Double Dutch Bus

"Double Dutch Bus" is a hit 1981 funk song by Frankie Smith, made famous for its extensive use of the "izz" infix form of slang.
It was first released as a 12" promotional single in 1980, and released under the album "Children of Tomorrow" in early 1981. The song had subsequent releases later that year, when the song achieved several Gold certifications from the RIAA.

Original version

The song title represents a combination of two institutions in Smith's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania neighborhood: the double Dutch jump rope game played by neighborhood kids; and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus system that was a backbone of the local transportation network (and for which Smith had unsuccessfully applied for a bus driving position; the Transpass referred to in the song is an actual SEPTA weekly or monthly fare pass).

Smith and co-writer Bill Bloom persuaded contacts at WMOT Records to finance the song. They began recording in 1980. The song was engineered by Gene Leone, and it was first released as a promotional single in late 1980, along with the B side version, Double Dutch. The song rocketed to popularity in a matter of weeks and debuted on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Soul Singles chart in February, rising to the top spot by July, where it held at number one for four weeks. It also crossed over to the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it peaked at number 30 in the summer of 1981.

The record became only the second in history (following the 1979 Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer duet "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"), and remaining one of the few, to receive two separate standard-release Gold certifications from the RIAA: first in June 1981 for sales of the 12" single; and a second Gold record in September 1981 for sales of the 7" edit.

In the National Geographic documentary "King of Coke: Living the High Life" Frankie Smith explains how the song was composed. He also states that WMOT Records failed to pay him his royalties, and how he therefore was unable to pay his taxes. An investigation was started which brought to light that WMOT Records was not only badly managed, but in fact laundering money for Larry Lavin, aka Dr. Snow, a dentist secretly dealing cocaine.

Chart positions

Sampling

The song was sampled heavily by Missy Elliott for use in the song "Gossip Folks".

Kylie Minogue sampled the song during her Fever Tour in her performance of "Cowboy Style".

Madonna sampled the song on her Sticky & Sweet Tour performance of "Into the Groove".

The "UK Extended Dis" mix of Beat Dis by Bomb the Bass also sampled the track.

Raven-Symoné version

"Double Dutch Bus" was recorded 27 years later by Raven-Symoné. The track was released to promote the film ''College Road Trip'' and is the lead single from her fourth and self-titled studio album . The single was placed on Radio Disney on February 9, 2008. This version has an updated hip hop and R&B sound.

"Double Dutch Bus" was released to the U.S. iTunes Store on March 4, 2008.

Music video

The music video premiered on Disney Channel on February 18, 2008. The music video shows Raven and a crowd of people dancing under a disco ball and having a great time on a party bus (known as the "double dutch bus"). The music video also features images from the film ''College Road Trip''. Movie cast member Donny Osmond makes a cameo appearance in the video, which was directed by Patrick Hoelck.

Track listing

;CD single/digital downloadDouble Dutch Bus - Amazon
Amazon.com
#"Double Dutch Bus" - 3:02

Radio and release history

See also

* List of number-one R&B singles of 1981 (U.S.)

References

External links

Music video of Raven-Symoné version
at YouTube

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1981 singles
2008 singles
Raven-Symoné songs
Hollywood Records singles
1981 songs
Songs about buses