MovieChat Forums > Radio Days (1987) Discussion > Does Frankie Laine sing Babalu?

Does Frankie Laine sing Babalu?

posted 17 years ago by BoomerMovieFan
12 replies | jump to latest

Remember the scene where the boys are on the rooftop watching a woman --- who later turns out to be their temporary teacher --- dance naked in a window? The song playing on her radio is Babalu.

Is that Frankie Laine singing? It certainly sounds like him. (It's definitely not Desi Arnaz.)

The info is not on the IMDB soundtrack listing and the song is not on the CD.

I tried Google-ing FRAINKIE LAINE BABALU and got bupkus. I did find out that Babalu was an Afro-Cuban santeria god identified with St. Joseph but that's not exactly what I was looking for.

Any ideas who sings Babalu?

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] asiamommi 17 years ago

I don't know who was singing in the movie, but Desi Arnez made Babalu famous.

[–] Sporty_Nose 17 years ago

I am sure the answer to this would be in the recently released book,
"The Soundtracks of Woody Allen" by Adam Harvey, published by McFarland. It lists all of the music in each film and tells you where it appears. And there is a section on where to find recordings of the music, if it is available. I've just got my copy off Amazon and it is excellent!

[–] mase-6 7 years ago

Actually, Desi Arnaz covered Babalu which was originally recorded by Miguelito Valdez. Here's a clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20yL0XDE6Ws.

[–] billyed 17 years ago

It definitly NOT Frankie Laine singing Babalu..it was probably a studio musician.

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything!"....

[–] JR541 17 years ago

Richard Hayes with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] BoomerMovieFan 17 years ago

Thanks a lot.

[–] Sporty_Nose 17 years ago

This song is sung by a woman. Richard Hayes? I think not.

[–] JR541 17 years ago

Your way off. It is indeed a man and Richard Hayes was his name. It's the when the boys are on the roof looking at the woman (who turns out to be their subsitute teacher later on) get undressed.

You must be thinking of the song Tico Tico that was sung in the nightclub sung by what might supposed to be Abbe Lane (Denise Dumont) who was one of Xaviar Cugats singers. Cugat being played by Tito Puente. They list him as Latin Band Leader.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] Sporty_Nose 17 years ago

Apologies! You are correct. Must of been thinking about a different song.

[–] JR541 17 years ago

No apology necessary.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] JustAnotherWhedonite 12 years ago

I thought I was the only one who thought it sounded like Frankie Laine. Thanks for the info, posters. :)

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