Muhammad Ali song

[BigDogsWang]

Who sang this in the early / mid 70's?

Oh......and it was rubbish.

[cruthinboy]

Johnny Wakelin in 1974 - also did the similarly-themed "In Zaire".

[Chillum]

There was one called "In Zaire" by Johnny Wakelin about the "Rumble in the Jungle" Ali v's Joe Frazier. That was pretty rubbish.

"Once there was a battle there - in Zaire, in Zaire
Hundred thousand people there - in Zaire, in Zaire
All those people gathered there - in Zaire, in Zaire
To see the rumble in the jungle the-e-ere - in Zaire"

Full lyrics http://www.lyrix.at/de/text_show/a604a7d3d515a5479145f67 17897e065

[cruthinboy]

The Muhammed Ali one went: "Muhammed, Muhammed Ali - he floats like a butterfly and sings like a bee ..."

In Zaire was better ... and a bigger hit I think.

Weren't Johnny's backing band called the Kinshasha Band?

[cruthinboy]

 .. or was it "Stings like a bee"? (-:

[BigDogsWang]

Cruthinboy is right with the 'stings like a bee' lyric. I keep thinking of Black Lace, but it couldn't have been coz it was too early. It was a novelty record.

[BigDogsWang]

Just thought of another line, something like "Muhammad......the black superman.......who calls to the other (something).....catch me if you can"

Followed by cheesey novelty record music.

[BigDogsWang]

Yep Cruthinboy is 100%, it was Johnny Wakelin. Dunno why I thought of Black Lace.

What nationality was he?

[cruthinboy]

I think he was British. He had a 'tache as I recall and, despite, the jungle rhythms of In Zaire was was/is white.

[cruthinboy]

Just found this: http://www.loadofold.com/boots/wakelin.html

[BigDogsWang]

'He came up with 'Black Superman', not necessarily a great record'  Nail on head!

Did you clock his picture? He was a dead spit for Freddie Mercury with a hat.

Better give you some stars Cruthinboy!

[cruthinboy]

Cheers BigDogsWang.

You're right he does look like Freddie circa 1980.

[stevie21]

In Zaire was the first single I ever bought as a kid so I have great memories of it, even if it's actually a rubbish song. The B-Side "You got the bug" was even worse!!