Introduction
“Elvira” isn’t quite the Kenny Rogers song you might think. While it’s sometimes associated with the country crooner, the story of “Elvira” stretches back further and has two distinct chapters.
The first verse begins in 1966. Songwriter Dallas Frazier penned the catchy tune, a tale of a captivating woman named Elvira. This version, however, wasn’t a mainstream country hit. Frazier’s “Elvira” found its initial audience on airwaves catering to a different demographic, receiving airplay on some Deep South radio stations focused on African American listeners.
Fast forward a decade. Kenny Rogers, then the frontman for The First Edition, decided to take “Elvira” in a new direction. Their rendition, included on the 1970 album “Something’s Burning,” was a departure from Frazier’s original. Theirs was a more high-strung, melancholic take, with a touch of psychedelia that reflected the musical trends of the era. While it wasn’t a chart-topper for The First Edition, their “Elvira” helped introduce the song to a wider audience.
But the story doesn’t end there. In 1981, another country music group, The Oak Ridge Boys, would take “Elvira” and truly launch it into the stratosphere. Their version, complete with Richard Sterban’s signature “oom-papa-mow-mow” vocals, became a massive crossover hit, reaching number one on the country charts and cracking the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira” became synonymous with the song, even overshadowing the earlier versions.
So, as you listen to “Elvira,” remember it’s a song with a rich history. It’s a testament to the enduring power of a great melody, and how a song can be reinterpreted and reintroduced to find new audiences and even greater success.