B-side "Acapulco 1922" Format 7" single, 45rpm Label A&M | Released August 1962 Length 2:15 | |
Genre Jazz, easy listening, pop | ||
"The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)" is a song by Sol Lake recorded by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass among others. The Herb Alpert single represents the first release on A&M Records.
It became a hit (US #6) and title song to the album The Lonely Bull, released in December 1962. Its original title was "Twinkle Star".
While experimenting with the sound of an overdubbed trumpet, Herb Alpert recorded this song in his garage. The single and album recordings of the song were recorded at Conway Recorders in Hollywood by members of The Wrecking Crew, California and featured the sounds of a crowd cheering "Ole" inside a bullfight arena in Mexico, as well as the sounds of the trumpets announcing the matador before he enters the bullring. The song features a mandolin, a bass guitar, drums, and a wordless chorus, featuring a solo soprano. A video for the song was filmed in 1967 inside the Toreo de Tijuana bullring.
On the inner sleeve of the Morrissey single "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris", his guitarist Boz Boorer can be seen holding "The Lonely Bull."
This song is sampled in the song "Tres Delinquentes" by Delinquent Habits.
The song is featured during a montage sequence in Cameron Crowe's film Jerry Maguire. It also appears in the Nicolas Cage film Matchstick Men, along with other jazz songs.
The Ventures recorded a version for their 1963 Dolton album, The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull, BST 8019.
The Shadows recorded a cover version in 1964 on the album Dance with The Shadows. The Untouchables released a cover version on their 1985 album Wild Child.
Harry James recorded a version in 1965 on the album Harry James Plays Green Onions & Other Great Hits. (Dot DLP 3634 and DLP 25634).
Petula Clark is seen in a 2015 YouTube video post singing the song live in 1963 with the French title "Le soleil dans les yeux."