| "Walk on the Wild Side" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Single byBrook Benton | ||||
| from the album Golden Hits Volume 2 | ||||
| B-side | "Somewhere in the Used to Be" | |||
| Released | February 11, 1962 (1962-02-11) | |||
| Recorded | 1962 | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Composer | Elmer Bernstein | |||
| Lyricist | Mack David | |||
| Brook Benton singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| "Walk on the Wild Side" onYouTube | ||||
"Walk on the Wild Side" originated as the title song of the1962 film of the same name as performed byBrook Benton over the film's coda and closing credits. Lyrics were written byMack David and music was byElmer Bernstein.[1] The two earned anOscar nomination forBest Original Song.
The song evokes thejazz andgospel music musical styles of the film'sNew Orleans setting, and the reputation of itsStoryville district. It addresses an unnamed straying Christian — or perhaps all who
and seems to threaten them in terms understood within theirlife style:
The song has had a second life in real-life gospel music.
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| CanadaCHUM Chart[2] | 33 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[3] | 43 |
Jazz organistJimmy Smith recorded an instrumental version of the song for his 1962 albumBashin': The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith.[4] The music was arranged byOliver Nelson and features Nelson's Big Band. The record cover displays a sticker-facsimile quoting "Includes the exciting jazz version of WALK ON THE WILD SIDE" in order to take advantage of the success of the movie soundtrack.
The track was released spread over two sides of a 45-rpm single; Smith's organ is not heard until Part Two. The single reached No. 21 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart in June 1962.[5][6] On theHot R&B Sides chart, the track peaked at No. 4[7]
