Jolly Green Giant

Album: Kingsmen, Vol. 3 (1965)
Charted: 4
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is based on a jingle used in Green Giant vegetable commercials. It starts with "In the valley of the Jolly... (ho, ho, ho)..."
  • Libby Foods, owners of Green Giant, wasn't too sure what to make of the song. The West Coast office sent the group boxes of vegetables to give away at concerts, the East Coast office sued the Kingsmen for "defamation."
  • This has different lyrics, but uses the same melody as The Olympics' 1960 song, "Big Boy Pete," which was a favorite of the Kingsmen. They often performed it in concert.
  • The group claimed to have recorded over 800 songs, including both "Big Boy Pete" and "Jolly Green Giant." The latter song was recorded as a joke, the group never expected it to be released. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 4

Comments: 8

  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaHe couldn't get Sally so went back to his valley, the cat was colored blind. Always made me laugh.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyJack Ely of the Kingsmen died on April 27th, 2015 at 71. May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 3rd 1965 the Kingsmen performed "The Jolly Green Giant" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!' (see post below)...
    And on the same 'Shindig!' show they also sang "Little Latin Lupe Lu"; it reached #46 on the Top 100 and stayed on the for 9 weeks...
    R.I.P. Jimmy O'Neill (Shindig's host, 1940 - 2013).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 3rd, 1965 "The Jolly Green Giant" by the Kingsmen entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on April 30th it peaked at #4 (for 1 week) and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    Elmer 'Len' Dresslar Jr., the voice-over actor who provided the 'Ho, Ho, Ho' for the Green Giant Vegetable commercials also had a record that made the Top 100...
    On February 12th, 1956 he entered the Top 100 with *"Chain Gang" for a one week stay, peaking at position #67...
    Mr. Dresslar passed away on October 16th, 2005 at the age of 80...
    * Mr. Dresslar's "Chain Gang" was not a cover of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang", it was a completely different song (its available of You Tube).
  • Charles Hollingswort from Leeds, AlThis song was also recorded by The New Christy Minstrels.
  • Dave from Des Moines, IaThe grocery list between stanzas is an interesting addition: potatoes...broccoli, artichokes, etc
  • Fred from Laurel, MdStefanie, I heard it when it was current, and you're right--it was a hoot--back then. Sorta similar to things the Coasters had done. But it's kinda quaint now.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScHaven't heard this one, but it is supposedly really funny.
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