"The Horse" is an American instrumental song by Cliff Nobles and Company. It was released as the B-side of the single "Love is All Right," and is simply an instrumental version of that song. "The Horse" made an improbable trip up the pop music charts, peaking at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1968, as well as #2 on the Black Singles chart. The song missed the top spot on the Hot 100 because of the success of Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love With You" on the week of June 29, 1968.
"The Horse" sold a million copies within three months of release, and attained the gold record award from the Recording Industry Association of America in August 1968. Ironically, even though Nobles is the title artist, he does not personally perform on the track. "The Horse" was simply "Love is All Right" without his vocal track. The horn section which is featured eventually became the group MFSB.
Four decades after its release, the song continues to be a staple of American marching bands and pep bands, and is often heard at American football and basketball games. The arrangement of The Horse for marching band is credited to a Jesse James.
Famous quotes containing the word horse:
“Later you hear it wander the dark house
Like a mother who rises at night to seek a childhood picture;
Or it goes to the backyard and stands like an old horse cold in the
pasture.”
—Robert Penn Warren (1905–1989)