45's - Beep Beep - The Playmates (Roulette)

The Playmates were a late 1950s vocal group, led by the pianist Chic Hetti (born Carl Cicchetti, 26 February 1930), drummer; Donny Conn (born Donald Claps, 29 March 1930); and Morey Carr (born 31 July 1932, Waterbury, Connecticut).

Signed to Morris Levy's Roulette Records in 1958, they released two notable singles — "Jo-Ann" and "Don't Go Home" — before having a surprise #4 hit (July 9, 1958) with the tempo-changing novelty record "Beep, Beep" - that became a regular spin for Dr. Demento.

The "Beep, Beep" song was on the Billboard Top 40 chart for twelve weeks. Concurrently with this song, American Motors (AMC) was setting production and sales records for the Rambler models. Because of a directive by the BBC that songs do not include brand names in its lyrics, a version of "Beep Beep" was recorded for the European market replacing the Cadillac and Nash Rambler with the generic terms limousine and bubble car.

They followed up with a chart listing single in 1959 with "What Is Love" and then again in 1960 with "Wait For Me". After four albums for Roulette, the novelty group — which was known for its between-song comedy and banter as much for its repertoire — broke up in 1964.

Category:

Music

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[nottosureaboutit]

I`m well into my 50`s and I`ve carried snippets of this song in my head all my life. To hear the full version again is a joy! thank you for finding it, I cannot stop smiling. Happy days.

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@nottosureaboutit Thanks! I'm glad I have it to share. :-)

[mkl62]

A Top 5 hit for The Playmates in December 1958. It was kept out of the top spot by The Teddy Bears (To Know Him Is to Love Him).

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@mkl62 That's some neat info.! I also have the Teddy Bears on 45.

[geask8er]

every friday at the gem roller rink in menasha wi. we play this song and we do the dance on skates and let me tell you is it ever hard to do the whole song

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@geask8er Sounds like fun! It's been a long time since I've been roller skating. :-)

[CrisVangel]

Very kool, would love a 78 copy for my collection.. I had Don't Go Home on a canadian press, Apex.. I didn't like it.. This one is the "good" one by this group! Great post!

[OldsVistaCruiser]

This song is why I call Caddies "Rambler chasers" to this day.

I had a '64 Rambler Classic 770 that had an automatic with a shift indicator that showed "P-R-N-2-1-L". If you put it in "2", it started in 2nd gear and went into 3rd as you went faster. If you put it in "1", it went through all 3 gears. "L" was strictly 1st gear.

I wanted to decorate it with stenciled Cadillac emblems on the backs of the front fenders, as you may find swastikas or rising suns on World War II fighter planes!

[rjsmth]

@J0hnnyTrash I agree. I do have this version you describe on a Playmates cd, best of on Collectibles records...

[themusicalpage]

This was one of my Daddy's favourite songs :O) I love to listen to it and remember my Dad!!! Thanks for posting it :O)

[douro20]

@mkl62

Hmm...I thought this song was even earlier

[lemonadefacecandy]

I love this song. I use to listen to it when I was younger and I am only 30. Thanks for putting it on here I can't wait to share with my grandma.

[TheXxnomadxX]

the sound of the lp has made me feel mine ....nomad ....get me out of second gear... ty i once had an lp like that ... my brother puggie had id it .....i entrusted it to him but he probley craped it lol ....

[geask8er]

@Ne14Gr8Music

well one of theses days you should stop up there and ill have them play this song. and you can see the awesome jam we do to this song. by the way where you from? im from wisconsin

[bkbeckc51]

A classic!

[J0hnnyTrash]

@nottosureaboutit This is actually the slightly abridged version of the song. I have yet to find one on here that has the intro, which is just him saying to no music "Beep Beep, Beep Beep, His horn went Beep Beep Beep".. than it does a fade out, and came back in and starts where this one does.