Jerry Lordan. The original version was by the British group the Shadows, recorded in June 1960 and released the next month. It topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks.
Contents
- Composition and original recording
- Shadows version
- Later versions
- Incredible Bongo Band version 1973
- The Sugarhill Gang Apache 1981
- Sir Mix A Lot Jump on It 1996
- Fatboy Slim Apache 1998
- Switch A Bit Patchy 20052006
- Other songs that sample The Incredible Bongo Bands Apache
- Other cover versions
- Minnesota Lynx
- References
In North America, the tune is identified with Jørgen Ingmann, a jazz guitarist from Denmark., who recorded his own famous version of "Apache" in the fall of 1960, and which was released in the United States in November 1960. In 1961, this cover version, credited to "Jørgen Ingmann and His Guitar", made No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 9 on the US R&B chart. The track reached No.1 on Canada's CHUM Chart.
A 1973 version by the Incredible Bongo Band has been called "hip-hop’s national anthem". Although this version was not a hit on release, its long percussion break has been sampled countless times on hip hop and dance tracks since the 1980s.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Apache" at No. 96 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Composition and original recording
English songwriter and composer Jerry Lordan came up with the tune. The title "Apache" reflects the source of Lordan's inspiration: the 1954 American western film Apache.
The original recording was by British guitarist Bert Weedon in early 1960. It remained unreleased for several months. In mid-1960 the Shadows were on tour with Lordan as a supporting act. The band discovered "Apache" when Lordan played it on a ukulele. Lordan figured the tune would fit the Shadows; the band agreed.
Shadows version
The recording was done at the EMI Abbey Road Studio in London. Singer-guitarist Joe Brown had bought an Italian-built guitar echo chamber that he did not like and gave it to Hank Marvin, who developed a distinctive sound using it and the tremolo arm of his Fender Stratocaster. Bruce Welch borrowed an acoustic Gibson J200 guitar from Cliff Richard, the heavy melodic bass was by Jet Harris, percussion was by Tony Meehan and Cliff Richard, who played a Chinese drum at the beginning and end to provide an atmosphere of stereotypically Native American music.
Record producer Norrie Paramor preferred the flip side, an instrumental of the army song "The Quartermaster's Stores," now called "The Quatermasster's Stores" after the TV series Quatermass. Paramor changed his mind after his daughter preferred "Apache." It has been cited by a generation of guitarists as inspirational and is considered one of the most influential British rock 45s of the pre-Beatles era. The Shadows said –
What's the most distinctive sound of our group ? We often wondered what it is ourselves. Really, it is the sound we had when we recorded "Apache" – that kind of Hawaiian sounding lead guitar ... plus the beat.
Later versions
After the Shadows version began its rise up the UK charts, Weedon's original climbed to No. 24 in the UK. However, neither the Shadows nor Weedon had any impact on North America. Then, in late 1960, Jorgen Ingmann produced his own 'twangy' multi-tracked cover version that was released in the United States in November 1960, and became a hit in 1961 in the United States and Canada. From this point, the song became a staple of instrumental combos on both sides of the Atlantic. Among many recordings, Spanish rock band Los Pekenikes covered "Apache" in 1961, The Ventures in 1962 and Davie Allan and The Arrows in 1965. Sonny James recorded a vocal music version in 1961. It was produced in Nashville by Chet Atkins and was review-rated as a Spotlight Winner. Billboard Music Week in its edition of March 6, 1961. George Harrison said The Beatles used to play "Apache" as well as other Shadows' hits ("FBI", "The Frightened City") during their shows in Hamburg.
In 1970, English progressive rock group The Edgar Broughton Band released a single "Apache Dropout," which combined "Apache" with a version of Captain Beefheart's "Dropout Boogie." The highly unorthodox single reached No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart.
Incredible Bongo Band version (1973)
"Apache" has been cited by Afrika Bambaataa as an early element of hip hop music with the record sampled and scratched by DJs. However, the hit versions by the Shadows, Ingmann or Weedon were not the versions that Bambaataa, Kool Herc and the like turned into "hip-hop’s anthem:" the 1973 version by Michael Viner and a funk group called "The Incredible Bongo Band" was the version in question. The Incredible Bongo Band added a bongo drum introduction and included more percussion. The drum break was played by legendary drummer Jim Gordon. Though this version was not a hit on its initial release, it became the sampled foundation of rap and hip-hop classics, reworked by hip hop performers such as The Sugarhill Gang, L.L. Cool J, The Roots, Nas, and techno performers Future Sound of London, Moby and drum and bass acts J. Majik and Goldie.
The 2013 documentary Sample This, directed by Dan Forrer and narrated by Gene Simmons, recounts the story of The Incredible Bongo Band and its recording of "Apache."
The Sugarhill Gang: "Apache" (1981)
In 1981, the rap group known as The Sugarhill Gang covered the Incredible Bongo Band's version of the song on its second album 8th Wonder. In 1982, this version peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 51 on the US Dance chart, and No. 13 on the US R&B chart. In 1995, this version gained additional popularity after being featured in "Viva Lost Wages," a sixth-season episode of the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as in "Whoops, There It Is," a subsequent clip show from the series. Using the distinctive beat and bongo drums as well as Indian war cries, the Sugarhill Gang added rap lyrics with references, including:
Sir Mix-A-Lot: "Jump on It" (1996)
In 1996, Sir Mix-A-Lot played off the lyrics to The Sugarhill Gang's version of "Apache" in his hit version of "Jump on It," released on the album Return of the Bumpasaurus. The lyrics contained the names of cities of the United States.
Fatboy Slim: "Apache" (1998)
Switch: "A Bit Patchy" (2005/2006)
In 2005, Switch extensively sampled the covered version by Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band for his track A Bit Patchy (wordplay on "Apache"). The track has since been used to advertise William Hill Online on TV, and has been remixed by artists such as Eric Prydz and Sinden.
Other songs that sample The Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache"
Other cover versions
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA adopted "Apache" as the unofficial team anthem in 2007. Following victories, the team would dance to the song at center court. For the first home game of the team's first WNBA Finals appearance, the team brought in the Sugarhill Gang to perform the song at halftime.