Almanac Music: ‘Moooooo!’ – Songs Containing Cowbell
Cowbell. {Wikimedia Commons .]
Almanac Music: ‘Moooooo!’ – Songs Containing Cowbell
Well, Almamackers, something a bit different for my music piece this week – songs making use of the cowbell, which, as many would know, is a metallic percussion instrument with a clanging sound. Often, in the past, mainly, it was attached to a drum kit, usually at the top of the bass drum, within reaching distance of the drummer’s drumsticks. Occasionally, also, a singer would use one, hitting it with some kind of stick implement. Typically, the cowbell has an insistent and driving role in a rock song, but it can also play other roles, including for comic effect. It’s interesting how often a cowbell is part of something unexpected, like Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ in last week’s ‘Songs about Animals’, or Stealer’s Wheel’s roughly contemporary ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’.
So, dear readers, please put your relevant ‘songs using cowbell’ in the ‘Comments’ section.
‘I Call Your Name’, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles (1964)
‘Drive My Car’, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles (1965)
‘Ego is not a Dirty Word’, written by Greg Macainsh, performed by Skyhooks (1975)
‘How Dare You!’, written by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, performed by 10 cc (1976)
‘Go Your Own Way’, written by Lindsey Buckingham, performed by Fleetwood Mac (1976)
‘It’s So Easy’, written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, performed by Linda Ronstadt (1977)
‘Once in a Lifetime’, written by David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth, performed by Talking Heads (1980)
‘Pink Houses’, written and performed by John Cougar Mellencamp (1983)
……………………………………………………………………..
Now, wonderful readers / listeners – over to you. Your responses to this topic are warmly welcomed. In the ‘Comments’ section, please add your own choice of a song (or songs) containing cowbell, along with any other relevant material you wish to include.
[Note: Wikipedia has been a good general reference for this piece, particularly in relation to checking dates and other details.]
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
The first ones that jumps to mind are:
‘Honky Tonk Women’ – Rolling Stones
‘Lay, Lady Lay’ – Bob Dylan
‘If You Gotta Go Go Now’ – Manfred Mann
One from my youth that remains instantly transportive is Donald Fagen’s ‘New Frontier.’ It was so terrific that we’d play air cowbell to it, especially when driving around in our friend Stephen’s vivid green Gemini.
Thanks, Col, for yet again opening the batting in one of my music pieces – great songs, too! I think every band I played in as a youngster performed ‘Honky Tonk Women’.
Thank you, Mickey. Yes, in that Fagen song you put forward the cowbell is absolutely integral. I can certainly understand your youthful compulsion to play an air version of the instrument!
Santana Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock. Carlos on the cowbell during the legendary Michael Shrieve drum solo and in the crowd during the “No Rain” intro.
Great stuff, Richard. Love your reference to Santana and Woodstock – very portable instrument, the cowbell!
Daft Punk is playing at My House – LCD Soundsystem
New York Moves to the Sound of LA – Funeral Party
House of Jealous Lovers – The Rapture
There’s some good stuff here Kevin. Linda Ronstadt’s version of It’s So Easy has long been a favourite of mine. Go Your Own Way, Ego, two other classics I enjoyed in my long gone youth.
I’m trying to find if there’s a version of Milk Cow Blues where you hear a cow bell. I’ve listened to Eddie Cochran’s, Elvis’s, to no avail as none have rang a bell. Is there a version out there?
Glen!
Thanks, Neil, for these songs.
Welcome aboard!
Don’t fear the reaper – Saturday Night Live version of.
Cheers, Glen! Glad you found some ‘gold’ in my choices. Re Linda Ronstadt: her Simple Dreams is one of my all-time favourite albums – it’s a brief, almost perfect little jewel.
I’ll leave your final question about ‘Milk Cow Blues’ as an one for Almanackers to respond to if they have any info. It’s definitely a song where cowbell would work well.
Don’t Fear The Reaper, as seen on Saturday Night Live
https://vimeo.com/406011330
Well played Mark O’C, I didn’t see your earlier comment.
Skyhooks were very cowbell heavy in the early days.
Excellent – highly specific music post this week KD. After your 150 last time around, I suspect you will be back in the pavilion much earlier…..
Here’s my offering:
Spinning Wheel by Blood Sweat & Tears
…they had the knack for using a multiple of interesting instruments, including an exceptional recorder piece to end the song.
Big Star, In The Street.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpqEjOzCS6o
Hi Mark and Swish. Thanks for your comments regarding a quintessential cowbell song in ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’.
Hi Moondance. Yes, (intentionally) a more specific piece from me this week – but I think you may find the response surprising, as there are a large number of songs containing cowbell out there. Thanks for ‘Spinning Wheel’
Thank you, Tony T – I’ll certainly give your selection a listen.
Great call KD and already some ripper songs in the mix. Obviously, as has been noted SNL skit, More Cowbell is the killer.
Excellent selection KD with Talking Heads (there best song) and excellent pick-up Tony T with the Big Star song, glad that is in here.
My two to kick off are Fins, Jimmy Buffett (still a fave singalong) and September, Earth, Wind and Fire (what a groove).
Thanks for the comments and selections, Rick. Glad you are enjoying the cowbell theme, which is sure to offer various joys and surprises along the way – and already has!
‘Oh Well’ by Fleetwood Mac.
Nice bits of cowbell in ‘Oh Well’, Mickey. Mick Fleetword hasn’t minded using the ‘bell here and there.
Well, well, well KD – you weren’t wrong about the amazing journey one will have by delving deep into songs featuring cowbells! I am having a blast – sweet amblings down memory lane (Thank you!).
Perhaps I’ll get the Dylan songs out of the way first – although the pickings are few:
We already have Lay Lady Lay, courtesy of Colin Ritchie’s getting the team onto the scoreboard.
Then there is:
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window – but it needs to be the version on his Biograph 3CD album, where he is backed by The Hawks (subsequently known as The Band). The cowbell is VERY distinctive on this one.
Jammin’ Me – a co-write with Tom Petty and recorded/released by Tom. (Bob never recorded the song).
Cheers, Moondance – great detail in the your latest comments. I know we’re on a winner with this theme!
Alex Chilton by The Replacements
Thanks, Swish., for another one.
While I’m at it, I’ll include another ‘cowbell’ song by The Beatles – ‘You Can’t Do That’.
Hey KD – I reckon I could make an exceptional playlist of songs containing cowbells.
Here are 2 that absolutely delight me:
Montego Bay by Bobby Bloom
In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry
(While The Mixtures also did In The Summertime, I don’t believe a cowbell can be heard but you can definitely hear the roar of a car engine).
Thanks for these, Karl – two fine, tuneful, danceable songs!
Hi KD
A bit quiet on the cowbell front, so let me throw in one that is top of my playlist:
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
I wonder how many times the cowbell was struck during Ron Bushy’s 2m30s drum solo?
Thanks Karl. Excellent addition!
A bit of specialist cowbell info: apparently official Ringo Drum Historian and Curator, Gary Astridge, said Ringo played a Ludwig Gold Tone cowbell on ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. His choice of Ludwig stands to reason, doesn’t it?
Another note:cowbell is used in more than ten Beatles recordings – I’ve mentioned four, so far.
Another classic for my playlist:
Radar Love – Golden Earring (being a Dutch band, they would have had easy access to cowbells)
Then there is:
In The Year 2525 – Zager & Evans.
I had some doubts about hearing a cowbell, but a bit of research reveals that the song was ‘recorded primarily in one take in 1968, at a studio in a cow pasture in Odessa, Texas’ – so I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt
Cheers, Karl.
Thanks for these.
I don’t know where everyone else is, but the ‘songs with cowbells’ theme has me hooked!
So a few more for the list, starting appropriately with:
Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede
Knock Three Times – Tony Orlando & Dawn: ‘Twice on the pipe (cue cowbells) means you ain’t gonna show
And one for the Aussies:
Deliverance – You Am I
Great stuff, Moondance.
Let’s hope some readers rejoin the discussion (or join it for the first time), and get clanging!
So many songs make use of the cowbell – another one is ‘Too Many People’ from McCartney’s Ram album.
Nice call on ‘Too Many People’. I found that I needed to be patient but once the cowbell arrived, it was well worth the wait.
Here’s a couple more that I rate as classics (both the songs & use of cowbells):
Hold Your Head Up – Argent
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Thank you again, Moondance – two good choices indeed.
Below are two more fine songs that use cowbell.
Santana: ‘Oye Como Va’.
Talking Heads: ‘And She Was’ – my personal choice as their best song.- different to Rick K earlier in this discussion. (Of course, these kinds of calls are a matter of opinion, I realise.)
Hi KD
Both Once In A Lifetime & And She Was are top notch songs….but I give the best ‘use of cowbell’ gong to And She Was.
Over the past few years I’ve been delving into Jerry Harrison’s post Talking Heads music producer role and there is certainly an article of immense interest that I’d like to write up – once I get over my current ‘contractual’ obligations.
Now back to more serious matters at hand – cowbell songs – here’s 2 more, from the early 70’s, that REALLY please me:
Pagan Baby – CCR (off Pendulum – the other 1970 album)
Vicious – Lou Reed (from Transformer – 1972)
Hi Karl. Interesting comments and fine cowbell song choices – driving, insistent cowbell in both.
A couple more fine cowbell songs: ‘Veronica’ by Elvis Costello, written by Costello with Paul McCartney, and (Dixie) Chicks, ‘Goodbye Earl’.
Hey KD
Looks like we might post a half century almost single-handedly.
‘Veronica’ is exceptional – thanks for highlighting it
As for ‘Goodbye Earl’ – well, with or without cowbells, it is a song that I’d prefer not to enter my calm, peaceful world.
Your intro has a fabulous song that is definitely on my playlist: Stealers Wheel – Stuck In the Middle.
Two that are fun chirpy songs with good quality cowbells are:
Hitchin’ A Ride – Vanity Fair (which, like Spinning Wheel, also has a great recorder part and gets a bonus point!)
Coconut – Harry Nilsson
Thanks, Moondance, for your latest cowbell songs, both fine representatives.
Another two excellent songs using cowbell: ‘Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and my Monkey’ by the Beatles.
‘Old Time Rock & Roll’ by Bob Seger.
Well worth the wait for the cowbell to bring ‘Old Time Rock n Roll’ home. Late 70’s Seger was quite excellent.
Barry White once sang: ‘Too much of anything is no good for you babe’ but I say: ‘you can never get enough cowbell’ – and in that frame I offer the following two songs with cowbells:
Cant Get Enough Of Your (Cowbell) Love – Barry White
Free – All Right Now (for the rock n roller within each of us).
Trust your weekend is being kind to you.
Thank you, Karl – the cowbell rings on!
Two more: ‘Art for Art’s Sake’ (10cc) and ‘Darlington County’ (Bruce Springsteen).
You’ve managed to tick one off my playlist – Art For Art’s Sake – well rung!
In fact, I’m getting close to the end of my playlist but I’m hoping we can hold on until we set a well earned 50 on the scoreboard.
Feel like a bit of disco? How about ‘Funky Town’ by Lipps Inc. Probably best to listen to the audio version rather than the watch the video – as the blonde dancer can be VERY distracting. Either way, a top of the class cowbell song.
…and just to round it off: Hazy Shade Of Winter – Bangles (the cowbell is worth waiting for)
Clang clang clang – the cowbell sound continues. Thanks, Karl.
A couple more – from the B-52s: ‘Love Shack’ and ‘Rock Lobster’.
‘
Hi KD and others, sorry I’ve been off the grid, and then focussed on Taylor Swift concert, which was something to behold. One of the best concerts I have seen. Wow and we!
Now, to more cowbell:
We’re an American Band, Grand Funk (and if you wanna hear a version of Gimme Shelter equal to The Sones, check out their version – thanks to good friend Polly C for that call).
Graveyard Shift, Uncle Tupelo (where Wilco and Son Volt began)
Jolene, Dolly (subtle use but its percussion adds noicely to the rhythm)
Coconut, Harry Nilsson (of course it’s in there, courtesy of Jim Gordon, terrific drummer, very sad life)
Left of the Dial, The Replacements (if you don’t know this band get on it, you will not be disappointed
Wide Open Spaces, The Chicks (brilliant song from a great band and Lloyd Maines pedal steel kills, incidentally father of one of the Chicks)
Cheers
Many thanks, Rick, for these ‘cowbell song’ additions – all new to the overall list, except for Nilsson’s ‘Coconut’.
And yes, Lloyd Maines, father of Natalie.
Two more cowbell numbers: ‘Moby Dick’ by Led Zeppelin and ‘Jive Talkin” by the Bee Gees.
Finally, I didn’t go to the Swift concert, but I do like her music.
Hey KD – time to hand out the annual ‘Ludwig Gold Tone cowbell’ awards.
Best visual use of cowbell in a music video = B52s – Rock Lobster
Best technical tapping of a cowbell & most colourful cowbell in a music video = New Order – The Perfect Kiss
Nice work, Karl!
Two more ‘cowbell classics’: ‘Beds are Burning’ by Midnight Oil and ‘The Unforgettable Fire’ by U2.
Dear KD
I must say that this ‘Songs Containing…..’ post has been the most enjoyable & profound in my short time at Footy Almanac. With a half century on the scoreboard, I am now ready to hang up the clanger and return to the pavilion.
Thank you for your steady guiding &, at times, inspired partnership.
You could say ‘Fool (If You Think It’s Over)’ or maybe ‘Don’t You Want Me’, but please believe me when I say I have loved every clanging moment.
Until we meet again….
KD
Thanks so much for your kind words, Karl.
Yes, we got to the half-century – a fine achievement!
Two more cowbell numbers: Aerosmith, ‘Walk This Way’ and Bangles, “Hazy Shade of Winter’.
Hey KD
I came across a Donovan song that makes such a strong, consistent use of the cowbell, that I couldn’t resist keeping this post going:
Riki Tiki Tavi
cheers, KD
Thanks, Karl. Yes, I just had a listen and ‘Riki Tiki Tavi’ is certainly a cowbell classic.
OK – perhaps the most surprising ‘cong containing cowbell so far: ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ by Gotye (featuring Kimbra), released in 2011.
Above – it should be ‘song containing cowbell’, of course!
Everyone remembers the legendary snare kick that starts ‘Like A Rolling Stone’. But what about the two hits on the ‘bell to propel Fairport Convention’s ‘Medley:’ on the seminal ‘Liege and Lief’ album?
Thanks, Andrew. Fine input!
Morning KD!
I was checking out the music of Roy Phillips, who passed away a few days ago.
Way back in the 60’s he was in a Manchester group called The Peddlers.
One of their songs was titled ‘Smile’ and the percussion based intro is magnificent, including an excellent ‘cowbell’ part. Well worth a listen.
What you might find even more interesting is that the drummer in question is Trevor Morais. Before joining The Peddlers he was in Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, which he joined when a young Richard Starkey left the band to join The Beatles.
Morning, Karl. Missed this comment (immediately above) a couple of days back. I just had a listen to ‘Smile’ by The Peddlers and there’s certainly a neat bit of cowbell in it.
May the cowbell keep clanging!