"Clap for the Wolfman" is a song written by Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Kurt Winter performed by their band, the Guess Who. The song appeared on their 1974 album, Road Food. The song was ranked #84 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1974.
Background The song is an homage to Wolfman Jack, who is featured talking in his typical on-air DJ voice several times on the recording, including echoing Steve Miller's "pompatus of love" remark (misheard lyric of "the puppetutes of love" in The Medallions' 1954 song "The Letter") from his own contemporary hit "The Joker". Wolfman Jack performed the song with the Guess Who in The Midnight Special and even in some live dates with the group. On other occasions Burton Cummings would impersonate Wolfman Jack's voice.
Chart history It reached #4 in Canada and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.The Guess Who, "Clap for the Wolfman" Chart Positions Retrieved February 4, 2014 It also reached the top 20 in the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa.
Weekly charts Chart (1974)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)39Belgium 18Canada RPM Top Singles4Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)9Netherlands (Single Top 100)11South Africa (Springbok Radio)14US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 6US Cash Box Top 10010
Year-end charts Chart (1974)RankCanada65Netherlands91US Billboard Hot 100Musicoutfitters.com84US Cash Box94
References
External links Lyrics of this song