Right, Said Fred

Album: Golden Oldies (1962)
Charted: 10
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Songfacts®:

  • This novelty song - complete with sound effects - was the third release by and a big hit for Bernard Cribbins. Although he had a very transient career as a recording artist, Cribbins was already a name as a character actor and comedian when this song made the UK singles chart in 1962; he would later go on to become a narrator and children's TV presenter.
  • "Right, Said Fred" was written by the team of composer Ted Dicks and lyricist Myles Rudge. The song is narrated by one of three workmen who are moving an unnamed and quite awkward object. Eventually, after all but demolishing the client's house, they give up and go home, or at least two of them do. The song satirizes the stereotypical British tradesman in much the same way as the Flanders & Swann song "The Gasman Cometh." When Myles Rudge died in October 2007, his obituary in the Daily Telegraph said the object concerned was Ted Dicks' piano.
  • "Right, Said Fred" was produced by George Martin, who also produced the Beatles - it was released on Parlophone backed by "Quietly Bonkers." A humorous contemporary animated video of the song was also produced.
  • The sheet music was published by Noel Gay Music of London at 2s6d.
  • In 1989, the Fairbrass brothers named their new group "Right Said Fred" after this song. Cribbins appeared on their 1993 charity single, "Stick It Out." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above
  • In 2018, this was used in a commercial for the UK finance company Key.

Comments: 1

  • Mark from London, EnglandBernard Cribbins narrated the 70s animated UK TV series "The Wombles" but had no part in the chart run of singles made by a band of the same name based on the show (that was Mike Batt).
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