🔘 Giddy Up A Ding Dong – Single: Oct. 1973

SAHB
Oct 12, 1973
3 min read

A wild, theatrical burst of glam‑rock showmanship, “Giddy Up A Ding Dong” captures The Sensational Alex Harvey Band at their most playful and irreverent — a swaggering reinterpretation of the 1956 rock ’n’ roll novelty hit, delivered with the band’s trademark grit and cabaret‑punk flair.

Released on October 12, 1973, the single arrived between the albums *Next…* and *The Impossible Dream*. Issued by Vertigo Records under catalogue number 6059 091, the track showcased SAHB’s ability to transform vintage material into something bold, eccentric, and unmistakably their own. Backed with “Buff’s Bar Blues,” the release highlighted the band’s blend of hard rock, vaudeville humour, and theatrical storytelling. Although it did not chart in the UK, the single became a cult favourite among fans and a staple of the band’s early‑’70s live repertoire.

Label: Vertigo Records

Catalogue Number: 6059 091

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Vertigo Swirl Label)

Released: October 12, 1973 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — Vertigo – 6059 091 — 1973

A. Giddy Up A Ding Dong

B. Buff’s Bar Blues

Written by: Freddie Bell, Pep Lattanzi

Produced by: The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Recorded: 1973

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released October 12, 1973

• A-side: SAHB’s glam‑rock reinterpretation of a 1956 rock ’n’ roll track

• B-side: Non‑album blues‑rock piece

• Chart performance: Did not chart in the UK

• Recorded at: 1973 Vertigo sessions

🔘 The Story

By 1973, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band had carved out a unique niche in the glam‑rock landscape — theatrical, gritty, humorous, and defiantly unconventional. Their version of “Giddy Up A Ding Dong” exemplified this approach, transforming a mid‑’50s novelty tune into a swaggering, tongue‑in‑cheek glam‑rock romp.

Alex Harvey’s charismatic vocal delivery, Zal Cleminson’s razor‑sharp guitar work, and the band’s tight, dramatic arrangement gave the track a new sense of urgency and attitude. The B‑side, “Buff’s Bar Blues,” leaned into the band’s love of blues‑rock storytelling, offering a smoky, bar‑room counterpoint.

Though the single did not chart, it became a fan‑favourite deep cut and an early example of SAHB’s ability to fuse humour, rock power, and theatricality into something unmistakably their own.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single — Vertigo – 6059 091 — UK — 1973

• 7", 45 RPM, Promo — Vertigo – 6059 091 — UK — 1973

• Issued in standard Vertigo company sleeve

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

Did not chart

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Glam‑rock reinterpretation of a 1956 track

• B-side: Non‑album blues‑rock piece

• Production: SAHB

• Sleeve notes: Standard Vertigo company sleeve

• Historical placement: Cult favourite from SAHB’s early period

• Reissues / compilation appearances: Featured on various SAHB anthologies

🔘 Related Material

• *Next…* (1973)

• “The Faith Healer” (1973)

• “The Boston Tea Party” (1976)

• *The Impossible Dream* (1974)

🔘 Discography

The Faith Healer — 1973

Giddy Up A Ding Dong — 1973

The Boston Tea Party — 1976

Delilah — 1975 (live hit)

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1973 — Recorded during Vertigo sessions

✦ Oct 12, 1973 — UK single released

✦ 1973–74 — Gains cult following despite no chart placement

🔘 Glam Flashback

A swaggering, theatrical glam‑rock romp — eccentric, energetic, and pure Sensational Alex Harvey Band mischief.

#ReleaseChronicle #SAHB #AlexHarvey #GiddyUpADingDong #1973 #VertigoRecords #GlamRock

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Vertigo Records, Discogs, contemporary music‑press documentation, archival references.

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.