Cow Cow Boogie - Ella Mae Morse & Liberace 

'Loco weed" is the bane of cow ponies. An alkaloid that destroys "horse sense" in horses.

Haha have fun I've been listening to her for a year now!! She's amazing

Thanks.

I like Dorothy's the best . Her dancing and the flirty way she sings the lyrics. But all are great !

The song was written for and performed by Ella Fitzgerald in the 1942 Abbot and Costello film, "Ride 'em Cowboy." Composed by jazz bandleader and frequently uncredited Hollywood music composer, Benny Carter, the song was cut from the film and later given to Ella Mae Morse to perform at fledgling Capitol records. Morse learned the song listening to Fitzgerald's soundtrack arrangement and had Capitol's 1st hit record. Fitzgerald recorded the song with the Ink Spots a year after the movie which was a Top 10 hit and #1 R&B chart hit. Fitzgerald's appearance in this film was a reflection of her multiple hit success singing with Chick Webb. Her blockbuster hit, "A Tisket a Tasket" had already achieved signature song status; Director John Ford famously used it in his opening scene to "The Grapes of Wrath" and Ella performed it with Abbot and Costello in 'Ride 'em Cowboy." Why the studio chose to cut her other tune in the film, "Cow Cow Boogie" is a mystery. Morse certainly didn't complain about the cut, lol.

Damned right! She was truly great!

lol, get real

Nice answer....without any discussion. Isn't it funny that us who actually lived through the birth of R'n'R regard Ella as the Godmother....but people like you, who can't even put a sentence together "lol", seem to think they know better. You were not even born then. @@waldolydecker8118

Our pleasure!

She was truly great and one of my favorite female vocalists who appealed to black and white audiences around the country!

That's awesome, Scott. My wife's paternal grandmother is Ella Mae's sister. (Flo Hendelman) I would imagine that makes you and her related in some distant way.

That's awesome. Love her song mr. 5x5 😂

Cool! 👍😃

It looks like talent is in your family! I’m sorry that your father didn’t get to pursue his! I hope that you can pursue your’s. I hope that your other family members can pursue their’s!

@garystefanski7227 It was Jimmy Dorsey, not Tommy.

Songs in this era generally were not censored for booze or drug referral.

The term “loco weed” was created for a western plant that poisoned cows and horses that ate it, so it didn’t mean marijuana. Obviously in these lyrics you can interpret it differently.

Right there @0:42

I'm pretty sure it's locoweed

Yep!

She had stage presence.

Absolutely agree

Loved this singer for many years, what a treat to see her performing, never seen her before.

I have a notion to second that emotion ! Ella Mae was quite lovely and a gifted performer ! Thanx for your comment ! :-)

I dunno if she was a swinger

@@Mr.Classic91 "I dunno if she was a swinger" Definitely a swing musician.

I agree 100%.-

Show biz is a tough business. Lee was a talented actor.

I DONT CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY. LIBERACE WAS A HIGH CLASS MAN AND A FANTASTIC TALENT. AND ELLA MAE IS FANTASTIC TOO

Yes. from 1954.

Jonathan - you must not be familiar with the histories of American pop culture and/or homosexuals. Liberace had a top-rated TV show in the mid-'50s and the viewing public in general was not aware of his orientation, even after the Confidential scandal magazine article. Take a listen to "Mr. Sandman." Also, he was trained as a classical pianist, but was such a versatile professional that he could also "get down" with the best of musicians. And just because a gay male receives a kiss from a woman does not mean it's not pleasurable. It is. It simply isn't sexual. And that wouldn't have been what the sponsors were looking for anyway.

Better by Dorothy.

Dorothy's version, very, very good. Ella Mae's version, even better.

Ella Fitzgerald had a very early version, don't see it here on RU-vid.

From what I read, the song was originally composed for--get this--an Abbot&Costello movie. It got cut out. Ella Fitzgerald did it first, with the Ink Spots. It's here on the Tube. Almost immediately after, Morse recorded her famous version, with Freddie Slack and company. DD's version--also here on the Tube--came I think the following year, 1943. All three are excellent. Ella Mae is my favorite though; just phenomenal. Maybe a Texan would have an advantage on a song like this.

@@henrybrowne7248 If you're a born Texan the drawl and accent are ingrained in you from birth; I'm a long time transplant and trying to perfect my accent. lol.

Her original--here on YT--is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion. Freddie Slack orchestra deserves credit too.

No surprise. The man could play any style at any speed, backward, even piling different songs on top of one another etc. A musician whose talent went unappreciated to the larger public.

There are videos on RU-vid where Liberace plays speedy boogie-woogies...

I was thinking that - but wondered if he wasn't making an effort not to showboat! He seems to be really into the song and that left hand boogie is sublime!

Maybe she wanted to get him in the straight path! lol.

but I don't say that cow boogie is terrible ;)

Not really