Green Tambourine

Infobox Single
Name = Green Tambourine


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = The Lemon Pipers
from Album = Green Tambourine
A-side =
B-side = "No Help From Me"
Released = December 1967
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Rock and Roll, Psychedelic rock
Length =
Label =Buddah Records 23
Writer =Paul Leka/Shelly Pinz
Producer = Paul Leka
Certification =
Chart position =* #1(US Billboard Hot 100)
Last single ="Turn Around and Take a Look" (1967)
This single =Green Tambourine" (1967)
Next single ="Rice Is Nice" (1968)
Misc =

"Green Tambourine" was the primary hit by 1960's Ohio-based rock group, The Lemon Pipers, as well as the title track to their debut-album "Green Tambourine". Released towards the end of 1967, it peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for one week at the start of February, 1968 and earned the group a gold record for over a million copies sold. The record remained on the chart for Three monthsNite, Norm N. and Newman, Ralph M.: "ROCK ON: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Rock N' Roll"': Thomas Y. Crowell: 1978. P 276.] It was also the first U.S. number-one hit for the Buddah label. The Lemon Pipers would never repeat this success, although Rice Is Nice and Jelly Jungle did make it onto the charts in 1968.

The song is the story of a street musician pleading for someone to give him money. In exchange, he would play his green tambourine. The song's instrumentation contains the title tambourine as well as an electric sitar [ [http://www.danguitars.com/VincentBell.html Vincent Bell Danelectro, Silvertone Guitar, Bass, Parts, Accessories. History, Vintage Danelectro ] ] . (Sitar was a frequent trademark of the so-called "psychedelic sound.") Another hook is the heavy, psychedelic tape echo applied to the word "play" in each chorus and at the end, fading into a drumroll ("Listen while I play "play play play play play"/my green tambourine)."

Pop Culture References

At the end of the film "", TJ and the gang are seen playing this song, with Mikey singing vocals (Mikey's singing voice provided by Robert Goulet). The gang and Principle Prickly are seen in Sixties background, dressed in hippie clothing.

Status Quo covered the song on their 1968 debut album Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo.

Tripping Daisy covered the song on their 1992 debut album, Bill. (The Dragon Street release)

Lawrence Welk covered the song and his version placed on the Billboard Easy Listening survey.

References