Jack the Ripper (song)
{{Other uses|Jack the Ripper in fiction}}
{{for|the song by Morrissey|Certain People I Know}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Jack the Ripper
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Screaming Lord Sutch
| album =
| B-side = {{ubl|"Don't You Just Know It" (UK)|"I'm a Hog For You" (Germany)}}
| released = {{Start date|df=y|1963|03}}
| recorded = Holloway Road
Islington, England
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Garage rock
- beat{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
- rock and roll
| length = 2:57
| label = Decca
F 11598 (UK 7")
DL 25202 (Germany 7")
| writer = Clarence and Charles Stacy (Stacey)
Walter Haggin (Hagen)
Joe Simmons (Symonds)
| producer = Joe Meek
| prev_title = Good Golly Miss Molly
| prev_year = 1961
| next_title = She's Fallen in Love with a Monster
| next_year = 1963
}}
"Jack the Ripper" is a song written by Clarence Stacy, his brother Charles Stacy, Walter Haggin and Joe Simmons, and first recorded by Clarence Stacy in 1961. His recording, arranged by Lor Crane, was issued that year as a single on the Carol record label in New York City.[http://wp.cherrytreewv.com/2012/08/clarence-stacy-cherry-tree-resident-makes-good/ "Clarence Stacy – Cherry Tree Resident Makes Good", CherryTree, WV, 23 August 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502185038/http://wp.cherrytreewv.com/2012/08/clarence-stacy-cherry-tree-resident-makes-good/ |date=2 May 2014 }}. Retrieved 2 May 2014[http://www.popsike.com/CLARENCE-STACY-Jack-the-Ripper-45rpm-Carol-1961-teen-novelty/360401865436.html Clarence Stacy, "Jack the Ripper", at ''popsike.com]. Retrieved 2 May 2014[https://archive.today/20140502100729/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=756163&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID "Jack the Ripper" at BMI]. Retrieved 2 May 2014
The most famous recording was by English musician Screaming Lord Sutch, released as a 7" single in the UK and Germany in 1963 on Decca. It was credited as written by "Stacey, Hagen, Symonds", produced by Joe Meek and recorded in his Holloway Road studio in Islington, England. The song was banned by the BBC upon its release.{{cite web
|url = http://www.mrbalihai.com/goof/docs/Sutch.html
|title = Screaming Lord Sutch: Sutch's Life
|access-date = 29 December 2007
|last = Hai
|first = Bali
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071220183425/http://www.mrbalihai.com/goof/docs/Sutch.html
|archive-date = 20 December 2007
}}
Musical composition
Sutch's version of "Jack the Ripper" is two minutes and forty-eight seconds long, in the key of B-flat major, and 4/4 time. It begins with the sound of footsteps and a woman screaming, followed by a rendition of the "Danger Ahead" motif by the guitar and drum kit, accompanied by a ghoulish moan from Screaming Lord Sutch. The song itself is a three-chord song, with a vamp played by guitar and bass, with accompaniment by piano and drum kit, which is repeated throughout. The song is also punctuated with a brief insistent tone played on a Theremin. The song bears some similarity to a previous American novelty record, "Alley Oop", from 1960.
Personnel
- Screaming Lord Sutch – singer
- Roger Mingay – electric guitar
- Ken Payne – bass guitar
- Andy Wren – piano
- Pete Newman – saxophone
- Carlo Little – drum kit
- Joe Meek – producer
Cover versions
- In 1986, Canadian garage punk band The Gruesomes covered the song and released it on the Jack the Ripper EP.
- In 2004, Detroit garage rock duo The White Stripes performed a cover of "Jack the Ripper" live as part of the Under Blackpool Lights release, incorporating the guitar riff from the "Peter Gunn" theme by Henry Mancini.{{cite web
|url= http://www.whitestripes.net/faq.php
|title= 6.1 The ever growing list of cover songs
|access-date= 29 December 2007
|author= Twitch
|work= SECTION 6 – SONG INFO
|publisher= whitestripes.net
}}
- In 2006, English garage rock band The Horrors covered the song for the B-side of their debut single, "Sheena Is a Parasite", later included on their 2006 debut EP, The Horrors EP. A rerecorded version was later included on their 2007 debut album, Strange House.
- In 2008, The Fall covered the song on their Halloween show at Hackney Empire, as well as Black Lips.
- Others: The Fuzztones (1993), The Vice Principals (2000), Casey Jones and the Governors, The Revillos, The Phantoms, The One-Way Streets (1966), The Beguiled (1988).
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ZsWENob1s Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper (live 1964)], YouTube
{{Jack the Ripper media}}
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Category:Song recordings produced by Joe Meek
Category:British garage rock songs
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:Songs about criminals