Official audio for the Hot Shots' 1973 hit reggae version of the Royal Guardsmen's pop smash.
Inspired by the Charles Schulz comic strip, ‘Peanuts’ and the exploits of WWI ace German flyer, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, ‘Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron’ was first recorded in 1966 by US pop group the Royal Guardsmen, whose version peaked at Number 2 on the country’s Hot 100 at the close of the that year.
Several cover versions ensued over the following years, but by far the most successful was the reggae cut by the Hot Shots – a studio-created group featuring lead singer Brian Bennett backed by leading British Afro-Caribbean band, the Cimarons.
Following the success of the single, a similarly-styled LP swiftly ensued, after which the group recorded further reggae material, prior to a UK-based pop group entitled Wild Country (later becoming Albatross) briefly assuming the Hot Shots name.
Produced by former Island-Trojan salesman, Clive Crawley, ‘Snoopy’ was originally released on B&C’s Mooncrest label in May 1973, entering the UK charts early the following month and peaking at Number 4 on 14 July.
After the turn of the century
In the clear blue skies over Germany
Came a roaring and a thundering like you never heard
Like the screaming sound of a big war bird
Up in the sky, a man in a plane
Baron von Richthofen was his name
Eighty men tried and eighty men died
Now they're buried together on the country side
Ten, Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more
The bloody Red Baron was running up the score
Eighty men died trying to end that spree
Of the bloody Red Baron of Germany
In the nick of time, a hero arose
A funny looking dog with a big black nose
He flew into the sky to seek revenge
But the Baron shot him down,\"Curses, foiled again!\"
Ten, Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more
The bloody Red Baron was running up the score
Eighty men died trying to end that spree
Of the bloody Red Baron of Germany
But Snoopy swore he'd get that man
So he had to think promptly of a new battle plan
He challenged the German to a real dog fight
And while the Baron was laughing he got him in his sights
That bloody Red Baron was in a fix
He tried everything, but he'd run out of tricks
Snoopy fired once and he fired twice
And that bloody Red Baron was spinning out of sight
Ten, Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more
The bloody Red Baron was running up the score
Eighty men died trying to end that spree
Of the bloody Red Baron of Germany
Ten, Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more
The bloody Red Baron was running up the score
Eighty men died trying to end that spree
Of the bloody Red Baron of Germany
