tom hark elias and his zig zag jive flutes

[diamond638]

Used to play this on my recorder when I was about 12

[pedro88602]

this was the theme of The Killing Stones Donald Wolfit

[zxpalpha]

This is played by the barmy army at the ICC

[Jarrahnut]

Yeah! I remember buying this in 1958. It still sounds marvellous! Best wishes to everyone from Jarrahnut in beautiful Western Australia.

[nelson5857]

What are they playing at the beginning? Dice or dominoes? I never realised in 1958 they were playing anything. But then I was 10. Great to hear it again.

[spoitguitar]

Can't Wait For Series Two Of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

May The 4th

[spoitguitar]

This Always Makes Me Happy.

[TheNigelc8]

Bought it as a new release , great to hear it again

[Glamagal20091]

Somewhere in my house, no doubt covered in a thick layer of dust, is a copy of this on 78rpm.

[beau1947]

I have been looking for title of this record for several years. I mentioned to a friend at a Dinner party about it being the first record I ever bought . He asked me to hum it to him, I kenw he was a rugby fan so I told him that it was the music that they played at Twickenham after England score a try. When i bought it in 1958 I played it continously, so much so that my mum said if you play that record once more I will break it. We played it again and she did break it ! He tracked it down.

[ksaddc]

Tom Hark shot to No 4 in the UK Top Twenty in May 1958. The notes say it was recorded on the streets of South Afica in 1956. It didn't leave the Top Twenty until August 1958. Jack_Lerole was the leader of "Elias".

I first heard it on the TV serial "The Killing Stone". All I remember about the serial was the music and a very sexy black girl. Would love to see it again.

Kwela is still going, and Youtube has a lot to offer.

[Snoopythack1]

Ah The theme tune to the television film or series The Killing Stone about diamond smuggling somewhere in Africa. 1959 i think brill.

[JanVermeer2]

Dice and cash vanish, out come pennywhistles and guitars, and the gambling school becomes a kwela band (the music named after the police van) and they swing into the irresistible tune of Tom Hark. The police rumble past in their van. All clear - the music stops, dice rattle down, a new Tom Hark takes his stand at the corner.

(From "Kwela Jake" by Keith Addison)

[JanVermeer2]

The record started with the sound of money clinking down onto a pavement. Dice rattle, streetwise young voices call bets and argue, the dice stop rolling, cheers and groans as the coins are scooped up again.

Feet come running and an urgent voice calls: "E Bops, kom maak gou -- hier kom die kwela kwela van!" ("Hurry up, here comes the police van"). "Tom Hark" has been watching for police at the corner.

(From "Kwela Jake" by Keith Addison)

[joetheflute]

Beautiful! Mellow and sweet. Piranhas version is great too -just different. Thanks for posting this

[wingobingo]

anyone got their follow up "vuka magcwabeni" hugs

[shndmc]

thank you for uploading! had to trawl through a few piranhas versions to find this clearly more beautiful version

[romanyman]

This R-O-C-K-S ! hope these guys made a few bob out of this !

[bmkinuk]

Fell in love with this from the opening credits of 'Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle'. That man does know how to spot some great tunes.

Fantastic, thank you for posting!

[WarrenThwaites]

I used to ply and play this when I was a kid. Saw them play it live on TV once as well. Brilliant.

[MrMaddis95]

brain is smelting...

[borisr1964]

I just ADORE this music, i can remember it from when i was a boy on a 45 disc! For years i could never find it, and now here it is!!! Thanks snapcracklepop54, fantastic!!!

[23929500]

This was the theme to an old T.V.series "The Killing Stones" anyone else remember this ?

[martinc7201]

my Dad too had this and we used to dance around the room like retards on a bender, the flip side is as good but can't remember what that's called, anyone know or upload it maybe?

[martinc7201]

DOH!!!!....just spotted it (in the related videos box to the left it is called Ry Ry, brilliant thanx for the upload fella!!!!!

[FIS0000]

My dad had this from the 60's and I nicked it & used to play it at our Exodus mobile disco gigs back in the early 70's (what was I thinking). Flip side was RyRy and just as good. I thought I'd discovered this (until The Pirhanas) and never knew the history of the song till recently.

[tommasisinclair]

tim cahill!

[14dollars]

TIM CAHILL!!!!!!!

[edgebet]

This is Kwela music from Southern Africa.

[amberarmy1969]

I was brought up on The Piranhas version (which I love), & was thrilled to get hold of this on CD a while back. There's a beautiful chaos to this ; you can listen to it half a dozen times & hear something new in it each time.

[annapuppe]

cool music, I heard it on German radio this week and loved it. Thanx for uploading it!

[Wilthomer66]

Cool to hear this at last after I've heard the Mickey Finn & The Blue Men and Georgie Fame ska versions!

[bridgeplayer9]

Great record. I bet they enjoyed playing this. It always brings a smile to my face.

[captainflannock]

Does anyone know how many flutes were involved?

[TulseLuper]

This can currently be heard as the theme tune to Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle.

[notasilverspooner]

i wish someon told me this 5 weeks earlier ... it's been bugging me since the series first started!!!

i've only found the answer out recently after various google searches!!

[jeffrey44]

@TulseLuper

So, Stewart Lee, is there a new series of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle in the pipeline?

[TulseLuper]

@jeffrey44 Apparently there is. By the way, I wish I were Stewart Lee.

[jeffrey44]

@TulseLuper

So, Rod, is there another series of The Pink Windmill Show in the pipeline?

[gigglesloadsof]

Thanks, you've made my day being able to hear this again.

I heard this today on Radio 4's 'Saturday Live' programme. It brought memories flooding back and I just have to see if I can find a copy or CD. I was born in Africa and didn't move to the UK until 18.

[ibanezguitarman]

got this from my mothers record collection after she died and found it totally infectious and to those doubting if this is the original I assure you that it is. The flip side is also a good number called Ri Ri (Ry Ry?) and I believe at the time of release it was rumoured to be Tom Hark played backwards personally I dont think so......thanks for a great posting

[hotshotsx]

I bought this when I was just about 10 yrs old on 78 rpm. It has to be around 1956 - 58 I first heard it on Radio Luxembourg. It must have been a hit then otherwise it would not have been available in the record shops. I think I paid 2shillings and sixpence for it - ( 12 and a half pence). The 78 rpm version also had 'Ra Ra' on the B side. I never did understand the LINGO at the beginning. Can anyone translate or at least tell me what language?

[balamimammy]

Good words to the Piranah`s version....But I loved this when I played it on my old juke . It whirrs, grinds+ slaps the record down then you get the chanting with the crackles in the background..This one`s for the end of party`s.When everone`s pissed.

[ST0MP0]

The piranhas version doesnt sound anything like this, although they did make it sound better.

[mikenewcomb]

Despite the picture of the record, surely the recording is not original?

In the original the penny whistles were the 'lead instruments' throughout, commencing immediately after the chanting.

[knobstick]

Well, it looks and sounds exactly like the copy in my record collection - although not quite as crackly!

[LushyLouTheLesbian]

Thierry Henry!

[Peddant]

No,Tom Hark !

The intitials confused you ?

[britpete]

It sounded good then, but not now, at least not for me.

[ADEN1961]

This was the signature tune to I think forces favorites a radio program broadcasted in Aden on Khormakser radio station in the early sixties.

I use to hear it on the car radio Petula Clark had a hit called Sailor, Elvis presley with Wooden Heart and the Everley brothers with Walk right back . I think the number one was the Allisons with Are you sure,I remember Sailor being played and looking from Mallah towards the Sea. The best version to my mind it brigs back memories Thanks.

[Jarrahnut]

Madouc1, it makes my hair stand on end too ... well ... it would ... if I had any! Lothoril, I'm saddened to hear what you have to say. There's a lot of injustice in this world ... isn't there?

[STGBrocks]

1958 was a vintage year for timeless records.

[JMBC456]

You can say that again! The late 50's and early 60's were a great time for popular music, but the records of 1958 were timeless, as you say.

[bobh094]

Great Sound. Gee it brings back memories of Aldershot - in the Army 1958 and listening to this in Juke Box cafes. Fantastic!

[tuktukskagal]

great track

[madouc1]

I'm now 53, I heard this last when I was maybe nine or ten - my hair just stood on end listening to it after a gap of forty years. awesome

[suckemnsee]

my fathers 76 and was in the raf, he was in posted in zimbabwe ( or as was southern rhodesia ) and actually saw these live , what a memory of a live concert all the years ago lol, thnx 4 posting

[sparkypeter]

@madouc1 Same here !

[Lothoril]

Sad that Jack Lerole died of throat cancer five years ago. Also that they sold 3m records of this and didn't get a penny.

[kenatbigginhill]

Great to hear this again after so many years. Youtube scores where iTunes failed!

[Jarrahnut]

Yeah, I bought this, on a seven inch single, in about 1957/8. Thought it was a wonderful sound. Still think so! Well done snapcracklepop54. Play it again ... and again!

Greetings to all of you from wonderful Western Australia.

[LosAHills]

That's amazing to here this again. It used to be the theme music for a TV show called "The Killing Stones" and it starred a beautiful woman called April Olrich. Thanks for the memory!

[bagofmoos]

Cool I remember this from when I was a kid, my nan had it on an LP, I used to love jumping around to it.