Noontime Nuggetz: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”
GIMME A HO! IF YOU GOT YOUR FUNKY BUS FARE! From Wikipedia:
“Double Dutch Bus” is a 1981 funk song by Frankie Smith, made famous for its extensive use of the “izz” infix form of slang. The song title represents a combination of two institutions in Smith’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania neighborhood: the double dutch game of jump rope played by neighborhood kids, and the SEPTA bus system that was a backbone of the local transportation network (and for which Smith had unsuccessfully applied for a bus driving position; the Transpass referred to in the song is an actual SEPTA pass).
Bip bop bam, ala-kazam: This is pretty much the best Noontime Nugget we’ve ever run. Ze zouble ze zutch.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I’ve gotta be honest, that bus creeps me out a little bit. Even prison buses have more windows and brighter paint jobs. Great tune though.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
i had the “pleasure” of watching Frankie perform this live way back – it was exhausting to say the least.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
and then snoop dog stole his “izz” style and made a billion dollars. fuck him. frankie smith forever!
November 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I LOVE this song; they used to play it at the skating rink when I was a kid and my mom had the record. I’ve got it on a cd in my car and occasionally will play it for friends that are kind of clueless. Yay, musical quirks!
November 11th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
The success of the song led to an IRS investigation of Frankie Smith, which in turn led to a huge Penn/Main Line cocaine bust:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125475/#comment
November 11th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Frankie has always come across as a sweet guy. It’s terrible how he was screwed so royally.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
when you post things like this and “shutuppayouface” i feel like we are cousins. you, me, and Dom Irrera.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
@ Timo
Yeah, great story. “City Confidential” did an episode based on the events that stemmed from this song. Ultimately, it lead to the bust of Larry Laven who was a main line dentist but moonlighted as a huge coke dealer in Philly. When the IRS came to collect money from Frankie, he had none. Paper trail lead to Larry and him embezzling money from the studio that recorded thsi album.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
it’s ‘dizzouble dizzutch’, people!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:53 am
@ Timo & @ ggliwa
Doctor Dealer by Inquirer alum Mark Bowden is a great read on all things Larry Lavin.