Flip, Flop and Fly

"Flip, Flop and Fly" is a song recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1955. Called a "prototypical rocker", it was recorded by several early rock and roll performers.[1] In 1973, a version by the Downchild Blues Band reached the record singles chart in Canada.

"Flip, Flop and Fly"
Single by Big Joe Turner
B-side"Ti-Ri-Lee"
ReleasedFebruary 1955 (1955-02)
RecordedNew York City, January 28, 1955
GenreJump blues
Length2:49
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Big Joe Turner singles chronology
"Well All Right"
(1954)		 "Flip, Flop and Fly"
(1955)		 "Hide and Seek"
(1955)

Original song

"Flip, Flop and Fly" has an arrangement similar to Big Joe Turner's 1954 number 1 R&B chart hit "Shake, Rattle and Roll".[2] Music critic Cub Koda suggests that "leftover verses [from the 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' recording session] were then recycled into Turner's follow-up hit, 'Flip, Flop and Fly.'"[3] Both are up-tempo twelve-bar blues with a strong backbeat. "Flip, Flop and Fly" reached number 2 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart in 1955, less than one year after "Shake, Rattle and Roll".[4]

Accompanying Turner on vocals are the song's writer Jesse Stone on piano, Al Sears on tenor sax, Connie Kay on drums, and unidentified trumpet, alto sax, baritone sax, guitar, and bass players. Turner subsequently recorded several live versions of the song.

Other charting versions

In 1973, a rendition by the Canadian Downchild Blues Band reached number 35 on the RPM 100 singles chart.[5] It was their only hit and is included on their second album Straight Up (1974).[6]

References
  1. Dahl, Bill (1996). "Big Joe Turner". In Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 254. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
  2. "Review Spotlight on ... Flip, Flop and Fly". Billboard. Vol. 67, no. 9. February 26, 1955. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. Koda, Cub. "Big Joe Turner: 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 419. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Singles – December 22, 1973" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. Harris, Craig. "Downchild Blues Band – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
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