Frank Ifield sings "The Swiss Maid"

One of Frank's many hits featuring his excellent yodeling.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR THIS SONG:

"Swiss Maid" had been written and recorded successfully by country humorist Roger Miller, who was not a yodeler, and when Miller met Frank he wanted to know why Frank hadn't recorded it! The song had been covered with resounding success by Del Shannon. Although a competent yodeler in his own right, Shannon had not yodeled the song so the way was still open for Frank to score another "first".
And score it did -- Frank added the song into his stage show and it immediately became a highlight. He performed the song with similar arrangement to previous versions until the end of the song, where he added a Swiss-style "oompah" band to
which he yodeled an authentic Bavarian style (not Swiss) yodel. At the end of the song he would gather the microphone cable into a lasso and swirl it above his head as he yodeled. The crowds loved it and the song generated standing ovation wherever Frank was showing.
{ Comments by multi award winner Bob Howe, Frank's musical director, renowned musician and my close friend. }

Category:

Music

Tags:

• swiss
• maid
• Ifield
• country
• pop

[atmj65]

This is worth all your hard work - thanks.

[BudGray]

Thank you. It was a work of Love.

[BudGray]

I had to redo this video as, after many months of successful playing, the older version began shrinking causing the widths to be too narrow. Sorry. The older version had 11,660 hits when I replaced it. I Also regret that the remake caused all of the very nice comments to be lost. With this remake we must start again from scratch.

[BudGray]

@xh558able

Don't feel bad. I get thousands of contacts yearly from fans who inform me they love Frank. Many from young people who were not old enough to follow him during the 1960's, 70's and 80's when he was touring internationally as well as older folks who are steadfast fans. Seems these days there is a wave of young people who have great music taste and enjoy Frank's songs.

[coachnut1]

Great Posting and a Great Entertainer !! When live music really was " LIVE" .. great stuff !

[tgc6266]

Thanks for this song. I loved Frank's and Del Shannon's versions equally. They remind me of when i was young, fit, had a heart that worked properly, had hair, and was not social outcast.

Oh such memories prompted - cheers!

Gerry

[chriscrow1]

What a great entertainer loved it and brought back some good memories of the 60s

[kake1956]

@atmj65 Greatest Male vocalist ever bar none

[rockgor]

Never heard of Frank before. Guess because he mainly performed in

Australia and England.

Such a lot of energy. And he looks like he's having so much fun.

He has a web site w/ a bio and CDs for sale.

Tnx for the yodeling post.

[barbaramanuk]

Watched this clip a few times. It's great to catch up with. Frank Ifield was one of my musical heroes when I was growing up in the 60s'.

[barbaramanuk]

Tremendous. Really brought back a wonderful world. Thanks.

[countrybill]

in reply to ringatin this show was approx 1982 at the snape maltings, i was there as a guest of franks

[Diannesky]

Him and Frankie Vaughan were my fav's growing up lol Loved this man