The Go-Go's (1960s)
Encyclopedia
The Go-Go's were a British
group
from Newcastle
. The group is known for their 1964 novelty
Christmas
single
, "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek".
The single tried to turn the sinister Daleks into another version of the Chipmunks, with singer
Sue Smith putting on a lisp
ing child-like voice
. Songwriter
and record producer
Les Vandyke
(working under the pseudonym
of Johnny Worth) was largely responsible for the track
. Other musicians were Mike Johnson, Alan Cairns, Abe Harris, Bill Davison and Les McLeian.
The song was originally released as one of the many products fueling Dalekmania
but as the craze fizzled out the song was largely forgotten, with snippets occasionally appearing in Doctor Who
anthological products. It resurfaced in its entirety on the October 2000 album, Who Is Dr Who
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. The group is known for their 1964 novelty
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek".
The single tried to turn the sinister Daleks into another version of the Chipmunks, with singer
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
Sue Smith putting on a lisp
Lisp
A lisp is a speech impediment, historically also known as sigmatism. Stereotypically, people with a lisp are unable to pronounce sibilants , and replace them with interdentals , though there are actually several kinds of lisp...
ing child-like voice
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
. Songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Les Vandyke
Les Vandyke
Les Vandyke was a popular music singer and later songwriter in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also known as Johnny Worth and John Worsley...
(working under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Johnny Worth) was largely responsible for the track
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. Other musicians were Mike Johnson, Alan Cairns, Abe Harris, Bill Davison and Les McLeian.
The song was originally released as one of the many products fueling Dalekmania
Dalekmania
Dalekmania is a 1995 direct-to-video documentary released in the United Kingdom. "Dalekmania" is the name given to the craze or "mania" among children in the United Kingdom in the 1960s for all things associated with writer Terry Nation's creations, the Daleks, who were then regularly appearing in...
but as the craze fizzled out the song was largely forgotten, with snippets occasionally appearing in Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
anthological products. It resurfaced in its entirety on the October 2000 album, Who Is Dr Who
Who is Dr Who
Who is Dr Who is a compilation of novelty singles relating to the BBC television series Doctor Who. Released in 2000, it features 18 tracks originally released between 1964 and 1973, including the show's theme tune, The Go Go's "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With a Dalek", and "Who's Who" by child...
.