Friday (6/7) marked the 107th birthday of Dean Martin, my favorite singer. He is known for his many hit records, his hit TV show, his celebrity roasts, his live performances, and his films. For many of his movies, the title song for the film was sung by Dean. Examples of this are Rio Bravo, Five Card Stud, and the featured song today – Who’s Got the Action?
The movie opened on Christmas Day in theaters. It is a comedy based on the novel Four Horse Players Are Missing by Alexander Rose about a man with a gambling problem.
I remember really liking this movie when I saw it the first time. I remember laughing a lot at some of the lines and the interactions between Dean and Eddie Albert. Lana Turner is great in this movie and as the story rolls on, the silliness of it is like something out of an episode of I Love Lucy.
Walter Matthau plays a mobster in it and watching him play a very stereotypical Italian mobster is comical to me. He was great.
As far as the title song, I don’t know much about it. It is perfect for the movie, though, as the lyrics compare women to racehorses. Dean’s character loves playing the horses and the race/horse references are plenty.
The song swings! The opening brass syncopation grabbed me the first time I heard it. Today, I will share two versions of the song. The original and the reimagined version that appeared on a Dean album of duets entitled Forever Cool. The latter is done with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The chart is basically the same, but “beefed up” and some harmonies added. I love that cut.
Give it a listen and tell me what you think…
With Big Bad Voodoo Daddy:
Who’s Got The Action?
Gal is like a racehorse, I play her to win
But if I should lose her, another may come in
Love can be like heaven, love can be a joke
But it’s worth a gamble so, hey, I go for broke
Who’s got the action?
Who’ll take a chance on love?
Who’s got a kiss for me?
Give me one and you’ll get back three
Who’s got the action?
Just say it on the line
I’ll bet you ten to one
You’ll be mine
Now once I had a Philly, I ain’t seen her since
Some can’t go the distance, they’re only good in sprints
Sweethearts stay together, when it’s fair and warm
But comes stormy weather, they don’t run to form
Who’s got the action?
Who’ll take a chance on love?
Who’s got a kiss for me?
Give me one and you’ll get back three
Who’s got the action?
Just say it on the line
I’ll bet you ten to one
You’ll be mine
They put on a long shot, I play either way
All I need is a winner and this could be the day
When I win my parlay, I’ll be set for life
I’ll take all that money and go find me a wife
Who’s got the action?
Who’ll take a chance on love?
Who’s got a kiss for me?
Give me one and you’ll get back three
Who’s got the action?
Just say it on the line
I’ll bet you ten to one, I’ll bet you ten to one
I’ll bet you ten to one, you’ll be mine
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
Always fun and and an underrated singer
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Listened to a lot of Dino over the years but this song doesn’t sound familiar. I like the first version better myself.
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