The Stripper

"The Stripper" is an instrumental composed by David Rose, recorded in 1958 and released four years later. It evinces a jazz influence with especially prominent trombone slides, and evokes the feel of music used to accompany striptease artists.

This article is about the tune. For the occupation, see Stripper. For other uses, see Stripper (disambiguation).
"The Stripper"
Single by David Rose & His Orchestra
A-side"Ebb Tide"
B-side"The Stripper"
ReleasedMay 1962
Format7" vinyl
Recorded1958
GenreJazz
Length1:57
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)David Rose
David Rose (standing on the right) in AFRS Radio Show, c. 1946

"The Stripper" reached #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart in July, 1962.[1] It became a gold record. Billboard ranked the record as the #5 song of 1962.[2]

The tune came to prominence by chance. Rose had recorded "Ebb Tide" as the A-side of a record. His record company, MGM Records, wanted to get it on the market quickly, but discovered there was no B-side available for it. Rose was away at the time the need for the B-side surfaced. An MGM office boy was given the job of going through some of Rose's tapes of unreleased material to find something that would work; he liked "The Stripper" and chose it as the flip side for the record.

Legacy

It was the theme melody in the Swedish record sales list Kvällstoppen in the 1960s. It also became known as the background music for a contemporary Noxzema Shaving Cream commercial, featuring Swedish model Gunilla Knutsson,[3] and for key scenes in the films The Scarecrow (1973) and Slap Shot (1977). The piece also features in the films The Full Monty (1997) and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). It was used on BBC Television in 1976 by the British comedians Morecambe and Wise in their "Breakfast Sketch" routine, where they perform a dance using various kitchen utensils and food items. It was also used on Match Game when Gene Rayburn or one of the panelists began “getting antsy”. Professional wrestler Rick Rude used a version for his entrance and disrobing routine in the World Wrestling Federation.

The British comedy troupe Monty Python used the song in two skits on their show Monty Python's Flying Circus:

--A beachgoer (Terry Jones) is trying to change into a bathing suit on the beach, only to be exposed as he begins taking his clothes off. His last attempt finds him in front of an audience, to whom he gives them a show. As the song ends, the words "It's a man's world, taking your clothes off in public" appear onscreen, echoing the episode's running gag about infringing on the British Army's recruitment slogan.

--An economic minister (Terry Jones) gives an report on the British economy while doing a striptease to the song.

References
  1. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. New York: Billboard Books. p. 112. ISBN 978-0823076772. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1962
  3. Bacon, James (21 July 1964). "Beatles Hit In New Film; Rose Is Happy". Gettysburg Times. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
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