Han’s Worst Hits of the 70’s -today features “The Streak” by Ray Stevens. If you were alive back in 1974 and have a memory of that year you have to remember this song. It was played to death. I immediately think of a trip I took with my grandfather and two of my cousins. I was thirteen, my older cousin Manfred was 9 and his brother/ my cousin Otto was 4. It was probably a bad idea to take Otto. We would leave a motel and maybe be gone five miles down the road and when he saw another one with a swimming pool he’d want to stop there. Of course we didn’t but–I do remember many times when we would stop to eat at a restaurant on that trip down south- where my grandfather who was a real character- would get Otto to stand up on the table and start singing “The Streak”- which at the time was played constantly on the radio during our trip. Manfred and I were embarrassed each time Otto would go into his act and both of us would try to give our best ‘we aren’t with them’ look. Otto singing The Streak never failed to get everyone’s attention and the applause they gave him didn’t do anything but encourage him to sing it again the next meal. That is the #1 memory of that trip.
Ray Stevens was a country singer-songwriter and comedian. His biggest hit as a singer was “Everything Is Beautiful’ which went to #1 in 1970. He was more known as a comedian. I never thought he was funny but obviously some people did. Ahab The Arab, Harry The Hairy Ape, Gitarzan, Mississippi Squirrel Revival and Shriner’s Convention were some of his other ‘comedy’ hits- but The Streak was hit biggest capitalizing on the streaking craze of 1974. It was all over the radio and it wasn’t even funny the first time.
slicethelife 
Definitely remember this one!
Oh the people who would quote it everywhere. I was tired of it by the second time I heard it…sounds like a wonderful trip lol.
Oh, so the streaking came first then the song? Didn’t know that. Your trip tale is so endearing. You have to chuckle about it now 🙂 Ray Stevens and Jim Stafford were both vying for funniest songster I think. I don’t dislike it but neither do I like it that much.
I don’t know- are there many novelty songs now? Seems like the 70’s were full of them…Yes got to laugh about it now but at the time both my cousin and I were really annoyed with his brother. He claims he doesn’t remember it- which is possible. It wasn’t a bad trip except when we would stop to eat!
How could he not remember????
He was only 4. My cousin and I surely remember.
Thanks for sharing your memories of that road trip. It’s a great story, even though it may have been mortifying to live through as a kid.
It was as a teenager who didn’t want any attention- but you never knew what to expect when you were out with my grandfather- a great memory now.
That IS a nice memory, now, in retrospect. I remember The Streak and just ignoring it, more or less. I was a year younger than you–12. It was the last time I remember being happy.
Hi there. Slight deviation from the topic. Okay, BIG deviation! 🙂
I got a notification that you “liked” my comment, yet I don’t see any “like” button near where people comment.
Since WordPress is changing editors soon and God knows what havoc that will wreak, I figured I should at least try to straighten THIS mystery out right now. Sorry. And thanks.
See? Back when The Streak was happening and you were 13 and I was 12…didn’t have to deal with any of this crappola!! 🙂
I hated this stupid piece of crap! Bad music, bad lyrics, bad vocals. Ugh!