"La Cucaracha" (Spanish: "The Cockroach") is a traditional Spanish folk corrido that became popular in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.
Here below is a contemporary corrido song sheet of La cucaracha issued during the Mexican Revolution.
Note the original lyrics and the reference to cartoncitos, which were a type of scrip issued as pay.
Click on the link below and click again to get a bigger picture:
In 1927 "La Cucacracha" was also published in Carl Sandburg's "American Songbag"
Probably the first recording:
(c) Banda Española (1913) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded around 1913 in New York
Matrix 21767
Released on Columbia C2823
Listen here:
(c) Conway's Band (or Banda Conway) (1917) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded July 2, 1917 (instrumental)
Released on Victor 69556
Matrix B 20354
(c) Amelia Aviles, Maria Garcia, Jose Chaques and Carlos Villarias (1918)
(as "La Cucaracha")
Acoompanied by the Orquesta Xochiquetzal.
Recorded December 1917 in New York.
Released on Columbia C3152
Mentioned in the newspaper El Paso Morning Times (El Paso, Tex.),
Vol. 38TH YEAR, Ed. 1, Friday, February 22, 1918
(c) Trio Gonzalez (1920) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded February 3, 1920 in New York
Released on Victor 72598
(c) Claudio García Cabrera (1920) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded in 1920 in New York.
Released on Pathé 6587
(c) Salvador Y Consuelo Quiroz (1928) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded December 1928 in San Antonio, Texas
Released on Columbia 3519-X
Listen here:
(c) Grupo Azteca (1930) (as "La Cucaracha Americana")
J. Benigno Diaz (vocalist) / José Hernandez Gomez (vocalist : baritone vocal)
Recorded March 31, 1930 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 46847
Listen here:
(c) Dúo Acuna (1930) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded June 12, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas
Released on Okeh 16726
Listen here:
(c) Paz Flores and Francisco Montalvo (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded April 2, 1934 in the Texas Hotel in San Antonio.
Released on Bluebird B-2222
Listen here:
Previous recording was also released on Victor 32141 (as by Grupo Nacional)
(c) Trio Bohemio con Guitarras (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Listen here
The song was featured in the movie "Viva Villa", released April 10, 1934
Watch it here:
Harold Spina adapted the Mexican song "La Cucaracha" from that Viva Villa movie and turned it from a 6/8-meter song to 4/4. It became a worldwide hit with his treatment. Lyrics were by Johnny Burke. They used the name JUAN Y D'LORAH on the published song, "Juan" being Johnny Burke, and "d'lorah" being Harold spelled backwards
(c) Orquesta Pajaro Azul (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded August 11, 1934
Released on Montgomery Ward 4864
Also released on Bluebird B 5602 (as by Mexican Bluebird Orchestra)
Listen here:
Or here:
The song was also featured in the short-film "La Cucaracha", released August 31, 1934
La Cucaracha is a modestly entertaining two-reeler concerning the antics of a jealous Mexican cantina girl (Steffi Duna) in love with a stuck-up dancer (Don Alvarado). Steffi tries to sabotage his efforts to land an important dancing engagement in Mexico City, so that she won't be left alone. First, she sabotages a salad being prepared for an important theatrical impresario (Paul Porcasi). When this plan fails, she throws Alvarado off his dance by loudly singing the film's title song. All ends happily of course, as two-reelers of the time often did.
You can watch the movie here:
(c) Castilian Troubadours (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
The Castilian Troubadours is a pseudonym for Terig Tucci
Recorded August 20, 1934
Matrix 15702
Released on Brunswick 6961
Listen here:
This was also released in 1941 on Columbia 35987
On the same day the same orchestra recorded another take (matrix 15707), which was released on various labels.
(c) The Royal Castilians (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
The Royal Castilians is a pseudonym for Terig Tucci
Recorded August 20, 1934
Matrix 15707
Released on Perfect 15977
Also released on Melotone M-13111
Listen here:
And also released on Oriole 2951 and Banner 33144
(c) The Castilians (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
The Castilians is a pseudonym for the Louis Katzman Orchestra
Recorded August 21, 1934 in New York
Released on Decca 110
78 RPM - The Castilians - La Cucaracha (The Mexican Cockroach Song) / Inca Tango - Decca - USA - 110
(c) Pan-American Marimba Band (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Juan Arvizu: vocals
Recorded August 30, 1934 in New York
Released on Victor 24718
Listen here:
(c) Lud Gluskin (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Vocals: Chiquito
Recorded September 13, 1934
Matrix CD-W-15891
Released on Columbia 2952-D
Listen here: LudGluskinOrch.-LaCucaracha.mp3
(c) Orquesta Tipica Roberto Firpo (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Vocals: Carlos Varela
Recorded October 19, 1934 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Matrix C 7858
Released on Odeon 3067 in Argentina and on Odeon OT 142 in England
Listen here:
(c) Billy Cotton (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded September 21, 1934 in London
Released on Regal Zonophone MR-1451
Listen here:
(c) Ambrose (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Vocals: Sam Browne
Recorded October 24, 1934 in London
Released on Decca F-5283
Listen here: LA CUCARACHA - AMBROSE And His Orchestra.mp3
(c) Harry Roy and his Orchestra (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded November 13, 1934 in London
Released on Parlophone R-1979
(c) Joe Loss and his Kit-Cat Band (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded November 1934 in London
Released on Octacros 1106 and on Edison Bell Record W.1025
Listen here:
(c) London Piano-Accordeon Band (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
(under the direction of George Scott-Wood)
Recorded November 28, 1934
Released on Regal Zonophone MR-1516
(c) Francisco J. Lomuto y su Orquesta Tipica (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded December 2, 1934 in Buenos Aires
matriz 86725
Released on Victor 37702
Listen here:
(c) Geraldo and his Orchestra (1934) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded December 8, 1934 in London
Released on Columbia CB-819
Listen here:
(c) Cuban Havana Dance Band (1935) (as "La Cucaracha")
(= Jay Wilbur and his Orchestra)
Vocals: Sam Browne
Recorded December 31, 1934 in London
Released on Rex 8380
SEE: Rex Discography
Listen here:
(c) Alina de Silva (1935) (as "La Cucaracha")
Released on Disque Gramophone K-7397
Download here: MP3
Or here:
(c) Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra (1935) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded October 3, 1935 in New York
Matrix: 60023=E
Released on Decca 580
Or here:
(c) Mantovani (1941) (as "La Cucaracha")
Recorded March 13, 1941
Released on Decca F 7823
(c) Luis B. Hijar y su Orquesta (1940's) (as "La Cucaracha")
Matrix: DI-749
Released on Mexican Imperial 452
(c) Bill Haley and his Comets (1957) (as "Rockin' Rita")
Listen here:
(c) The Skatalites (1964) (as "Ska-Racha")
Recorded in 1964 in Vincent "Randy" Chin's Federal recording studios.
Released on Randy's Records.
Re-released in 2007
Listen here:
More versions here:
"La Cucaracha" also become a very popular verse played on car horns.
And Speedy Gonzales also sang the song in one of his cartoons:
