You Can Leave Your Hat On
{{short description|1972 song by Randy Newman}}
{{Infobox song
| name = You Can Leave Your Hat On
| cover = You Can Leave Your Hat On label.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Randy Newman
| album = Sail Away
| released = December 15, 1972
| recorded = 1972
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=18}}
| label = Reprise
| writer = Randy Newman{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/1254861 |title=Randy Newman – Sail Away (Vinyl, LP, Album) |year=1975 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=October 9, 2011}}
| producer =
}}
"You Can Leave Your Hat On" is a song written by Randy Newman and appearing on his 1972 album Sail Away.
Upon its single release, Record World called it "an extraordinarily reproduced and newly arranged version of this very funny song with a funky melody line and unique Newman vocalizing."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 9, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-27|title=Single Picks|page=10|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/RW-1972-12-09.pdf}}
According to a retrospective AllMusic review by Mark Deming, the song is a "potent mid-tempo rock tune" and a "witty and willfully perverse bit of erotic absurdity".{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sail-away-r14022/review |title=Sail Away – Randy Newman |publisher=AllMusic |first=Mark |last=Deming |access-date=October 9, 2011}} Newman later admitted the song was, "too low for me to sing it. I can't rock it too hard, which maybe I should have...or maybe not."{{cite magazine| magazine= Performing Songwriter | title=Happy Birthday, Randy Newman| author=Lydia Hutchinson| url=http://performingsongwriter.com/randy-newman-songs/}}
Joe Cocker version
{{Infobox song
| name = You Can Leave Your Hat On
| cover = Joe Cocker You Can Leave Your Hat On single cover.png
| alt =
| caption = Front cover of the single released in Australia with a photograph from the film 9½ Weeks.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/2944336 |title=Joe Cocker – You Can Leave Your Hat On (Vinyl) |year=1986 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=October 9, 2011}}
| type = single
| artist = Joe Cocker
| album = Cocker
| B-side = {{ubl|depending on country:|"Shelter Me"|"Don't You Love Me Anymore"|"Long Drag off a Cigarette"|"Put out the Light"}}
| released = {{Start date|1986|02|10}}
| recorded = 1985
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Blues rock|R&B|soul}}
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=14}}
| label = EMI
| writer = Randy Newman
| producer = Richie Zito{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/1848405 |title=Joe Cocker – Cocker (Vinyl, LP, Album) |year=1986 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=October 9, 2011}}
| prev_title = Don't You Love Me Anymore
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = Heart of the Matter
| next_year = 1986
}}
Joe Cocker recorded "You Can Leave Your Hat On" for his 1986 album Cocker. Released as a single, Cocker's version peaked at No. 35 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks,{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-cocker-p3931/charts-awards/billboard-singles |title=Joe Cocker – Billboard Singles |work=AllMusic |access-date=October 9, 2011}} and it was featured in the 1986 Adrian Lyne film 9½ Weeks during Kim Basinger's striptease scene.
A music video was released which featured footage of the striptease scene from 9½ Weeks and scenes with Cocker and his band performing the song.
=Personnel=
- Joe Cocker – lead vocals
- Richie Zito – production, guitar
- Arthur Barrow – piano, bass
- Mike Baird – drums
- Dick Hyde – trombone
- Joel Peskin – saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Elisecia Wright – backing vocals
- Julia Tillman Waters – backing vocals
- Maxine Green – backing vocals
Other cover versions
Etta James covered the song in a 1974 single included on the album Etta Is Betta Than Evvah!, published by Chess Records and produced by Gabriel Mekler.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Etta-James-Leave-Your-Hat-On/release/2557693|title=Etta James – Leave Your Hat On (1974, Vinyl)|access-date=1 June 2021|website=Discogs.com|year=1974 }}
Three Dog Night covered the song in a 1975 single, published by ABC and produced by Jimmy Ienner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1713256-Three-Dog-Night-Coming-Down-Your-Way|title=Three Dog Night – Coming Down Your Way(1975, Vinyl)|access-date=1 June 2021|website=Discogs.com|year=1975 }}
Merl Saunders and Aunt Monk covered it in 1976 on their album You Can Leave Your Hat On.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Merl-Saunders-And-Aunt-Monk-You-Can-Leave-Your-Hat-On/release/1562578|title=Merl Saunders And Aunt Monk – You Can Leave Your Hat On (1976, Vinyl)|access-date=1 June 2021|website=Discogs.com|year=1976 }}
Tom Jones covered the song for the soundtrack of the 1997 British film The Full Monty, and it is included in the subsequent 2013 play of the same name. As a medley with Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing" and Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff," the track reached Number 62 in the UK Singles Chart in 1998, under the title "The Full Monty - Monster Mix".{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdsingle/cd/74321602582|title=CD Single: Various Artists - The Full Monty Monster Mix [a] You Sexy Thing, [b] Hot Stuff, [c] You Can Leave Your Hat On (1998)|access-date=1 June 2021|website=45worlds.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28339/various-artists/|title=VARIOUS ARTISTS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=1 June 2021}}
American country music singer Ty Herndon covered the song on his 1999 album, Steam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/steam-mw0000251942|title=Steam - Ty Herndon | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=1 June 2021}} Herndon's version reached No. 72 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart from unsolicited airplay and was included on his 2002 compilation, This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-ty-herndon-greatest-hits-mw0000658250|title=This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits - Ty Herndon | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=1 June 2021}}
The 2006 Randy Newman tribute album "Sail Away: The Songs of Randy Newman" features a cover on track 11 by Mark Broussard.
Comedy band The Horne Section covered the song for their 2018 special, The Horne Section Television Programme,{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPTdlV2gNo0|title=Alex Strips To Celebrate 10k Subscribers|website=[[YouTube]|date=7 February 2021 |access-date=30 December 2024}} and for 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown in 2020. During the performance, Alex performs striptease while wearing an enormous top hat that covers his entire body.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.allmusic.com/song/you-can-leave-your-hat-on-t2821611 "You Can Leave Your Hat On" review] on AllMusic
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPTdlV2gNo0 "Alex Strips To Celebrate 10k Subscribers"] on [YouTube]]
{{Randy Newman}}
{{Joe Cocker}}
{{Ty Herndon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Randy Newman
Category:Three Dog Night songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Lenny Waronker
Category:Song recordings produced by Russ Titelman