Radio Favorites – Yakety Sax

As a record collector, I went out and hunted down a lot of my favorites but obviously came nowhere near getting them all. These are some of the favorites that I didn’t own at the time.

“Yakety Sax” is a novelty instrumental piece written by James Q. “Spider” Rich and Boots Randolph. It was released in 1963 as a single by Boots Randolph, an American saxophonist known for his work in country and pop music. The song gained popularity for its lively and comedic sound, and it has since become closely associated with comedic chases,

slapstick humor, and fast-paced action, often used in television and film. Chet Atkins, a renowned guitarist, recorded a version with a title change to reflect his instrument of choice, “Yakety Axe”. “Yakety Sax” gained widespread recognition and became even more famous when it was used as the theme music for “The Benny Hill Show,”

a British comedy television show that ran from 1955 to 1991. The song became synonymous with the show’s slapstick chase scenes, enhancing the comedic effect of the visual gags. The fast-paced tempo and playful melody of the song complemented the humor of the show, and it became an iconic element of “The Benny Hill Show.” “Yakety Sax” is so closely linked to the series that it is also known as “The Benny Hill Theme”. From 1983 on, the music was performed by Ronnie Aldrich and his orchestra.