The T-Bones No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) 1966

 

The T-Bones – No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In): 1960s Instrumental Classic Explained

Liberty records 1966    LRP-3439

notes:

The 1960s produced many unexpected hits, but few are as 

unusual as “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)” 

by The T-Bones. Originally inspired by a TV commercial, 

this catchy instrumental became a major chart success 

and remains a fascinating piece of pop history.

Released in 1965, the track was based on music from an 

Alka-Seltzer advertisement, a rare case where commercial 

music crossed over into mainstream charts. No Matter 

What Shape (Your Stomach's In) climbed to #3 on 

the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the charts for 13 weeks.

Behind the scenes, the recording featured members of 

the legendary session collective known as the Wrecking Crew, 

rather than a traditional band lineup.

Interestingly, the group presented to the public wasn’t the same

 musicians who recorded the hit. When the song took off, a touring

 version of the band was assembled to promote it.

Some members of this touring lineup later formed the successful 

soft rock group Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, showing how 

this novelty hit indirectly launched future careers.

credits:

crew for lp:

 Tommy Tedesco – guitar

 Glen Campbell – guitar

Leon Russell – keyboards

Hal Blaine – drums

 Carol Kaye – bass

 Plas Johnson – saxophone

Producer often linked to the sessions:

Dave Pell

credits for:  "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) "

The recording was not made by a traditional band,

but by elite L.A. session players known as

The Wrecking Crew  

 Tommy Tedesco, guitar 

Keyboards

Mike Melvoin

Drums

Hal Blaine

Bass

Carol Kaye

 Producer: Bones Howe

Arranger: Perry Botkin Jr.

Studio: Los Angeles

 Recorded December 9, 1965

Engineer – Harold "Lanky" Linstrot

A Studio Creation, Not a Real Band

Importantly, The T-Bones were not a traditional performing 

band at the time of recording. When the song became a hit, 

a separate touring group was assembled to represent 

the act in public appearances.

Some members of this touring lineup later went on to form 

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, linking this novelty

 hit to future chart success.

  tracklist:

A1 No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)

Written By – Granville-Sascha-Burland

A2 Chiquita® Banana

Written By – Montgomery-MacKenzie-Wirges

A3 Fever

Written By – Cooley-Davenport

A4 What's In The Bag, Goose

Written By – DeCaro-Pell-Saraceno

A5 Moment Of Softness

Written By – P. Botkin, Jr.-Pell-Saraceno

A6 Let's Hang On

Written By – Crewe-Randell-Linzer

B1 Sippin' 'N Chippin'

Written By – Granville-Sascha-Burland

B2 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Written By – Bob Dylan

B3 Hole In The Wall

Written By – Cropper-Jackson-Jones

B4 My Headache's Gone

Written By – P. Botkin, Jr.-Pell-Saraceno

B5 Pizza Parlor

Written By – DeCaro-Pell-Saraceno

B6 Lies

Written By – Randell-Charles

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