''TWEEDLE DEE TWEEDLE DUM'' - HIGHLAND POP CORRIDO

THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD were a Scottish pop group that scored a number of chart hits
across Europe in the beginning of the 70's.Their records were written and recorded in
Italy under the direction of producer GIACOMO TOSTI and the resulting latin tinged
EUROPOP sound fittted their name perfectly.Their debut 45 ''CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP
CHEEP'' {released in 1971} was an infectious slice of BUBBLEGUM POP and with the aid
of singer SALLY CARR's dolly bird image the group gained enough attention to reach the
NUMBER ONE spot in the UK and achieve further success on the continent.

The same year they enjoyed further euro wide success with a title that belied the
inventive nature of the composition: ''TWEEDLE DEE TWEEDLE DUM''.The number was based
on the CORRIDO BALLAD song tradition,a MEXICAN FOLK form that utilises a WALTZ
like rhythm to convey a story of rural frontier folk heroism.The form was enjoying a
fresh spell of popularity at this time and a number of NEO CORRIDO songs were recorded
by LOUNGE POP singers in Europe.Hits in the style included:


''THE YOUNG NEW MEXICAN PUPPETEER'' by TOM JONES
''I DID WHAT I DID FOR MARIA'' by TONY CHRISTIE
''TEN GUITARS'' by ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINK
and ''TAMPICO'' by HEINO

For the song in question writers WALLY STOTT and G & M CAPUANO cleverly referenced
the groups scottish origin in the lyrics and came up with a tale of INTER-CLAN WARFARE
that set it apart from the other EURO CORRIDO songs I mentioned.They also put an anti
war subtext into the lyrics and added a COUNTRY ROCK guitar riff and 4/4 BACKBEAT
that gave the song an extra kick.Producer TOSTI crafted the song around a couple of exuberant hand clapping PROTO DISCO breakdowns and the resulting disc was pure DENIM DISCO gold!


Do you recall some years ago ?
Up in the mountains that were white with snow
inside a cavern McDougal he was plannin'
there's gonna be a showdown with somebody he knows.

Well he's been there a year or so
something will happen very soon I know
I hear him playin' his bagpipes every mornin'
I think that it's a warmin'he's gathering the clan.

Soon you'll hear the sound of people shouting
you will see the claymores in their hands
if you knew the reason for their fighting
you would never understand.

Oh Tweedle Dee
Oh Tweedle Dum.
The tune McDougal always used to hum
While he was fightin' his rival clan McGregor
Dishonour he would never
the tartan of his clan.