A Fifth of Beethoven

"A Fifth of Beethoven" is a disco instrumental recorded by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band, adapted from the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. The record was produced by production music and sound effects recording producer Thomas J. Valentino.[4] The "Fifth" in the song's title is a pun, referencing a liquid measure approximately equal to one-fifth of a gallon, a popular size for bottles containing liquor, as well as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony from which the song was adapted.

"A Fifth of Beethoven"
Single by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
from the album A Fifth of Beethoven and Saturday Night Fever
B-side"California Strut"
Released1976
StudioSound Ideas (New York)[1]
Genre
Length3:02
LabelPrivate Stock
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Thomas J. Valentino
Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band singles chronology
"Disco Bells"
(1975)		 "A Fifth of Beethoven"
(1976)		 "Flight '76"
(1976)
Official audio
"A Fifth of Beethoven" on YouTube

Released as a single by Private Stock Records in 1976, the song debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and climbed to number 1 within 19 weeks, remaining there for one week. In 1977, it was licensed to RSO Records for inclusion on the best-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The song is one of Murphy's few Top 40 hits.

Background and recording

In college, Murphy's interests included rock music, particularly that which was adapted from classical music, such as "Joy" by Apollo 100 and "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys. Later, in 1976, while writing a disco song for a commercial, a producer suggested the idea of "updating classical music", which "nobody [has] done lately".[5] He then recorded a demo tape of five songs—three were ordinary pop songs, while the fourth was a disco rendition of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony titled "A Fifth of Beethoven"[6]—mailing it to various record labels in New York City.

The response was underwhelming, but "Fifth" caught the interest of Private Stock Records owner Larry Uttal. Murphy signed on to Private Stock and recorded the album A Fifth of Beethoven, containing the title track and first single of the same name. The single was credited to "Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band" upon encouragement from Private Stock, which believed it would be more successful if credited to a group rather than an individual. However, two days following the record's release, Private Stock discovered the existence of another Big Apple Band (which promptly changed its name to Chic). The record was later re-released and credited to "The Walter Murphy Band", then simply to "Walter Murphy".[7]

Reception

"A Fifth of Beethoven" started at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually reached number 1 within 19 weeks, where it stayed for one week. The single sold two million copies, while the album sold about 750,000 copies. The second single, a rendition of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee", titled "Flight '76", reached number 44 on the Hot 100.[7]

In addition to Saturday Night Fever, it appears in a heavily edited form in the movie House of Gucci. It is used as the theme of the television miniseries Mrs. America.

The music was used in a recruitment campaign by the Irish Defence Forces in the early 1980s.[8]

It also appears in an episode of Family Guy in which Peter and his friends attend a roller disco and dance to the song. It appears in another episode where Peter and his friends accidentally kill all the clubgoers with their sharp collars.

Charts and certifications

See also

References
  1. "Interview with George Klabin, President of the Rising Jazz Stars Foundation and the new Resonance Records jazz label". Audiophile Audition. March 31, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  2. Bentkowski, Tom (March 28, 1977). "Ludwig on the Charts". New York Magazine. Vol. 10, no. 13. p. 65. ISSN 0028-7369.
  3. Breihan, Tom (September 16, 2019). "The Number Ones: Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band's "A Fifth Of Beethoven"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 30, 2023. ..."A Fifth Of Beethoven" is a deeply silly piece of work, a pure novelty record...Beethoven's Fifth Symphony turns out to be a perfect vehicle for noodly funk riffage.
  4. "Thomas J. Valentino Is Dead; Early Sound Effects Producer". The New York Times. August 6, 1986. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  5. Campbell, Mary (October 15, 1976). "Beethoven Arranger Having Ball". The News and Courier. p. 48.
  6. Itzkoff, Dave (November 4, 2007). "A Satirical Sit-Com's Memorable Music". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  7. ""A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy". Retrieved December 6, 2016 – via Superseventies.
  8. O'Connell, Hugh (May 12, 2012). "Video: Why don't the Defence Forces make recruitment ads like this any more?". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. December 27, 1976. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  10. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
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  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4340a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  15. "Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band – A Fifth Of Beethoven" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  16. "Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band – A Fifth Of Beethoven". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  17. "Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band – A Fifth Of Beethoven". VG-lista. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  18. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
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  24. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 9, 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012.
  25. "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. September 25, 1976. p. 25. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band – A Fifth Of Beethoven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 3, 2013. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band"
  27. "Top 200 Singles of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14 & 15. January 8, 1977. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  28. "End of Year Charts 1976". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  29. "Top 100 Hits for 1976". The Longbored Surfer. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  30. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
  31. "Hot 100 60th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  32. "Canadian single certifications – The Walter Murphy Band – A Fifth of Beethoven". Music Canada.
  33. "American single certifications – Murphy_ Walter and The Big Apple Band – A Fifth of Beethoven". Recording Industry Association of America.
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