[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ]
WRITER: James Q. Rich
YEAR WRITTEN: 1958
HOW YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS TUNE: The Benny Hill Show.
THE JOY OF ‘SAX’: Written by James Rich, “Yakety Sax” became a Top 40 hit in 1963 after it was recorded (for a second time) by saxophonist “Boots” Randolph, a famed Nashville session man who did a lot of work with Elvis Presley. After it was subsequently used to accompany the signature end-credits chase scenes of the Benny Hill Show, the fast-paced novelty track took on a new life as the secret ingredient that increases the comic potential of any scene involving one party in limbs-akimbo pursuit of another — a phenomenon (unsurprisingly) called “The Benny Hill Effect,” and made accessible to all by the Bennyhillifier. Fun fact: this song and the Lieber & Stoller hit “Yakety Yak” are the two Top 40 hits that had word “Yakety” in their titles.
MEMORABLY USED IN … Benny Hill. This clip is presented through the magic of the BennyHillifier.
LIST: The All-TIME 100 Songs