Songwriter’s Anatomy Class: “Orange Colored Sky”
A small world for Batman, Nat King Cole, The Monkees, Richard Thompson, and Frank Zappa.
The jaunty and highly entertaining song “Orange Colored Sky” (or spelled “Coloured” as I learned it from Englishmen) joins together some unlikely travelers. The lyrics (shown in full below) describe an Average Joe walking down some street, minding his business, “when out of an orange-colored sky,” a beautiful woman knocks him over— “Flash Bam Alakazam!”
It helped that he was in a receptive mood, “walking along, drinking in sunshine,” but he’s exploding over this lady— “One look and I yelled timber! Look out for flying glass!” The chords and accents cross big band jazz swing and 1920s pop melodicism, with a novelty that’s fun to choreograph and it reaches all ages.
Within 2 or 3 degrees of separation, the song intersects my world with Nat “King” Cole, Davy Jones (The Monkees), Richard Thompson, Frank Zappa, and the 1966 hit TV show BATMAN.
“Orange Colored Sky” was written by Milton DeLugg (later a music director for Chuck Barris’s goofball TV shows) and Willie Stein. They published it in 1950, and it was first recorded by singer Janet Brace for King Records. However, Nat “King” Cole did the breakout version, making it a chart hit when it was released August 16th that same year.
His suave and nuanced arrangement is the model version, and it’s since been covered by his daughter Natalie Cole as well as Paul Anka, Michael Bublé, Doris Day, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Betty Hutton, Danny Kaye, Lady Gaga, Japanese jazz singer Meg, and many others.
Richard Thompson reintroduced it in his 2003 live album 1000 YEARS OF POPULAR MUSIC (his choice to represent the 20th Century).
Some time after Thompson’s release, Davy Jones and guitarist David Robicheau were in a hotel room watching a DVD of Thompson’s album. “Orange Coloured Sky” came on and Davy reportedly went nuts over it. At the time I was in his road band, and we immediately learned it and kept it in the set until his final shows (he passed in 2012). It fit perfectly with Davy’s brand of rock’n’roll vaudeville. Here’s a clip of us doing it (at 24 minutes into the set):
Entering the “small world” file, Davy sometimes talked about the odd roles he tried out for in his early pre-Monkees career. In 1965 he was asked to audition to be Robin for the BATMAN TV show, which became monstrously successful in 1966, but Davy turned it down because he wasn’t into wearing tights. The Robin role went to Burt Ward who, like Davy, was then being marketed as a “teen idol.” Burt didn’t have real singing abilities, but he recorded this song (and 3 others) for MGM Records.
One critic said Burt’s take was like “Lou Reed doing a weird kids record in slo-mo.” Burt’s tracks were arranged by Frank Zappa, also in the throes of his early career (months before launching the controversial Mothers of Invention). With irony, Frank co-produced this with the legendary Tom Wilson (producer of milestone records by Bob Dylan, Eddie Harris, Simon & Garfunkel, Sun Ra, Velvet Underground, etc.), both then under contract to MGM and compelled to do the session despite Burt being better seen than heard.
The showbiz minions behind BATMAN must’ve had faith in “Orange Colored Sky” as Burt’s TV co-star and lead Batman Adam West sang it (in full Batman suit) on TV’s HOLLYWOOD PALACE that same year:
It's unknown if Frank Zappa was a Batman fan, but he definitely appreciated The Monkees, and he was also a Laurel Canyon neighbor with Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. Frank later appeared the Monkees TV show (disguised as Mike Nesmith) and in The Monkees deconstructive surrealist pop culture masterwork, the 1968 film HEAD.
If Zappa and Monkees signify the freewheeling psychedelic experimentalism of the mid-60s, the song lyrics “orange colored, purple striped, pretty green polka dot sky” fit right in with the era.
In 2019 I circled back on the song as I was building my set list for playing in assisted living homes, entertaining people in stages of dementia and disability. They enjoy the bounce and the “special effects” of “flash bam alakazam.”
A 70-year-old song keeps giving people “a hit” of joy and fun.
I was walking along, minding my business
when out of an orange colored sky (flash, bam, alakazam)
Wonderful you came by
I was hummin' a tune, Drinkin' in sunshine
When out of that orange-colored view
(flash, bam, alakazam) I got a look at you
One look and I yell timber
watch out for flying glass
'Cause the ceilin' fell in and the bottom fell out
I went into a spin, and I started to shout
I've been hit
(this is it; this is it; I've been hit)
I was walkin' along, mindin' my business
when love came and hit me in the eye (flash, bam, alakazam)
Out of an orange colored sky
One look and I yell timber
Watch out for flyin' glass
'Cause the ceiling fell in and the bottom fell out
I went into a spin, and I started to shout
I've been hit (this is it; this is it; I've been hit)
I was walking along, minding my business
When love came and hit me in the eye (flash, bam, alakazam)
Out of an orange colored, purple striped, pretty green polka dot sky
(flash, bam) Alakazam and goodbye
Wow, I thought love was much softer than that, what a most disturbing sound
(Song written by Milton DeLugg & Willie Stein, copyright 1950 UMG, SME/EMI BMI).
#NatKingCole #OrangeColouredSky #DavyJones #Monkees #BurtWard #Batman #Robin #superhero #FrankZappa #popjazz #greatamericansongbook #RichardThompson #timetravel #turntable #popmusic #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge