"The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" is a 1968 pop song, which was the theme song for the children's television program ''
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
''The Banana Splits'' is an American television variety show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featuring the Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal characters in red marching band hats with yellow plumes. ...
''.
[CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records] Originally released by
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
on the album titled ''We're the Banana Splits'', the single release peaked at #96 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 on February 8, 1969 and also #96 in Canada, January 13, 1969. The writing of the song is credited to
Mark Barkan
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Fin ...
and
Ritchie Adams
Richard Adam Ziegler (December 15, 1938 – March 6, 2017), known professionally as Ritchie Adams, was an American singer and songwriter.
Biography
Born in New York City, by 1959 he joined The Fireflies, and sang lead vocals on their hit reco ...
, who were the show's music directors. However, there are claims that the theme was written by
jingle
A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Jingles are a form of sound branding. A jingle contains one or more hooks and meaning that explicitly promote the product or service being advertised, usually t ...
writer N. B. Winkless Jr. of the
Leo Burnett Agency
Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc., also known as Leo Burnett Company, Inc., is an American advertising company, founded on August 5, 1935, in Chicago by Leo Burnett.
In September 2002, the company was acquired by Publicis Groupe, the world's third ...
, but was credited to Adams and Barkan for contractual reasons.
In 1995, Hollywood Library released the 1,000-copy limited-edition CD reissue ''We're the Banana Splits/Here Come
the Beagles'' which, in addition to the original album version, includes an alternate version on the song.
Cover versions
American
punk rock band
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock band formed in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, in 1977. One of the longest tenured punk rock bands, they have been in continuous existence for over 40 years. They have consistently balanced catchy mel ...
made the song a hit in the United Kingdom in 1979 with their cover version, marketed by
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
as "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)". The record reached #7 in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
''British Hit Singles & Albums'' (originally known as ''The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles'' and ''The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums'') was a music reference book originally published in the United Kingdom by the publishing arm of t ...
, 7th Edition
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana), The
1969 singles
1979 singles
Children's television theme songs
Songs written by Mark Barkan
1968 songs
Songs written by Ritchie Adams
The Banana Splits