Dizzy

(Tommy Roe, Freddy Weller)

This bubblegum pop song was written by Tommy Roe and Freddy Weller and according to the Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh book 1000 UK #1 Hits Tommy wrote the chorus first and when he had problems completing it, it was finished off by Freddy Weller at night on a tour bus. Jimmy Haskell wrote the string arrangements, which was fairly uncommon for pop music at that time. and members of the studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew performed the rest of the music. These were Ben Benay on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards and Joe Osborn on bass and the backing singers Ginger Blake, Clydie King and Shelley Clark.

It was recorded by Tommy Roe and released on 45 in the US in 1968, with the B-Side being “The You I Need”. It was released early in 1969 in other countries. The song was a huge international hit and topped the charts in the United States, Canada and the UK. It reached the No. 2 spot in Australia and Ireland and No. 4 in West Germany and Norway.

Since then the song has been performed in many cover versions by groups and singers that include Boney M, Ace Cannon, Tina Charles, the Grumbleweeds, Billy J. Kramer, James Last, Scooter Lee, Hugh Montenegro, Vic Reeves and the Wonder Stuff, who also took the song to No. 1 in the UK, the Rubinoos, the Ventures, Wreckless Eric and even by the TV animated character Bob the Builder. It has also been sampled by the hip hop group De La Soul.

Tommy Roe recordings
ABC Records – 45-11164 (US)

Sources:

Dizzy

Navigate Feenotes

Search Feenotes

Please donate to keep the site alive