<P> The tune was written by Greenaway and Cook and was originally titled "Too Much Birdseed". It was recorded as a single for Deram Records by record producer Noel Walker, using studio musicians together with the Mike Sammes Singers . The whistling on the record was, according to most sources, by John O'Neill, a trumpeter and singer with the Mike Sammes Singers who was also known for his whistling skills, though other sources credit Noel Walker himself . The song is noted for its false ending, where after the song ends its last chorus, a male voice shouts "Oi" (on the album version) and "Hey" (on the single version); the tune starts up again with the repeated chorus, and soon fades out . </P> <P> Credited to Whistling Jack Smith, the record rose up the UK singles chart . When it was featured on Top of the Pops, actor Coby Wells was used to mime the whistling, and later toured as the public face of Whistling Jack Smith . (Wells' real name was Billy Moeller; he was born in 1946 and was a brother of Tommy Moeller, lead vocalist, guitarist, and pianist with Unit 4 + 2). The recording reached #5 on the UK singles chart in 1967, staying in the chart for 12 weeks, and peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. (The tune's hit status in America may have been due to the popularity of another Batman). </P> <P> Pat Boone did a whistling version of the song in 1967 . A vocal version of the song, as "Ich war der Putzer vom Kaiser", was recorded in German by Die Travellers, in the late 1960s . The German lyrics were credited to Fred Oldörp, a member of the group . The lyrics concern the batman, or Putzer ("cleaner") of the Kaiser, who evades combat because of his position . It has been suggested that the words derive from a First World War marching song, but this is unconfirmed . </P>

Who sang i was kaiser bill's batman