1961: Joe Loss & His Orchestra – “Wheels Cha Ch.” (7" Record (45 Rpm)
There seems to be no video recordings or films of Joe Loss and his Orchestra but the best video around is this one. “Wheels” was another popular tune often played on the BBC Light Programme on Saturday mornings “Children’s Favourite” programme.
"Wheels" is the debut single by the String-A-Longs, issued in 1960. Their biggest hit single, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard. The track reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
The song has been covered by many artists, including charting versions by the Joe Loss Orchestra and Billy Vaughn Orchestra. Various other versions topped the charts in France (Marcel Amont), Belgium, the Netherlands (The Jumping Jewels) and West Germany (Billy Vaughn).
This music was used in the film “The Full Monty” which was released in the United Kingdom by Fox Searchlight Pictures on 29th August 1997. The British Film Institute ranked the film the 25th best British film of the 20th century. It was adapted into a musical in 2000 and a play in 2013. A follow-up TV series was released in 2023.
Gaz declares that their show will be much better than the Chippendales because they will go "the full monty"—strip all the way to the music of “Wheels Cha Cha.”
