Cinderella Rockefella

"Cinderella Rockefella" is a novelty song written by Mason Williams and Nancy Ames. It was originally recorded and released by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim on their 1967 album 2 in 3. It became an international hit single in 1968.

"Cinderella Rockefella"
German picture sleeve
Single by Esther and Abi Ofarim
from the album 2 in 3
B-side"Lonesome Road"
Released9 February 1968[1]
Recorded1967[2]
GenreNovelty
Length2:29
LabelPhilips BF 1640 (UK)[2]
Songwriter(s)Mason Williams, Nancy Ames[2]
Producer(s)Abi Ofarim, Chaim Semel[2]
Esther and Abi Ofarim singles chronology
"Morning of My Life"
(1967)		 "Cinderella Rockefella"
(1968)		 "One More Dance"
(1968)
Official audio
"Cinderella Rockefella" on YouTube

Original version

Esther Ofarim and the Smothers Brothers first performed "Cinderella Rockefella" on the CBS variety program The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in April 1967. Mason Williams, who co-wrote the song, was a writer for the series. Ofarim recorded the song with her husband Abi Ofarim that year. The words of the song imitate yodelling, with a somewhat 1920s-style arrangement structured like a twelve-bar blues.

The single was released on Philips Records in February 1968 in the UK. Esther & Abi Ofarim made an appearance on The Eamonn Andrews Show on ITV to promote it in the UK.[2] The single peaked at No. 1 in the British singles chart on 5 March 1968, where it remained for three weeks.[3] It was also No. 1 on the NME chart for four weeks. As of 2020, Esther & Abi Ofarim remain the only act from Israel to achieve a UK No. 1 single.[4] The record was an international hit, reaching the top 10 in various countries. It was less successful in the U.S., peaking at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1968.[5]

The song appeared on the albums 2 in 3 (1967) in Europe and Cinderella Rockefella (1968) in the US.

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 Bros.-Seven Arts. For his rendition the duet vocal was performed by one of his Smothers Brothers collaborators, Jennifer Warnes.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Record World[7]

Cash Box (9 March 1968): "Out of the left field arena of novelty songs comes this wierd [sic] rollick complete with mock yodel and tuba-banjo backdrop. Crazy romp that shows the duo in rare form, very rare for these 'straight' talents. Could very easily repeat the track’s monster Enlish [sic] breakout on this side of the Atlantic. Exceptional long shot."[8]

Record World (9 March 1968): "Hilarious parody duet that is camp enough to connect with the populace. Pair are terrific."[7]

Chart performance
Esther & Abi Ofarim
Chart (1968) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[9] 14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 3
Belgium (Ultratop)[10] 2
Canada (RPM 100)[11] 6
Germany (GfK Entertainment)[10] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 1
New Zealand (Listener)[13] 12
Norway (VG-lista)[10] 8
Spain (El Gran Musical)[14] 8
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[10] 10
UK (NME Top 30)[15] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[3] 1
US (Billboard Hot 100)[16] 68
US (Cash Box Top 100)[17] 67
US (Record World 100 Top Pops)[18] 92
Venezuela[19] 7

Cover versions
  • In 1968, Australian husband-and-wife duo Anne & Johnny Hawker reached No. 12 with their rendition on Australia's Go-Set National Top 40 chart.[20]
  • In 1968, Italian band Quartetto Cetra created an Italian cover for a 45RPM.[21][22]
  • During the early 1970s, The Carpenters performed the song as part of their live shows, including a 1972 show in Australia.[23]
  • In the 2004 Israeli film Walk on Water, Knut Berger and Caroline Peters perform a karaoke version of the song, sung by Rita and Ivri Lider.

References
  1. "70,000 a day for a hot hit" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo. 9 March 1968. p. 17. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  2. 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.
  3. "Cinderella Rockefella". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 216–7. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. "The Hot 100 (week of May 4, 1968)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. "Cinderella-Rockafella" on YouTube
  7. "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Record World: 10. 9 March 1968.
  8. "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 18. 9 March 1968.
  9. "Go-Set Australian charts - 8 May 1968". poparchives.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. "Esther & Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  11. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "RPM Weekly: May 4, 1968" (PDF). bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. "The Irish Charts - Cinderella Rockafella". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  13. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 8 June 1968. p. 52.
  15. "New Musical Express: March 1968". skidmore.edu. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  16. "Cinderella Rockefella (song by Esther & Abi Ofarim)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  17. "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box: 4. 27 April 1968.
  18. "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World: 27. 27 April 1968.
  19. "Hits of the Word: Venezuela" (PDF). Billboard. 22 June 1968. p. 43.
  20. "Go-Set Australian charts - 1 May 1968". poparchives.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  21. "COVER.INFO – Cover Versions, Samples, Medleys". COVER.INFO. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  22. Cinderella Rockefella (Quartetto Cetra, 1968), retrieved 20 September 2022
  23. Cinderella Rockefella- Carpenters 1972 'Live In Australia', retrieved 20 September 2022
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