Dinner with Drac is a 1958 novelty song by American radio and TV presenter John Zacherle, released on Cameo-Parkway Records. It was his biggest hit and is widely considered his signature song. Zacherle later released several LPs mixing horror sound effects with novelty songs, like "82 Tombstones", "Lunch with Mother Goose" and "I Was A Teenage Caveman", none of which enjoyed the same succes.
Background
In 1958, partly with the assistance and backing of Dick Clark, Zacherle cut "Dinner with Drac" for Cameo Records, backed by Dave Appell. The lyrics, all delivered as limericks, describe how Zacherle has dinner with Count Dracula, but finds it strange that "dinner was served for three", only to find out that "the main course was me!". Zacherle describes all the occult and eerie things he saw during their meal, while trying to keep the conversation going. Zacherle closes the song off with the catchphrase from his TV show, "Goodnight, whatever you are!".
The song features background music by Dave Appell and his band. Dinner with Drac was originally the B-side to another song by Zacherle, Igor about the stereotypical hunchbacked assistant in many Dracula and Frankenstein movies. At first, Clark thought the recording – in which Zacherle recites humorously grisly limericks to rock and roll accompaniment – was too gory to play on American Bandstand, and made Zacherle return to the studio to cut a second tamer version. Eventually, the single was released with Igor removed and instead both versions of Dinner with Drac released as respectively an A-side and B-side on the same 45. The record broke the top ten nationally, peeking at nr. 6.
Reception
The song charted on the Billboard Pop Singles chart the same year, where it stranded on the 6th place.{{https://elpee.jp/single/Dinner%20With%20Drac/John%20Zacherle/:}}
When Dick Clark played it on his American Bandstand television show, he requested Zacherle record a less-violent version.
Dinner with Drac was banned by the BBC in 1958 for being too scary for young listeners.
Cover versions
In 1963, Dinner with Drac was covered by the Dutch band ZZ en De Maskers as Dracula. Claw Boys Claw also released a cover in 1989, also titled Dracula. In 1992, The Fuzztones covered Zacherle's song too.
Similar horror-themed songs
Italian singer Bruno Martino recorded a song Dracula Cha Cha Cha (La Voce del Padrone, 7 MQ 1271, 1959), in 1961 covered in French by Henri Salvador.
References
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 515. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- "John Zacherle".
- ^ Scivally 2015, 6076.
- "Best Selling pop Singles in Stores". Billboard. April 14, 1958. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510.
- Watson, Elena M. (2000). Television Horror Movie Hosts: 68 Vampires, Mad Scientists and Other Denizens of the Late Night Airwaves Examined and Interviewed. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland & Company. p. 265. ISBN 0-7864-0940-1. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
- Leigh, Spencer (2010). This Record Is Not to Be Broadcast, Vol. 2: 50 More Records Banned by the BBC (liner notes). Fantastic Voyage. FVDD038. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - https://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_track.php?li=3473
- "The Originals © by Arnold Rypens - DINNER WITH DRAC".
- https://www.discogs.com/release/14720177-Orchestra-Bruno-Martino-Dracula-Cha-Cha-Ho-Sognato-DAmarti
- https://www.discogs.com/release/20637349-Henri-Salvador-Faut-Rigoler-Dracula-Cha-Cha-Cha
Sources
- Scivally, Bruce (2015). Dracula FAQ (Kindle ed.). Backbeat Books. ISBN 9781617136009.