Da Do Run Ron
Louise Gold starred as “Nancy Reagan”, single produced
in 1984
Catalogue number: (45 RPM single)
ELECTRA E9713
Cast (includes)
Louise
Gold (as Nancy
Reagan)
Chris
Barrie (as Ronald Reagan)
? (as Prince
Edward of
And possibly other Spitting Image
voice-artistes in the chorus.
Production Team
An ELEKTRA
recording distributed by WEA Records
Record
produced by - Jon Blair
Lyrics by - Ian
Hislop, Nick Newman, and, Richard Curtis
Music
produced by - Philip Pope
Track Listing
Side A
Da Do Run Ron (Music
by Philip Pope, Lyrics by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman based
on the original words and music by Greenwich, Barry and Spector
of The Crystals) - Nancy Reagan with Ronald Reagan and chorus (Louise
Gold, with Chris Barrie, and chorus)
Side B
Just A Prince Who Can’t Say No
(Music by Philip Pope, Lyrics by Richard Curtis) - Prince Edward
and chorus (? and chorus)
The webmaster doesn’t know who voiced “Prince Edward”
in the early days on Spitting Image, but
whoever he was is starring on the B side of this record. The chorus for both
sides are voice-artistes from the TV show Spitting
Image.
This single, Da Do Run Ron, was the
first ever spin off from the television series Spitting
Image.
The flip side of the single, Just A Prince Who
Can’t Say No was banned by BBC Radio 1.
The song Da Do Run Ron (as sung by Louise
Gold), was later included on the album Spit
In Your Ear, although for the later issue one of the verses was cut, and it
appears to have been remixed as well. That album also features other vocal
appearances by both Louise Gold and Chris Barrie.
Louise Gold and Chris Barrie
appeared, in their guise as Spitting Image voice artistes on the album Utterly Utterly Live Comic Relief,
which was also produced by WEA Records.
Louise Gold, Chris Barrie, Ian Hislop, and, Nick Newman
all spoke about their work on Spitting Image in Spitting Image: Must See TV.
Louise Gold and Chris Barrie
have also contributed to the politically minded Fall Out
group’s shows.
Richard Curtis had previously written
scripts for BlackAdder.
Louise
Gold went on to sing the lead vocal on another single Billy
The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire (Soundtrack single).
Review
by Emma Shane
This
was a recording I thought I knew from the compilation CD, until I played the original
vinyl! It is stunningly appropriate that the show’s original Leading Puppeteer Louise
Gold actually stars on, the A Side of, Spitting Image’s first
ever spin off; this versatile actress-puppeteer, after all, helped to set the
show up. She also happens to have a
stunning singing voice, and gets some splendid opportunities to indulge in her
unique blend of vocal acrobatics. However, until I played the original vinyl I
didn’t realise quite how stunning her vocal performance is in Da Do Run
Ron. The lyrics by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman are also
excellent: I very much liked the bit “He’s seventy three, he’s just run into
a tree”, and “He’s lowered income tax, he hates the
The
B Side, Just A Prince Who Can’t Say No, is performed well by the
chorus, and more than adequately by whoever is voicing “Eddy” (in other words “Prince
Edward”). But personally I found the number a bit dull. It’s one of those
occasions when something becomes better known for getting banned, regardless of
whether or not it is good.
I
certainly found this single well worth getting, simply because it is a delight
to hear Spitting Image’s version of Da Do Run Ron
in all its glory. Although the song was subsequently included on the Spit
In Your Ear album, the original is better, firstly because it includes
at least one verse cut from the album version, and secondly the sound balance
is to my mind much better, you can actually hear just what a vocal feat the
lead performer achieves.
Critics Comments
.
Links about Da Do
Run Ron
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