One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (song)

"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" is the title of several different songs, mostly in the R&B genre, deriving from a common African-American phrase with the general meaning of "one setback should not impede progress".^[1] The first known recording with this title was by Stick McGhee and His Buddies in 1950. Commercially successful songs with this title were recorded by Joe Tex (1965), Honey Cone (1971) and Little David Wilkins (1975).

Stick McGhee song

"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" was recorded by Stick McGhee and His Buddies in 1950.^[1] The song was written by McGhee,^[2] and released on an Atlantic Records 78, A937, in 1951.^[3]

Big Maybelle song

Big Maybelle recorded another song with the same title in 1955. It was issued as the B-side of her original version of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On".^[4] It was written by Charlie Singleton and Rose Marie McCoy.^[5] A version was recorded by Bette Midler on her 1998 album Bathhouse Betty.^[1]

Joe Tex song

A different same-titled song was both written and recorded by Joe Tex in 1965,^[6] and reached No. 20 in the US Billboard R&B chart.^[7] In 1966, it was covered by The Animals on their UK album Animalisms and its US counterpart, Animalization.^[8] They also performed it on BBC Radio and on several live shows. A cover version of the Joe Tex song was also recorded by Terry Knight and the Pack in 1967.^[9]

Honey Cone song

In 1971, the all-girl group Honey Cone took a song with the same title to No. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also charted in Australia and Canada.^[10][11] This was written by General Johnson and Greg Perry.^[12] It appeared on the group's Soulful Tapestry album (Hot Wax HA-707).^[13]

Little David Wilkins song

Another song with the same title was recorded by Little David Wilkins for MCA in 1975, reaching No. 11 on US Billboard Hot Country Songs and No. 48 on CAN RPM Country Playlist.^[14][15][16] This one was written by Wilkins and Tim Marshall.^[17][18]

Other songs

• Hank Ballard and the Midnighters recorded a song with the same title, written by Sonny Thompson, in 1964.^[19]
• The Animals recorded a song with this title for their 1966 album Animalisms.
• Jessie Rogers recorded another same-titled tune, written by Al Johnson and Richard Cobb, in 1983.^[20]
• Gillian Welch recorded "One Monkey", written by Welch and David Rawlings, on their 2003 album, Soul Journey.^[1][21]
• Goodie Mob recorded a track "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" as the title track of their 2004 album.^[1]
• Earthgang recorded "Meditate" that referenced the saying in the third verse of the song.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Matt Rector, "Yeah, But Do You Know What That Song Is Actually About? #1: One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", Old School Record Review, January 21, 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2016
2. "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Georgian Festival Orchestra,Sticks McGhee | Song Info". AllMusic. 2004-05-25. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
3. "Atlantic Records 78rpm numerical listing discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
4. Cub Koda. "The Okeh Sessions - Big Maybelle | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
5. Big Maybelle, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", 45cat.com. Retrieved 10 July 2016
6. "Joe Tex - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show / Build Your Love (On A Solid Foundation) (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
7. Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip Hop Hits, Billboard Books, New York, 2006, ISBN 978-0823082834
8. "The Animals - Animalization (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
9. Terry Knight and the Pack, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", 45cat.com. Retrieved 11 July 2016
10. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. . RPM. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
12. "Honey Cone - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
13. "Honey Cone - Soulful Tapestry (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
14. "Discogs - Tracks Beta". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
15. "Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
16. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
17. "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 13 September 1975. p. 52. Retrieved 4 May 2021 – via Google Books.
18. "Little David Wilkins - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show". 45cat.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
19. "Hank Ballard - One Monkey Don't Stop No Show". 45cat.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
20. "Jessie Rogers – One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (1983, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
21. Zac Johnson (2003-06-03). "Soul Journey - Gillian Welch | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-09.