Can I Get A Witnesses?

Here's another of those "Get the guys in a studio and whip something out for the the kids" albums - or at least something to fool the parents of the kids into buying cover versions of popular hits. In this case the big tune is Apache! which was a hit for The Shadows (primarily in the UK) and Jørgen Ingmann (primarily in the US), with other notable versions coming from The Ventures and Davie Allan and The Arrows. Of course, the Incredible Bongo Band has a legendary and much-sampled version, but that came long after this album. I actually like most of this a lot - I'm a sucker for instrumentals and honking sax, and Sam Butera actually gets pretty "out" on a track or two on the second side.

Butera had a long and creative music career, including some proto-rock and roll instrumental sides in the early 50's, but he made his bread as the leader of Louis Prima's band The Witnesses (as heard on this 1961 disc). Here's a lengthy bio and discography.

APACHE! - Sam Butera & The Witnesses Dot DLP 3381

Apache / Hearts Of Stone / I'm An Old Cowhand / Spanish Harlem / My Foolish Heart / Sam's Boogie / One Mint Julep / Sunrise Serenade / Theme From Dixie / Josephine / Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini / Sam's Blues