"Apache"
A-side of UK single
Single byBert Weedon
B-side	"Lonely Guitar"
Released	July 1960 (1960-07)
Recorded	Early 1960
Genre	Instrumental rock
Length	2:37
Label	Top RankJAR-415
Composer	Jerry Lordan
Bert Weedon singles chronology
"Twelfth Street Rag" (1960) "Apache" (1960) "Sorry Robbie" (1960)

"Apache" is a song written byJerry Lordan and first recorded by English guitaristBert Weedon. Lordan played the song on ukulele for Englishinstrumental rock groupthe Shadows while on tour and, liking the song, the group released their own version which topped theUK Singles Chart for five weeks in mid-1960.^[1] The Shadows' guitaristHank Marvin developed the song's distinctive echo and vibrato sound. After hearing the Shadows' version, Danish guitaristJørgen Ingmann released a cover of the song in November 1960 which peaked at number 2 on theBillboard Hot 100 in the US.^[2]

A 1973 version by theIncredible Bongo Band has been called "hip-hop's national anthem".^[3] Although this version was not a hit on release, its long percussion break has been sampled countless times on hip hop and dance tracks since the 1980s. In March 2005,Q magazine placed "Apache" by the Shadows at number 96 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

English songwriter and composerJerry Lordan came up with the tune in the late 1950s. Lordan was inspired to write the song after watching the 1954 American western filmApache, saying that he "wanted something noble and dramatic, reflecting the courage and savagery of the IndianApache warrior Massai, played byBurt Lancaster.^[4]

It was originally recorded by British guitaristBert Weedon in early 1960, but remained unreleased for several months due to promotion and release problems.^[5] However, Lordan did not like Weedon's version of the song, as he thought it was too jaunty.^[6] For this reason, whilst on tour withCliff Richard andthe Shadows, Lordan played the song on his ukulele to the Shadows, who liked the song and recorded it in June, quickly releasing it in July 1960.^[4]

Around the same time as the Shadows' release of "Apache", Weedon's record labelTop Rank finally released his version. Reviewing forDisc,Don Nicholl wrote that Weedon "gets the right mood and atmosphere as he works with drums on this Indian item. There's a flute in the background, too – to give the idea for the raiding party's whoops maybe. A dark noise".^[7] The single peaked at number 24 on theUK Singles Chart.^[8] After the success of the Shadows' version,Hank Marvin andBruce Welch wrote "Mr. Guitar" for Weedon as a recompense for overshadowing his version of the song.

• 7": Top Rank / JAR-415

1. "Apache" – 2:37
2. "Lonely Guitar" – 2:10

"Apache"
Cover of the single released in Germany
Single byThe Shadows
B-side	"Quatermasster's Stores"
Released	8 July 1960 (1960-07-08)
Recorded	17 June 1960 (1960-06-17)
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Instrumental rock
Length	2:56
Label	ColumbiaDB 4484[9]
Composer	Jerry Lordan
Producer	Norrie Paramor[9]
The Shadows singles chronology
"Saturday Dance" (1959) "Apache" (1960) "Man of Mystery" (1960)
Alternative release
One of A-side labels of UK single

The recording was done at theEMIAbbey Road Studios inLondon. Singer-guitaristJoe Brown had bought an Italian-builttape echo unit that he did not like and gave it toThe Shadows' guitaristHank Marvin, who developed a distinctive sound using it and thewhammy bar of hisFender Stratocaster.Bruce Welch borrowed an acousticGibson J-200 guitar fromCliff Richard, the heavy melodic bass was performed byJet Harris, and drums byTony Meehan. Richard himself played aChinese drum at the beginning and end to provide an atmosphere of stereotypically Native American music.^[4]

"Apache" was released with the B-side being an instrumental version of the traditional army song "The Quartermaster's Store". The band humorously renamed the song "Quatermasster’s Stores" in reference to the television serialQuatermass and it was arranged by Bill Shepherd.

Record producer andA&R manNorrie Paramor preferred "Quatermasster’s Stores" over "Apache" and wanted it to be released as the A-side. However, he changed his mind after his daughter preferred "Apache".

By 1963 Apache had sold over a million copies in the UK.^[10]

It has been cited by a generation of guitarists as inspirational and is considered one of the most influential British rock 45s of the pre-Beatles era. In a 1963NME article, The Shadows said, "What's the most distinctive sound of our group? We often wondered what it is ourselves. Really, it is the sound we had when we recorded 'Apache' – that kind of Hawaiian sounding lead guitar ... plus the beat".^[11]

In March 2005,Q magazine placed "Apache" by the Shadows at number 96 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.^[12]

The Shadows' version of "Apache" was issued as a single in the US in August 1960, but -- as was the case with all Shadows singles -- received minimal attention and did not chart in the US at all.Jorgen Ingmann's version of "Apache" (see below), issued a few months later in both the US and Canada, became the hit version of "Apache" in North America.

The Shadows' "Apache" entered the UK top 40 on 21 July 1960 at number 35,^[13] climbing into the top 20 the following week. A fortnight later, the song rose twelve places to number 3 and, on 25 August, deposed "Please Don't Tease" – on which The Shadows backed Cliff Richard – to begin a five-week run at number 1.

On 29 September, "Apache" dropped to number 2, replaced by "Tell Laura I Love Her" byRicky Valance. The Shadows version proved to be an enduring hit, enjoying a 19-week run in the top 40 which concluded on 24 November, reappearing for one more week on 8 December. During this run, the group's follow-up single "Man of Mystery"/"The Stranger" peaked at number 5, alongside the number 3 success of "Nine Times Out of Ten" (backing Cliff Richard).

According to the UKOfficial Charts Company, "Apache" was the 28th best-selling single of the 1960s.^{[citation needed]}

• 7": Columbia / DB 4484

1. "Apache" – 2:56
2. "Quatermasster's Stores" – 2:20

• Hank Marvin –lead guitar
• Bruce Welch –acoustic guitar
• Jet Harris –bass guitar
• Tony Meehan –percussion
• Cliff Richard –Chinese drum

"Apache"
Cover of the single released in Denmark
Single byJørgen Ingmann
from the album Apache
B-side	"Echo Boogie"
Released	1 November 1960 (1960-11-01)
Recorded	October 1960
Studio	Metronome Studio,Copenhagen, Denmark
Genre	Instrumental rock Space age pop
Length	3:00
Label	MetronomeB 1445 ATCO6184
Composer	Jerry Lordan
Producer	Jørgen Ingmann
Jørgen Ingmann singles chronology
"Gingando" (1960) "Apache" (1960) "Pepe" (1961)

Danish guitaristJørgen Ingmann recorded a cover of "Apache" in October 1960 after hearing the Shadows' version, which had recently been released in Denmark. Ingmann had been looking for a B-side to his self-penned song "Echo Boogie" and decided that "Apache" would work.^[25] He played all instruments on both tracks, as well as mixing and producing them.^[26]

Released in Denmark at the beginning of November byMetronome Records, it was quickly released in the US byATCO along with a bigadvertising campaign, where the single was credited as 'Jorgen Ingmann and His Guitar'.^[27]

The single entered the USBillboard Hot 100 in the final week of January 1961 and peaked at number two ten weeks later at the beginning of April for two weeks behind "Blue Moon" bythe Marcels.^[2] In Canada, "Apache" topped theCHUM Chart for two weeks in March 1961.^[28] Ingmann would go on to have a smaller hit in North America with "Anna", which peaked at number 54 in the US and number 34 in Canada June 1961.^[29][30]

Cliff Richard has said that "Ingmann put in a few tricky bits, but essentially it was a cover job. If the Shads had made the charts there [in the US] with 'Apache', things might have been very different for us".^[31]

• 7": ATCO / 6184 (US and Canada)

1. "Apache" – 3:00
2. "Echo Boogie" – 3:13

A 1973 version byMichael Viner and a funk group called theIncredible Bongo Band added abongo drum introduction and included more percussion. Thedrum break was played byJim Gordon. Although this version was not a hit on its initial release, it became heavilysampled in earlyhip hop music, including byAfrika Bambaataa, who cited its influence. It has been sampled by hip hop performers such asThe Sugarhill Gang,L.L. Cool J,The Roots andNas,techno performersThe Future Sound of London andMoby, anddrum and bass actsJ Majik andGoldie.^[3]

The 2013 documentarySample This, directed by Dan Forrer and narrated byGene Simmons, recounts the story of The Incredible Bongo Band and its recording of "Apache".^[38][39] In 2022,Rolling Stone ranked Incredible Bongo Band's version of the song number 31 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".^[40]

"Apache"
German 12" single
Single byThe Sugarhill Gang
from the album8th Wonder
B-side	"Rapper's Delight"
Released	November 1981 (1981-11)
Recorded	1981 (1981)
Studio	Sweet Mountain Studios,Englewood, New Jersey
Genre	Old-school hip hop electro
Length	3:57 (single) 6:09 (album)
Label	Sugar Hill
Songwriters	Jerry Lordan Sylvia Robinson Cheryl Cook Michael Wright
Producer	Sylvia Robinson
The Sugarhill Gang singles chronology
"Showdown" (1981) "Apache" (1981) "The Lover in You" (1982)

In 1981, the American rap group known asthe Sugarhill Gang covered theIncredible Bongo Band's version of the song on its second album,8th Wonder (1981). In 1982, this version peaked at No. 53 on the USBillboard Hot 100, No. 51 on theBillboardDance chart, and No. 13 on theUS R&B chart.^[41] In 1995, this version was featured in "Viva Lost Wages", a sixth-season episode of an American sitcomThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,^[42] and then in "Whoops, There It Is", a subsequentclip show from the series.^[43] Using the distinctive beat and bongo drums as well as Native Americanwar cries, the Sugarhill Gang added rap lyrics with references including the following:^{[44][better source needed]}

• The Lone Ranger (a.k.a."kemosabe") is mentioned extensively, as well as his sidekick ("Tonto, jump on it! Jump on it! Jump on it!") and his horse ("'Hi-yo,Silver!' is what I say").
• The lyric "Now what you hear is not a test" recalls the Sugarhill Gang's earlier hit, "Rapper's Delight".
• The instrumental "Popcorn" byHot Butter (who had released a version of "Apache" as a follow-up to "Popcorn") is referenced via the lyric "(What's that?) Hot buttered popcorn!"
  • The recording engineer forSugar Hill Records, Steve Jerome, was also a member and engineer for "Popcorn" byHot Butter.
  • The popcorn and its butter are referenced in lyrics right beforehand, recalling a 1976Mazola margarine commercial "We Call ItMaize" featuring a Native American woman.
  • The "Monster Mash" is mentioned in this song, as well asthe Jerk.

A reworked version of this song for children titled simply "Jump on It!" is featured as the title track on the Sugarhill Gang's albumJump On It!. This song differs from the original version with the signature "Jump on it" line being replaced by "Jump up", lyrics encouraging children to learn science, mathematics, and English, and a strongerfunk influence.^{[citation needed]}

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• DJGrandmaster Flash interpolated parts of the Incredible Bongo Band song "Apache" in his song "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel".
• West Street Mob, a group on the Sugar Hill Records label, made a song which interpolated parts of the "Apache" song by the Incredible Bongo Band; this song was called "Break Dance (Electric Boogie)".
• Boogie Down Productions sampled the break in their 1992 track "Who Are The Pimps?"
• Young MC sampled the break in his 1988 rap "Know How", mixed withIsaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft".
• MC Zappa sampled various portions of the Incredible Bongo Band version of "Apache" in his song "Supperhero" from his 2020 EPHindsight.
• MC Hammer sampled the bongo loop in his track "Turn This Mutha Out", off the 1988 albumLet's Get It Started.
• Vanilla Ice sampled "Apache" in his hit song "Ninja Rap". It was also sampled in the Ultimix version of "Ice Ice Baby".
• C + C Music Factory sample the start of "Apache" in the song "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..."
• In 1996,Sir Mix-A-Lot played off the lyrics to the Sugarhill Gang's version of "Apache" in his hit "Jump on It", released on the albumReturn of the Bumpasaurus. The lyrics contain the names of several cities in the United States.^[45]
• It was used as the beat and background music on the song "We Run This" onMissy Elliott's albumThe Cookbook.
• The soundtrack of the 2000 filmSnatch has an extract of a DJ mix CD (On the Floor at the Boutique) byFatboy Slim, which contained the Incredible Bongo Band version of "Apache".
• TheBeastie Boys used a sample from the Incredible Bongo Band version of "Apache" in their live version of "Root Down" – most notably the version that appears on theTibetan Freedom Concert live album.
• It was also used in the original version of "Can I Get Witcha" byThe Notorious B.I.G.
• The British blues singerAmy Winehouse used a sample from "Apache" in her song "In My Bed" produced bySalaam Remi for her 2003 albumFrank.Salaam Remi also utilized "Apache" for sampling when he produced NY RapperNas' hit single "Made You Look" from his 2002 releaseGod's Son.
• UK rapperM.I.A. made "Apache" the center of her 2005 Radio One B-side "Apache Riddim".
• In 2005,Switch extensively sampled the covered version by Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band for his track "A Bit Patchy" (wordplay on "Apache"). The track has since been used to advertiseWilliam Hill Online on TV and has been remixed by artists such asEric Prydz and Sinden.
• Nas sampled IBB's "Apache" in his 2002 single, "Made You Look", and on his 2006 single "Hip Hop Is Dead".
• Also in 2006,The Federation sampled a piece of the song for their single "I Only Wear My White Tees Once".
• Sampled on the song "Funky" byDJ Shadow andCut Chemist on their 2007 collaboration, "The Hard Sell".
• It is used in the song "Against All Odds" byChase & Status featuringKano.
• The Roots sample the bongo break at the beginning for their song "Thought @ Work" from their albumPhrenology, which is an homage to "Men at Work" by Kool G Rap and DJ Polo, which also samples the break.
• Double Dee and Steinski sampled the bongo break for their classic mash-up/collage "Lesson 1 – The Payoff Mix".
• Madonna incorporated the bongo samples to "Into the Groove" during her 2008–2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour.
• TLC sampled the bongo loop in the video version of their song, "Hat 2 Da Back".
• Petter Askergren used bongo samples in his cover ofThomas Di Leva's hit "Dansa din djävul".
• Rage Against the Machine interpolated parts of the percussion break in their cover of "Renegades of Funk".
• Hip hop artistsJay-Z andKanye West sampled the bongo drums on their track "That's My Bitch" from their 2011 collaborative album,Watch the Throne.

• In February 1961, Sonny James released avocal music version, which was produced in Nashville byChet Atkins and was review-rated as aSpotlight Winner inBillboard.^[46] It peaked at number 87 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the retrospective AustralianKent Music Report.^[47]
• Dave Allan and the Arrows released a cover as "Apache '65". It peaked at number 64 on theBillboard Hot 100.^[48]
• In November 1970, Englishrock groupthe Edgar Broughton Band released a single "Apache Drop Out", which combined "Apache" with a version ofCaptain Beefheart's "Drop Out Boogie". The highly unorthodox single reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart and number 42 in Germany.^[49][50]
• In October 1972, theMoog-based band of session musiciansHot Butter released a cover version of "Apache" as follow-up to their hit "Popcorn". It peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 37 in Germany.^[51][52]
• Tommy Seebach covered the song on his 1979 albumDisco Tango.^[53]
• In 1987, Dutch band Janse Bagge Bend released a version titled "Awpatsje (Apache)", which peaked at number 83 on theDutch Single Top 100 chart.^[54]
• In 2005, the German bandScooter covered this song as an instrumental for the albumWho's Got The Last Laugh Now? in atechno version. Later that year, a single was released which combined elements of "Apache" and "Rock Bottom" from the same album, known as "Apache Rocks the Bottom!". This later appeared on the second disc of the UK edition of its 2008 albumJumping All Over the World. The single was a top-five hit in Denmark and Finland and a top-thirty hit in Germany and Austria.^[55]

• Wyclef Jean's "Masquerade" includes the melodic hook played on violin as the song closes.^{[citation needed]}
• "Symphony of the Nymph" (2012) byAriel Pink's Haunted Graffiti features a melody from "Apache".^{[citation needed]}
• David Bowie borrowed part of the melody of Apache for the chorus of the song "How Does the Grass Grow?" from his 2013 albumThe Next Day.^[56]

• An 80-second edit of The Shadows' version was used in the 1989 feature filmScandal about theProfumo affair. It appears as track A2 on the soundtrack album.^[57]
• A version of "Apache" was used as the theme to the long-running television showWild Chicago, which aired in Chicago on PBS.
• Various versions are used in commercials forJardiance.^[58]

TheMinnesota Lynx of theWNBA adopted "Apache" as the unofficial team anthem in 2007. Following victories, the team would dance to the song at center court.^[59] For the first home game of the team's firstWNBA Finals appearance, the team brought in the Sugarhill Gang to perform the song at halftime.^[60]

• soul-sides.com: All Roads Lead to Apache (history of various versions of "Apache", including audio samples)

• 1960 songs
• 1960 singles
• 1981 singles
• Rock instrumentals
• UK singles chart number-one singles
• Sonny James songs
• Surf instrumentals
• Incredible Bongo Band songs
• The Sugarhill Gang songs
• Songs written by Jerry Lordan
• The Shadows songs
• Sir Mix-a-Lot songs
• Songs about Native Americans
• Columbia Graphophone Company singles
• Metronome Records singles
• Atco Records singles
• Sugar Hill Records (hip-hop label) singles
• Song recordings produced by Norrie Paramor
• 1960s instrumentals
• Minnesota Lynx

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