THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

252-The Andrews Sisters-Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

1941-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.17. 1940’s ‘Girl Power’ that helped win World War 2.

The Andrew Sisters (see also best songs 934) were a close harmony singing group of the ‘Swing,’ and ‘Boogie-Woogie’ eras, made up of the three sisters LaVerne Sophia Andrews, (1911-1967) (contralto) Maxene Anglyn Andrews, (1916-1995) (soprano) and Patricia Marie Andrews, (1918-2013) ( mezzo-soprano) there was also a fourth sister Anglyn, who died at eight months old, on March 16th, 1914, all of the sisters were born in Minneapollis, Minnesota, United States. The Andrews Sisters were at the height of their fame in the 1940’s, and are fondly remembered for boosting morale during the War years, where they would entertain the Allied forces in Africa, and Italy, as well as in the United States, they would visit Army, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard bases, war zones, hospitals, and munition factories, and partly because of this, their music is often remembered when people discuss World War 2. With record sales in excess of 80 million The Andrews Sisters were the most successful girl group of the first half of the 20th Century, and the second best selling artists of the 1940’s behind Bing Crosby (1903-1977) (see also best songs 934-457 and 259.) They teamed up with Bing Crosby on record on many occasions, recording 47 songs with him, of which 23 charted on Billboard in America. The Andrews Sisters had in total 113 Billboard hit singles, of which 46 reached the top 10, and eight made Number 1 between 1938-1955, with ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ making Number 6, they also appeared in 17 Hollywood films between 1940-1948.

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ was written by Don Raye, (1909-1985) and Hughie Prince, (1906-1960) who were commissioned by ‘Universal’ pictures to compose songs for the 1941 American musical military comedy ‘Buck Privates,’ starring Bud Abbott, (1897-1974) and Lou Costello, (1906-1959.) The Andrews Sisters who were also under contract at ‘Universal’ at that time were asked to perform the song in the film. ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ is heavily based on the 1940 song ‘Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar,’ which had also been written by Raye and Prince, and had been recorded by The Andrews Sisters in 1940. ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ had originally been written for Lou Costello to perform, but with amendments it was decided that it should be performed by The Andrew Sisters, who also performed three other songs in the film,’You’re a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith, ‘Bounce Me Brother, With a Solid Four,’ and (‘I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time.’ Both Don Raye, and Hughie Prince appeared in the film as new recruits alongside Abbott and Costello.

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ was co-written by Don Raye, who was born Donald MacRae Wilhoite Jr. on March 16th, 1909, in Washington, D.C., United States, he died on January 29th, 1985, at the age of 75. Don Raye had began his career as a dancer, going on to win the ‘Virginia State Dancing Championship,’ he then started work in vaudeville as a song and dance man, often writing his own songs for his act. In 1935 he started work full time as a songwriter, collaborating with composers Sammy Cahn, (1913-1993) Saul Chaplin, (1912-1997) and the bandleader, and saxophonist Jimmie Lunceford (1902-1947.) Don Raye and Hughie Prince first joined forces in 1940 co-writing ‘Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar,’ with Ralph McKinley, (1910-1995) this led to them being signed by ‘Universal Pictures’ to score musical comedies with The Andrews Sisters, The Ritz Brothers, and Abbott and Costello. In 1985, Don Raye was inducted into the ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame.’ Hughie Prince was born Hugh Durham Prince on August 9th, 1906, in Greenville, South Carolina, United States, he died on January 16th, 1960, at the age 53, together with Don Raye their music has been used in over 40 films.

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ tells the tale about a
renowned trumpeter who is drafted into the army, and is given the task of blowing the wake up call, which is known as the ‘reveille.’ He grows tired of this mundane activity, until the Captain empathises and drafts in other musicians, the bugler is inspired by this and he now plays reveille in his own ‘Boogie Woogie’ style, which has a positive effect on everyone. In 1972 the American actress and singer Bette Midler recorded the song for her debut Album ‘The Divine Miss M,’ it was produced by Barry Manilow (see also best songs 750.) When it was released as a single in 1973 it reached Number 8 on Billboard, bringing the song to the attention of a whole new generation. In 2007 Christina Aguilera (see also best songs 373) and Linda Perry (see also best songs 296) co-wrote ‘Candyman’ (Billboard Number 25 & UK Number 17) for Aguilera’s Album ‘Back to Basics,’ the song was a tribute to The Andrew Sisters, and ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.’ The Andrew Sisters have recorded at least four different versions of ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ on different labels. The Original on ‘Decca Records’ in 1941, ‘V-Disc’ in 1944, ‘Capitol Records’ in 1956, and ‘Dot Records’ in 1962.

‘He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way, he had a boogie style that no one else could play. He was the top man at his craft, but then his number came up and he was gone with the draft.’