The Mexican (song)

"The Mexican"
Song by Babe Ruth
from the album First Base
ReleasedNovember 1972
Recorded1972, Abbey Road Studios
Length5:45
LabelHarvest (EMI)
Songwriter(s)Alan Shacklock
Ennio Morricone ("Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu")
Producer(s)Alan Shacklock, Nick Mobbs
"The Mexican"
Single by Jellybean
from the album Wotupski!?!
Released1984
Songwriter(s)Alan Shacklock
Ennio Morricone ("Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu")
Producer(s)John "Jellybean" Benitez
Jellybean singles chronology
"The Mexican"
(1984)
"Sidewalk Talk"
(1984)

"The Mexican" is a song by English rock band Babe Ruth, from their debut album First Base.[1]

The song has been compiled, covered and mixed many times and is considered one of the most influential songs in hip hop music culture as well as being popular in early disco clubs such as The Loft.[citation needed]

The song was written by Alan Shacklock and recorded along with the rest of the First Base album at Abbey Road Studios in the summer of 1972. Shacklock wrote the lyrics of the song as a retort to the 1960 John Wayne film The Alamo, which was full of historical inaccuracies[citation needed] and did not show the human side of the Mexican troops[citation needed] who defeated the Texian forces at the Battle of the Alamo. The song has a driving drum beat and funky bass and shows Shacklock's fondness for African-American music and Wild West shoot outs.[2]

The song composition interpolates "Per qualche dollaro in più" by Ennio Morricone, from the soundtrack for the film For a Few Dollars More which was directed by Sergio Leone.

Personnel

  • Alan Shacklock – lead guitar
  • Jenny Haan – lead vocals, castanets
  • Dave Hewitt – bass guitar
  • Dave Punshon – electric piano
  • Dick Powell – drums

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ AllMusic Reference AllMusic entry]
  2. ^ Classic Rock magazine, May 2012, "The Stories Behind the Songs: Babe Ruth - The Mexican".
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 135.