"Kinky Boots" is a song written by Herbert Kretzmer and David Lee for an episode of the television programme That Was The Week That Was in 1963, and subsequently recorded in 1964 by Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman, stars of another television series, The Avengers.

"Kinky Boots"
Cover of the CD reissue (1990)
Single by Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman
ReleasedFebruary 1964
GenreBeat
Length1:37
LabelDecca Records
Songwriter(s)Herbert Kretzmer, David Lee

Background

The song was commissioned by Ned Sherrin for the satirical television series That Was the Week That Was and used in a sequence featuring the titular footwear, which were then fashionable, and performed by Millicent Martin on the show's November 2 1963 episode. The recording by Macnee and Blackman was released by Decca in February 1964.

The song was not initially a hit, but one re-release of 1990 reached the top ten of the British Singles Chart in December of that year, after the song was promoted by BBC Radio One DJ Simon Mayo.[1]

The single peaked at No.5 (on Deram records label KINKY 1) and remained on the chart for seven weeks.[2] Prior to this, in 1977, it was placed at No.22 in the "Bottom 30" of Kenny Everett's World's Worst Wireless Show.[3] The song is quite short: just one minute and thirty seven seconds long.

Critical reception

Upon the 1990 re-release, Jon Wilde from Melody Maker recalled that "When first released in 1964, this record caused questions to be raised in the Commons and a national controversy was only averted when PM Harold Wilson went on record as saying that he dreamed nightly about Honor "Cathy Gale" Blackman's sexy leather outfits and slick judo moves in The Avengers, along with the normal things like goldfish and skeletons. An inspired reissue then for this magnificent high camp curiosity. Few things in life charm quite like Patrick "John Steed" MacNee's dandified enthusiasm for "frumpy little beat girls" and "sexy little schoolgirls". His matter-of-fact delivery of the line "Leather is so kinky" remains one of the great landmarks in pop history."[4]

Track listing

CD Single Reissue (1990)[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kinky Boots" (Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman)Lee/Kretzmer1:40
2."Let's Keep It Friendly" (Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman)Lee/Kretzmer2:23
3."I Wish I Never Loved You" (Honor Blackman)Raymonde/Hawker3:03
4."Men Will Deceive You" (Honor Blackman)Stellman/Gainsbourg2:28

References

  1. ↑ Chapman, James (2002). Saints and Avengers: British Adventure Series of the 1960s. I.B.Tauris. p. 253. ISBN 9781860647543. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Official Charts Company - "Kinky Boots" UK Chart details
  3. ↑ "Kenny Everett's World's Worst Wireless Show :: Show #4". Feb 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Wilde, Jon (24 November 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Kinky Boots (sleeve notes). Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman. Deram. 1990. KINCD1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)



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