Les Elgart - Bandstand Boogie (American Bandstand Theme)

[MISisback]

The ORIGINAL original theme for the show was "High Society", by Artie Shaw.

[spideraxis]

Oh what memories this song evokes...

[iPaintFlowers]

My teacher want us to play this for our concert... I play clarinet... I'm going to die O_o

[auaiao9]

@iPaintFlowers lol, you won't die

[grundid44]

Let me just say that this tune simply kicks ass! I remember being eight years old and just being overwhelmed by the tightness of the rhythm and unrelenting phrasing. It's a classic and should be acknowledged as such. A solid, proud piece of American history. And it sounds even better today than it did 50 years ago. These players were no apologists. This was in the pocket, driven blues, accurate and moving. I love it and always will.

[fandangobaha]

boy, wait 'till the other guys hear; Snake Plissken, in MY cab! 8D

[antihero276]

"The President of what?"

"That's not funny Plissken."

[eriks74342]

Wow! This piece is fascinating. Honestly, I had no idea that an authentic big-band version predated the Manilow tune. The funny thing about it? This Les Elgart version is obviously better musically, with a much more "together" band -- but the tempo is slightly faster than the Manilow version, a little too fast for all but the best dancers. In other words, the Manilow version has a better beat and you can dance to it.

[grundid44]

How could they let Manilow destroy this great piece. He should get an Ear Lavage and quit show business. This is real music bastardized by politics. Everything he does is off key doesn't that bother anyone? For Christ's sake stop the plasticity This is real music. American should be solid and pure, American Bandstand I loved it.

[jcghooker]

@grundid44 Amen. This tune was intended to be played as an instrumental, and Barry came along and ruined it. The Les Elgart band, which co-existed at the same time as Elvis Presley and The Beatles, was probably the last big band to have a wide public acceptance in America. Brother Larry Elgart also plays on this record. He's still around, his Hooked on Swing LP from 1982 was a big hit album.

[auaiao9]

@grundid44 Manilow didn't destroy it. It's just another version (his version) of a good song.

[WSenator1]

When AB was on in daytime in the 50s and 60s, it was on from 3:30 to 5:00. From 4:00 to 4:30, the network would cut away to air a game show, "Who Do You Trust?" starring a pre-Tonight Show Johnny Carson. It would piss off both JC and Dick Clark, and it started a mini-fuel between the two that didn't end for years.

[Glinkaism1]

This is an arrangement of "My Bonnie Lassie."

Barry Manilow blows. Viva Les Elgart's original.

[TheStanbabe]

Everyone enjoys Mr.Manilow's version of the theme..but..You can't beat the original tune by Les Elgart.

[assddffgghhjjkkl1]

the dislike bar is the size of justin beibers penis. maybe a bit bigger

[jcghooker]

A great swinging record, I really got mad when Dick Clark started using the Barry Manilow version. Barry needs to stick to his Pop-Corn ballads, and leave Jazz Classics alone.

[Edwarddemiles1]

This was a great music tune for a television series of it's time and all times( 50+ years ) . Les Elgart gave it a body with his horns. The writer of the music Charles Albertine gave it a soul. Bandstand Boogie will last forever. As Long we remember all of its good times.

[tmax45R]

I was there and it was fun, fun, fun. We danced. That was our form of having a good time. Thanks Philly for starting the ball rolling. Many of us remember those days, when it was just in Philly called Bandstand. Later it went nationwide and became American Banstand.

[BunnyGibson1]

My site is just my name, BunnyGibson and add (com) to the end. Maybe some of the videos would have your uncle, Jimmy Peatross, in them....He was a great dancer and really cool guy! Bunny

[bangzoom77]

Love this record so much and it's put together so well. The song doesn't need words. That later version was so pale compared to this one. The days in Philly were so great.

[bangzoom77]

Love this record so much and it's put together so well. It is so much better than the manilow version.

[BunnyGibson1]

JantyB1 Have some fun memories on my BunnyGibson website ...... those were great days! Bunny

[monteleone1010]

we used to play that number in my stage band. I played trombone

[Glinkaism1]

You don't have to listen very closely to discover that "Bandstand Boogie" is an arrangement of the traditional Scottish folks song "My Bonnie Lassie." And very well done! :)

[BunnyGibson1]

Thanks for the memory of my Philly American Bandstand days 59-61. You're right, Bob Horn originally chose the music.

I have some other fun videos from our AB dancing days, on my website:

Bunny Gibson

[Nocaro]

@BunnyGibson1 Thanks for the comments and heads-up on your website. I'll definitely have a look...Lanny (Nocaro on YouTube)

[maltoka]

@BunnyGibson1 ...What is the name of your site...my Uncle Jimmy Peatross passed away Jan 31st ...just last month....and I miss him very much. I have a Bandstand year book from1959 and he is pictured in there twice once while dancing with Joanie Buck.

[Jantv81]

@BunnyGibson1 I wish I was born during this era. To bad, but I love the show, and American Dreams made it even better. Thank you Dick Clark!!

[AngelTx2011]

personally I love it since my step dad was Les Elgart lol, he was such a great man and, big band leader/trumpet player !!

[rmbb10]

Love it.

[Sumac44]

Snake Plisskin. I heard you were dead!

[MulletManSam]

Snake Plissken! In MY Cab!

[Cloudss3]

Heard in Escape from New York,nice tune.

[diane189444]

I love this I was on Bandstand not everyday when I could get there. I loved it so much and today is Dick Clarks birthday a wonderful man, a gentlemen, caring, and loved his show. Hugs :)

[diane189444]

Bob Horn was then Dick Clark took over when Bob left great pics. Hugs :)

[andersport]

I think this song shold be the teenage National Anthem rather than Rock Around The Clock. Dick Clark did plenty to build rock and roll.

[Glinkaism1]

if you listen carefully, you will detect the traditional folk song "My Bonnie Lassie." Indeed, this song is based on that melody. No doubt!

[JubalCalif]

Heavens to Murgatroid! This is fantastic! Love this song...always have. THANK YOU for posting it for us to enjoy! You've MADE my day & my week! :-)

[wrfreytag]

And this big band is unique............NO piano.

[Modano1973]

The song always reminds me of Escape From New York. :)

[snoops71]

I grew up with Bandstand in the '70s and '80s, but I've always liked this version a lot. 

[Harlan346]

The melody of this song is based on the Scottish traditional song, "My Bonnie Lassie." :) Listen carefully.

[Jantv81]

My all time favorite TV show.. 37 years on the air, and no regrets..

[chkjns]

My 500 playlists are indexed like a card catalog - this now added to my Swing Favorites, Music of 1952 & Les Elgart playlists. Find 'em 3 ways. Thanks so much for posting this & including the release year. Those of you who post the music make my 11,000 song archive possible. HEAPS & TONS of thanks ! ! !

300 of the best artists on earth each have a playlist & 111 lists let you hear music of any year since 1900.

[WSenator1]

Isn't kind of ironic that the theme for "American Bandstand," which featured rock 'n roll, was big band music?

[Nocaro]

Many people see rock and roll as nothing more than "big band" music arranged in a different way. Of course, that's simplifying things a little, but the Funk Brothers who were responsible for most of Motown's success were nothing more than "big band" or "jazz" musicians playiing in a "rock and roll" setting. Those guys would have been just as comfortable playiing for Count Basie.

[WSenator1]

@Nocaro - Yeah, you have a point. Rock, after all, sprang from rhythm and blues, which sprang from "jump blues" during the latter part of the big band era. But many people cringe from the thought of rock as having anything to do with jazz. Thanx for the insight - take care for now!

[Jantv81]

@Nocaro True, but the early days of rock had the "big band" type of sound and feel if you will with the exception of acoustic and electric guitars. Rock is a combo of big band, r&b, country swing and jazz. Thank god for rock n roll.

[brown5654]

@WSenator1

The reason that big band music was first used as the theme was because in October of 52, there WAS no rock and roll. That form of music took a while to develop and grow. Funny thing, they used that Les Elgart theme til Barry Manilow's version came out in February of 77'.

[WSenator1]

@brown5654 - Your point is well taken, but as you also said, LONG AFTER rock was established, they were still using the Elgart version of "BB" for "American Bandstand." Also, there was a "rocked-up" instrumental version of "BB" that was used later on, as well as Manilow's vocal version.

[jcghooker]

@brown5654 NO, YOU'RE WRONG. Rock was there back in those days, and the big bands were the FIRST to play it. It was a new style for them to experiment with. Go back and listen to Ray Anthony's 1951 record of "Pretty Eyed Baby", Harry James-Frank Sinatra's 1951 record of "Castle Rock", and Les Brown's 1953 record of "Forty Cups of Coffee". These songs have all the elements of rock: the blues, the lyrics, the beat, everything. The instruments were different, that's all.

[acfinney1]

@jcghooker HELL, WESTERN SWING WAS HOW ROCK AND ROLL WAS BORN. BLACKS CLAIM EVERYTHING THESE DAYS.

[WSenator1]

@acfinney1 - No - blacks just claim what's rightfully theirs - including rhythm and blues, the father of rock and roll.

[acfinney1]

@WSenator1 You are incorrect. Study music history, then figure it out for yourself. I am only going to wasste my time long enough to correct you.

[WSenator1]

@acfinney1 - It seems like you didn't waste (not "wasste") your time learning how to spell. I guess that explains your stupidity and your inferiority. You can't change history. Any knucklehead comments you wish to make cannot change the past, or the truth. I'll allow you to go back under your rock and in-breed some more. Goodbye, you damned fool.

[acfinney1]

@WSenator1 Drop dead! For you I should make an effort to spell? To be a knucklehead, I sure get under your skin. You must be a colored boy or a sorry excuse for a white man. Go peddle your liberal lies somewhere else, you pussy!

[acfinney1]

@WSenator1 After reading your profile, I can see that you have pissed off half of youtube with your old ass. Grow up gramps.

[jcghooker]

@WSenator1 There is no such thing as "Big Band Music". SWING is what you're hearing, and yes, rock is a derivative of swing, and many swing musicians were playing on those early rock records from the 1950s, also. But swing was pushed aside after World War II, being replaced by Bebop, Progressive Jazz, and Corny Pop Vocalists. This band brought Swing back, and that's the reason why it was so popular. You couldn't dance to that other stuff.

[WSenator1]

@jcghooker - You're wrong - there was (and is) such a thing as Big Band Music. Ask those who lived during World War II if it existed (my mother, who was alive during those times ALWAYS talked about it, with great joy), and they will tell you where their favorite music came from. Everything else you said is right, but BBM was alive and well before and during WW II.

[jcghooker]

@WSenator1 Glad your mother liked it, I do too. It was still around in the 50s and 60s. If you want to call it big band music, it's ok with me. I am a musician and I'm familiar with the various styles of music they played, which was everything. Maybe it all sounds alike to some people because the instruments are the same.

[WSenator1]

@jcghooker - I'm a musician myself (slightly inactive, but the music still sings in my heart!). We may agree to disagree on the subject, but enjoy the music, and have a good day.

[Glinkaism1]

@WSenator1 Not only that. The tune goes waaay further back. Tis an arrangement of "My Bonnie Lassie," and old Scotch song. Cheers!

[WSenator1]

@Glinkaism1 - REALLY? Didn't know that. Thanks for the info, and have a good day.

[Glinkaism1]

@WSenator1 Listen a couple times and you'll hear it. Sure there's a key shift. But the same basic melody. At 1:06 the melody changes. They're playing matches the B melody lyrics "I'll meet her at the shore, playing the pipes for her." (etc) 

[bandstand16]

I love, love, loved this program. I knew all the regulars by name and would be glued to the TV screen trying to watch and learn their dance steps. It was amazing to see guys dance that good as all my Friday night dances were usually dancing with my girlfriends as guys would just slow dance.  But God Bless Dick Clark and all he did for our youth back then, he was a clean cut stand up guy... How I loved the "SPOTLIGHT" dance!!! Thanks for choosing this video....

[dovermoreno]

I think the world is divided into two different groups of people:

Those who watched American Bandstand religiously on Saturday mornings and those that think Dick Clark is a candy bar !

We're goin' hoppin' (Hop!)

We're goin' hoppin' today

Where things are poppin' (Pop!)

The Philadelphia way

We're gonna drop in (Drop!)

On all the music they play

On the Bandstand !

[billchew450]

If I'm not mistaken, Bob Horn, the original host of the show, chose this song for the theme long before Dick appeared on the scene.

[Nocaro]

That very well may be the case and I probably need to reword my commentary.

[Jantv81]

@billchew450 Bob Horn was the original host, but he didn't have the same appeal to teens or parents as Dick Clark. Read my book: Television And Me by Janna Watson. I talk about Bandstand.

[willjarmon]

@billchew450 There was a theme used before this called Leap Frog it is said that Dick Clark picked this theme somewhere after he began hosting the show. How true it is with clark picking it i dunno but it wasnt the original theme