Multiple Mondays: Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear

On some Mondays, I'll post multiple versions of songs. This week, we hear from Mr. Randy Newman, and his ursine companion.

Randy Newman wrote this song back in 1965, and took it to his friends in Harpers Bizarre (best known for their cover of "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"). They recorded it in 1967, followed closely by Alan Price, who'd just left The Animals to pursue his solo dreams. Harry Nilsson recorded it in 1969, and then Newman himself finally recorded it in 1972. The next major recording of the song was for the first episode of The Muppet Show in 1976.

But the reason I'm posting today is that Okkervil River released a version of the song last year on Golden Opportunities, their free cover album. That, plus "Big'un" claims to be a Randy Newman fan, but he's never heard even one version of the song. So here you go; here's seven.

Zip file
You'll have to find your own buy links today, sorry.