Cinderella Rockefella

"Cinderella Rockefella"
Single by Esther and Abi Ofarim
Released 28 February 1968 (United Kingdom)
Recorded 1967[1]
Genre Novelty
Length 2:29
Label Philips Records BF 1640 (UK)[1]
Songwriter(s) Mason Williams, Nancy Ames[1]
Producer(s) Abi Ofarim, Chaim Semel[1]

"Cinderella Rockefella" is a novelty song written by Mason Williams and Nancy Ames, best known in the version by the Israeli duo Esther and Abi Ofarim, at the time a married couple, in 1968. They recorded their version in 1967 and made an appearance on The Eamonn Andrews Show to promote it.[1] An April 1967 performance on the CBS television variety program The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, introduced a U.S. audience to the song. Co-Composer Williams was a writer for the series. The single peaked at No. 1 in the British charts in February 1968, where it remained for three weeks. It is the only act from Israel to become a UK number 1.[2]

The single features yodelling and a somewhat 1920s-style arrangement. The song is structured like a twelve-bar blues.

According to Radio Caroline DJ Andy Archer, the song was the last to be played on Radio Caroline South on the night of 2–3 March 1968, before its radio ship (like that of its sister station Radio Caroline North) was towed into harbour over unpaid debts on the morning of 3 March.

Williams recorded his own version of the song for his 1968 album The Mason Williams Ear Show on Warner Brothers-Seven Arts Records. For his rendition the duet vocal was performed by one of his Smothers Brothers collaborators, Jennifer Warren (later known as Jennifer Warnes).

Cover versions

  • The Carpenters performed the song as part of their live shows during the early 1970s.
  • The Spanish pop vocal group, Los Quando's, released a Spanish version titled "Mi Cenicienta" in an EP single from 1968, with lyrics from Julio Guiu Sr.
  • Knut Berger and Caroline Peters perform a karaoke version of the song, sung by Rita and Ivri Lider, in the 2004 Israeli film Walk on Water.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 114. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 216–7. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.


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