Composed in 1962 by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert, “A Swingin’ Safari” marries light‑hearted big‑band swing with the penny‑whistle charm of South African kwela. On Kaempfert’s own Polydor recording—issued stateside by Decca—a bright piccolo stands in for the traditional tin whistle, while Manfred “Fred” Moch’s trumpet and Ladi Geisler’s trademark staccato bass supply buoyant counter‑melodies. Although Kaempfert’s version never cracked the U.S. charts, Billy Vaughn’s near‑simultaneous cover soared to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the Easy Listening Top 5, cementing the tune as an early‑sixties standard.
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That single became the centrepiece of an LP built around kwela‑inspired instrumentals. First released in the United States in August 1962 under the title That Happy Feeling, the album climbed to No. 14 within weeks. Later that autumn, European audiences received the record—now renamed A Swingin’ Safari—credited to “Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra.” Alongside the breezy title cut, the set features Kaempfert originals such as “Afrikaan Beat,” “Happy Trumpeter,” and “Tootie Flutie,” plus lively interpretations of “Similau,” “Zambesi,” “Wimoweh,” and the evergreen “Skokiaan.”
More than six decades on, “A Swingin’ Safari” still evokes sun‑bleached afternoons and carefree adventure—an irresistible slice of instrumental pop ripe for rediscovery. Download the track (and the full album) to experience Kaempfert’s timeless blend of orchestral polish and kwela sparkle.
Bert Kaempfert’s breezy 1962 instrumental “A Swingin’ Safari” captures the easy‑going charm of early‑sixties lounge pop. Tracked in Hamburg for Polydor and issued stateside via Decca, the tune swaps the usual tin whistle for a playful piccolo melody, glides over Ladi Geisler’s signature walking bass, and soars on Manfred “Fred” Moch’s bright trumpet break. While Kaempfert’s own version never cracked the U.S. charts, Billy Vaughn’s cover quickly climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Easy Listening tally, cementing the composition as an easy‑listening staple. Download “A Swingin’ Safari” today and let its carefree swing whisk you back to a sunnier era of instrumental pop.
Listen to “Bert Kaempfert – A Swingin’ Safari (Tamasha Records)” below;
Bert Kaempfert – A Swingin Safari DOWNLOAD MP3
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