Artist: John D. Loudermilk
Author: John Loudermilk/Gwen Loudermilk
Label: RCA
Year: 1962
With Angela Jones on the B-side (see there). Inspired by comic strip character Speedy Gonzales and in his own sober version a small pop hit. Gwen was John's first wife, earning credits for supporting his idea to write a song about the Nashville Trafic Police. Musically the song was clearly inspired by banjo traditional Ground Hog (see there), cut -amongst others- by Norwegian band The Windjammers for RCA, produced by Chet Atkins and John D. Loudermilk; no kidding.
Covers:
Roberto Carlos [Portuguese and Spanish version (as O Calhambeque and Mi Cacharrito); big hit in South America]
Carlos Alberto [idem; hit in Brasil]
Joe Dassin [as Bip Bip right in the middle of Paris' city traffic]
Supersonics [as O Calhambeque]
Gaetano Veloso [idem]
Breastfeeders [on Dassin tribute]
The Brazilian hit spilled into local comic book territory: Eugenio Colonnese's O Calhambero Vermilho (The Red Oldtimer).
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)