Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band was a big bandswing music-influenced disco band from the Bronx, New York that was formed by half-brothers Stony Browder Jr. (born on February 7, 1949) and August Darnell (born Thomas August Darnell Browder on August 12, 1950) in 1974. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was one of the most original musical ensembles of the disco era. They were formed in the Bronx in 1974 by Stony Browder, Jr. 1949), his brother August Darnell (born Thomas Browder, 1951), singer Cory Daye (b. 1952), Andy Hernandez (b. 1950), and Mickey Sevilla (b.
- Dr Buzzard Original Savannah Band Raritan
- Dr Buzzard Original Savannah Band Rare
- Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Rar
- Cached
'Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon' | |
---|---|
Single by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band | |
from the album Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band | |
A-side | 'Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon' |
B-side | 'Sunshower (U.S.)' |
Released | 1976 |
Recorded | House of Music, West Orange, New Jersey, 1976 |
Genre | Disco, pop, big band |
Length | 5:46 3:33 (7' single) |
Label | RCA Records |
Songwriter(s) | Stony Browder Jr. (Music) August Darnell(Lyrics), John Schonberger, Richard Coburn, Vincent Rose |
Producer(s) | Sandy Linzer |
'Cherchez La Femme' (French for Seek the woman) is a song that was written and performed by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band with lead vocals by Cory Daye in 1976. The music was written by band-leader and pianist Stony Browder Jr. and John Schonberger, Richard Coburn (né Frank Reginald DeLong; 1886–1952), and Vincent Rose; with lyrics by Browder Jr.'s brother and bassist August Darnell. The song's full title is 'Whispering'/'Cherchez La Femme'/'Se Si Bon' [sic]. 'Cherchez La Femme' became the group's biggest hit.
The song's opening lyric is notable in itself as it makes a reference to record executive Tommy Mottola, who was instrumental in giving the act their major label deal. Along with the tracks 'Sour and Sweet' and 'I'll Play the Fool', 'Cherchez La Femme' went to #1 on the disco chart.[1] 'Cherchez La Femme' also charted on the pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts.
Track listing[edit]
- 7' Single
- 'Whispering' / 'Cherchez La Femme' / 'Se Si Bon' - 3:33
- 'Sunshower' - 4:02
Chart history[edit]
Chart (1976-77) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia | 49 |
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[2] | 18 |
Canada RPM Top Singles | 23 |
Netherlands | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] | 27 |
U.S. BillboardEasy Listening[4] | 22 |
U.S. BillboardDisco Action Top 30[3] | 1 |
U.S. BillboardHot Soul Singles[5] | 31 |
Gloria Estefan version[edit]
'Cherchez La Femme' | ||||
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Single by Gloria Estefan | ||||
from the album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me | ||||
Released | May 1995 (USA) June 1995 (Europe) | |||
Recorded | 1993 - 1994 | |||
Genre | Dance-Pop | |||
Length | 4:58 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stony Browder Jr. August Darnell | |||
Producer(s) | Emilio Estefan, Jr. Lawrence Dermer | |||
Gloria Estefan singles chronology | ||||
|
'Cherchez La Femme' was covered by Gloria Estefan on her fourth studio album, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. It was released as the fifth single from the album in the US, Australia and Benelux
Critical reception[edit]
Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues wrote in his review of the Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album, that it is 'a brave move' to cover the song. He added, 'Gloria’ s vocal lacks the playful coquettishness of Cory Daye’s but it is great to hear it again amongst her selections of songs.'[6]
Track listings[edit]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Ballroom Vocal Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 7:29 |
2. | 'Cherchez La Femme' ('Femme Fatale' Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:24 |
3. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Doom Dub) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:16 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Piano Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 6:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (THE GStyle And DJ WT MIX) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:16 |
2. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (THE Gary Q MIX) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 7:00 |
3. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (THE Danny C. And Giuseppe D. MIX) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 6:30 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (THE Marc 'DJ Stew' Pirrone DUB) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 6:10 |
5. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (THE Charley Casanova MIX) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 5:38 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Album Version) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 4:58 |
2. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Piano Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 6:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Album Version) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 4:58 |
2. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Ballroom Vocal Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 7:29 |
3. | 'Cherchez La Femme' ('Femme Fatale' Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:24 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Radio Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 4:55 |
5. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Alternate Radio Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 3:54 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'It's Too Late' (Radio Mix) | Carole King, Toni Stern | 3:19 |
2. | 'It's Too Late' (Piano Mix) | Carole King, Toni Stern | 3:58 |
3. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Radio Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. | 3:54 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Album Version) | August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. | 4:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Ballroom Vocal Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 7:29 |
2. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Piano Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 6:39 |
3. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Doom Dub) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:16 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' ('Femme Fatale' Club Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr. | 8:24 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 'It's Too Late' (Radio Mix) | Carole King, Toni Stern | 3:19 |
2. | 'It's Too Late' (Album Version) | Carole King, Toni Stern | 3:57 |
3. | 'It's Too Late' (Piano Mix) | Carole King, Toni Stern | 3:58 |
4. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Doom Dub) | August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. | 8:17 |
5. | 'Cherchez La Femme' (Piano Mix) | August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. | 6:41 |
Official versions[edit]
Original Versions
- Album Version — (4:58)
Pablo Flores & Jose 'Pepe' Ojeda Remixes
- Radio Club Mix — (4:55)
- Alternative Radio Club Mix — (3:54)
- 'Femme Fatale' Club Mix — (8:24)
Ronnie Ventura Remixes
- Piano Mix — (6:39)
- Doom Dub — (8:16)
- Ballroom Vocal Mix — (7:29)
Remixes
- The GStyle & DJ WT Mix — (8:16)
- The Gary Q Mix — (7:00)
- The Danny C. & Giuseppe G. Mix — (6:30)
- The Marc 'DJ Stew' Pirrone Dub — (5:10)
- The Charley Casanova Mix — (5:38)
Chart performance[edit]
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. BillboardHot Dance Music/Club Play | 19 |
Popular Culture[edit]
- The original recording of 'Cherchez La Femme' was part of the soundtrack to the 1998 film, 54.
See also[edit]
- Cherchez la femme (saying)
References[edit]
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 81.
- ^'Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada'. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-02-05. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
- ^ ab'allmusic ((( Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))'. Billboard. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 80.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 165.
- ^Shanklin, Phil (2015-11-22). '100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan'. ReviewsRevues. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
External links[edit]
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band | |||
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Studio album by | |||
Released | 1976 | ||
Recorded | February 2, 1976 – March 4, 1976 | ||
Genre | Disco, big band, soul | ||
Length | 34:08 | ||
Label | RCA | ||
Producer | Sandy Linzer | ||
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band chronology | |||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | A[2] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[4] |
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band is the debut studio album by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. It was released in 1976 by RCA. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 31 on the Top R&B Albums chart.[5]
In his book Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco, music writer Peter Shapiro described the album as 'one of the most fully realized, dazzling artifacts from the black bohemian intelligentsia'.[6]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by August Darnell and Stony Browder Jr., except 'Night and Day' written by Cole Porter.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | 'I'll Play the Fool' | 4:47 |
2. | 'Hard Times' | 4:09 |
3. | 'Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon' | 5:46 |
4. | 'Sunshower' | 4:02 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | 'We Got It Made/Night and Day' | 3:45 |
6. | 'You've Got Something/Betcha' the Love Bug Bitcha' | 5:38 |
7. | 'Sour and Sweet/Lemon in the Honey' | 6:01 |
Personnel[edit]
- Cory Daye – vocals
- Don Armando Bonilla – percussion
- Stony Browder – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- August Darnell – bass, vocals
- Andy 'Coati Mundi' Hernandez – percussion
- Mickey Sevilla – drums
Charts[edit]
Dr Buzzard Original Savannah Band Raritan
Chart (1976–77) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] | 39 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] | 87 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 13 |
US Billboard 200[5] | 22 |
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[5] | 31 |
Dr Buzzard Original Savannah Band Rare
References[edit]
- ^Ruhlmann, William. 'Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band'. AllMusic. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^Christgau, Robert (1981). 'D'. Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor and Fields. ISBN0-89919-026-X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^Coleman, Mark (1992). 'Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band'. In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 203–04. ISBN0-679-73729-4.
- ^Cooper, Carol (1995). 'Kid Creole and the Coconuts'. In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 207–09. ISBN0-679-75574-8.
- ^ abc'Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band | Awards'. AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^Henderson, Eric (April 15, 2008). 'Kid Creole: Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974 – 1983'. Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^'Top RPM Albums: Issue 5104B'. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^'Dutchcharts.nl – Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band' (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
External links[edit]
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Rar
- Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band at Discogs (list of releases)