DESCRIPTION:
From '' Rip Off! ''
Label: Drunkabilly Records ‎-- (1) DBR 99003 (2) DBR 99004
Format: (1) CD, Album, (2) Vinyl
Country: Belgium
Released: 1999

Tracklist
01. Rum & Coca Cola
02. Cecilia Ann
03. Phercolum
04. Have Love Will Travel
05. Le Gendarme De Saint-Tropez
06. You Punk!
07. Thee Mighty Jaws
08. Andrews Surfers...Go!
09. Moment Of Truth
10. Two Minutes To Rip You Off
11. Scandinavian Action
12. Pipeline
13. Bei Mir Bist Du Schön
14. Betty's Twist '99

Performer -- Bee Andrews, Es Andrews, Jay Andrews
Blues Harp -- Willem (tracks: 4, 8, 10)
Organ, Written-by, Design [& Lay-out] -- Matto Le D. (tracks: 14)

Arranged By -- Thee Andrews Surfers (tracks: 4 to 5, 13 to 14)
Written-By -- Thee Andrews Surfers (tracks: 3, 6 to 8, 10 to 11)

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"Rum and Coca-Cola" is the title of a popular calypso.
Originally composed by Lord Invader and Lionel Belasco, it was copyrighted in the United States by entertainer Morey Amsterdam and became a huge hit in 1945 for the Andrews Sisters, spending ten weeks at the top of Billboard's U.S. Pop Singles chart.

Although the song was published in the United States with Amsterdam listed as the lyricist and Jeri Sullavan and Paul Baron as musical composers, the melody had been previously published as the work of Trinidadian calypso composer Lionel Belasco on a song titled "L'Année Passée," which was in turn based on a folksong from Martinique.

The original lyrics to "Rum and Coca-Cola" were written by Rupert Grant, another calypso musician from Trinidad who went by the stage name of Lord Invader.

The song became a local hit and was at the peak of its popularity when Amsterdam visited the island in September 1943 as part of a U.S.O. tour.
Although he subsequently claimed never to have heard the song during the month he spent on the island, the lyrics to his version are clearly based on the Lord Invader version, with the music and chorus being virtually identical.
However, Amsterdam's version strips the song of its social commentary.

The song was the top single of 1945 in the United States.
Despite its popularity, it was controversial and was banned by network radio stations because it mentioned an alcoholic beverage.
The fact that it mentioned a commercial product by name also meant that it could be construed as free advertising when broadcast.

In the "Songs That Won The War Vol. 8 Swing Again, Yes Indeed!" CD program notes, Edward Habib writes that "'Rum And Coca Cola' has naughty lyrics but not quite naughty enough to deny its hit status...During the forties, comedians as songwriters was the norm, Phil Silvers, Joey Bishop and Jackie Gleason all had a part in writing hit songs.
While there were a number of records of 'Rum And Coca Cola', the Andrews Sisters' version was far and away the most popular."

After the release of the Andrews Sisters' version of "Rum and Coca-Cola", Belasco and Lord Invader sued for copyright infringement of the song's music and lyrics, respectively.
In 1948, after years of litigation, both plaintiffs won their cases, with Lord Invader receiving an award of $150,000 in owed royalties.
However, Morey Amsterdam was allowed to retain copyright to the song.
Lord Invader also wrote a follow-up song to "Rum and Coca-Cola", titled "Yankee Dollar".

Other versions

Al Trace And His Silly Symphonists, US,1945

Tuula Ikäheimo, Finland, 1957

Lionel Newman And His Orchestra, 1957

Jean Sablon

R.D.Costario Et Son "Steel-Band", France, 1958 as Rhum Et Coca-Cola

Olavi Virta, Finland, 1958

The Tides con the Merry Melody Singers, Spain, 1963 as Ron Y Coca-Cola

Vaughn Monroe And His Orchestra

Golden Earring, Netherlands, 1966

James Last, 1969

Frankie Carle, 1969

Alys Robi

Roberto Delgado & His Orchestra, 1971

Xavier Cugat y su Orquesta, 1973

Joe Dassin, 1974

Medium Terzett, Germany, 1974

Rex Gildo, Germany, 1975

Hello Sailor, New Zealand, 1976

Mirumaru, Finland, 1977

Fabulous Faces Orchestra, France, 1977 (Disco version)

Barry White, 1980

Roberto Delgado, 1980

Julio Iglesias recorded a Spanish edition of this song, titled "Ron y Coca-Cola", on his album Hey! (1980)

Professor Longhair, 1982

The Hornettes, 1982

Josef Laufer + Golem, Czechoslovakia, 1986 as Lola (Rum And Coca Cola)

Wild Billy Childish And The Blackhands, 1988

Alys Robi, 1989

Tria Maria, 1996

André Rieu

Arielle Dombasle, 2004

Kali (a Zouk version)

Les Shelleys, 2010

Leonard Cohen sometimes quoted a line from the song in live performances of his song "Field Commander Cohen".
A version is available on the live album of the same name released in 2001

Wanda Jackson covered it on her 2011 album The Party Ain't Over

Ken Colyer was one of the UK musicians who covered the song in a live album made with Chris Blount's New Orleans Jazz Band (KCTCD5)