Went to His TV show w/ my Dad & when THIS tune came out,I played it over & over till the Beatles came out & STILL Played It ! Johnny IS THEE West-Coast Jump & Rock`n Roll KING th@ is the REAL HISTORY Kid`s !
Johnny Otis produced and played vibes on "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace, one of the great 1950s recordings. Not many people lnow that he was behind that moster record. In my view, Leiber and Stoller took his name off of :"Hound Dog" because of the money involved. The Elvis version made so much money in royalties for Jerry and Mike. Moreover, the Elvis version was a new song and they were the principal songwriters so they felt justified in removing his name.
You can find the Peacock 78 on the web. On the label it says the songwriters of "Hounf Dog" are "J. Leiber-M. Stoller-J.Otis". The publisher is Lion Publishing which I believe is Otis' publisher. You can find the Peacock 78 all over the internet. It is red and is # 1612 from January, 1953. Otis produced and played drums on the track. He also co-wrote it.
Johnny Otis was an accomplished songwriter. "Hound Dog" originally had him as the co-writer. I guess Leiber and Stoller wanted all the money when Elvis recorded his version and removed Otis' name. The Elvis version is different, a totally new version of the song. But Otis was cheated here. His name was removed from one of the biggest songs in rock and roll history. Also, they backdated the removal so his name disappeared from the Big Mama version too. It is weird how that worked.
The beat that is being used is a clave, which is an Afro/Cuban rhythm. Which developed as a result of the slave trade in South America pre-dating U.S. slave trade,out of which came Blues another element in this song and the Bo Diddly beat.
The bottom line is Bo Diddley should have sued every time anyone used the music from "Bo Diddley". That is what copyright lawyers are for. The beat goes back way before Bo but in this context I think everyone knows that people are basing their songs on his music. I think Johnny Otis said that the beat he used predated Bo's, that it was an old beat that could not be copyrighted. But everyone recognizes the Bo Diddley beat. Bo should have sued. It is that simple.
@kingoma61 John Alexander Veliotes, son of Greek immigrants, changed his name to Johnny Otis (as it sounded more black) He made a choice to live his professional and personal life as a member of the African-American community. Otis was born in 1921, Bo in 1928. Guess Otis had some years on his hands before bo was born. Otis already had a hit in 1945, Harlem Nocturne. He discovered Big Jay MCNeeley, Etta James, produced the original recording of Hound Dog w/Big Mama written by, OMG, 2 white...
@bellgardens53 (cont)...Jewish youngsters Leiber&Stoller. As A&R man for King Rec. he discovered Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Willie John. Not to bad. Stole and being sued by Bo? My o my. Guess then Bo should sued Buddy Holly too, for "Not Fade Away". And dammit, drummer Earl Palmer should have sued 1000s of people as he is the musician that can be credited with defining rockn'roll as a rhytmic idiom distinct from the jump, R%B, and all else that preceded it. PLEASE ....
@bellgardens53 (cont) Palmer, Mr backbeat. PLEASE morenocarlos12, do you think you can post Otis "Mumblin' Mosie" (late '59) here? I can only find one pale version by Cliff Richard (live 1976) of all persons. That was a guy who knew how to snatch the rockin' goodies from US original artists. In music performers/musicians take things from here and there and the only one that get rich (or used to) was the record label owners, white & black. I met Bo in the 90's, a very nice person to chat with.
@bellgardens53 Fact is, Johnny Otis was "white", European-American, if you will, or "Caucasian". By not suing, Arc Music, Bo Diddley's publising company, in essence, conceded that the so-called beat was around before Bo Diddley and that they could not or would not sue. The issue was never litigated. "Hound Dog" originally was published as written by Johnny Otis, as well as Leiber and Stoller. They pulled a fast one on Otis and removed his name when Elvis recorded the song.
@kingoma61 He was born in US. Caucasian is a US "invention", never used here. People can have black complexion but be more white than white people or vice versa. There are stories of white people growing up in black culures and is counted by themselves and other black people as black, and vice versa. Okay no fuzz about that. Where have you got your info that Johnny Otis was co-writer of "Hound Dog"? I only know that Otis produced the song in August 1952, Radio Recorders on Santa Monica Boulevard
@bellgardens53 Sammy Davis, Jr and Michael Jackson come to mind. They wanted to be part of white culture and perceived themselves as white. If you look at the original 78 of "Hound Dog" from 1953, on the record label it says the songwriters are "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". This is how the song was published. Just look at the original record label of the Big Mama Thornton recording. Later, Leiber and Stoller took Otis' name off, arguing, I believe, that the new version was different than the original.
@kingoma61 cont...(in their book), Stoller "One morning I got a call from Johnny Otis...Big Mama needed a hit. Johnny invited us over to his garage... 'You have a song for her?' Johnny asked us during a break. 'We don't know,' said Jerry, 'but we will in a few minutes.'...So once Johnny gave us the word, we ran back to Mike's house on Norton...and knocked out a song in a matter of minutes" So if they are not true here it means they lie and/or cheat acccording to you. Maybe you are right.
@bellgardens53 Go and look at the Peacock record label for the 78 single that was released. "Hound Dog" was ORIGINALLY published as written by "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". This is how it appears on the record. Later, Leiber and Stoller took Otis' name off. They claimed that Otis just put his name on it. That they actually wrote the song. But it was published as "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". They changed the credit when Elvis recorded the song because the royalties would be massive. It is arguable though.
@kingoma61 I believe you about that Otis name was on the Peacock 78 single but Otis was no spring chicken. He was 12 years older than Leiber&Stoller and knew the business and surely much more experienced than them about recording stuff. In 1952 he negotiated a deal with the notorious Don Robey and to get off well with that man, one have to be tough and smart. I think Otis just made them put his name on the record as co-writer. Of course only Otis and Leiber&Stoller know the truth....
@kingoma61 (cont) As a side-track (from Eddie Cochran's nephew Bobby's book) in August 1959 Ed was scheduled to appear on Otis show broadcasted live. Ed's buddy Ronnie watched the entire program - and no Eddie. According to Ed, "I got down there and that S.O.B. started to jumpinng in my face...me being late for rehearsals" Later Otis had the habit of announcing that Ed would be appearing at the El Monte Legion Stadium without arranging any dates with Ed and Jerry (Capehart, Ed's manager)
@kingoma61 (cont) ..."Just to save face, Ed would play the unscheduled concerts. 'And then he had nerve to start cussing me because I was late for rehearsals?' Ed fumed to his friend. 'Who does he think he is?!' " haha. Okay, this is from a book by Bobby Cochran and Susan Van Hecke and I have not for the moment chance to check and re-check the truth. Never mind, good story.
We are talking about three different songs. "Hoochie Coochie Man" was written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. "I'm a Man" was a Bo Diddley song based on the Dixon song recorded in 1955. "Mannish Boy" was a different song released by Muddy Waters based on the two earlier songs, incorporating elements from both. Muddy liked what Bo did with his original song. But no question that Bo based his song "I'm a Man" on "Hoochie Coochie Man:".
I can't believe anyone on the planet does not know that "Hand Jive" is based on the Bo Diddley beat from 1955. Duh!!! This is so obvious that it is ridiculous. LOL It is absurd even. Listen to "Hey Little Girl" by Dee Clark. Listen to "Mickey's Monkey" by The Miracles. Listen to that song by the Supremes, the "Love Light". They are all rip offs of Bo Diddley. He did not get any credit or royalties from them. He was very influential to say the least. That is why he is a legend.
@kingoma61 And BO loved it. Even after all these years when you hear any of those songs you think of BO. My relationship with BO goes way back when I was IN RADIO BO was the very first recording star that I booked for one of my many record hops. TeenDanceLand Wellsville,Ohio 1958,, Many times after that. Bo was a great influence in the direction of my persona in radio. THEMOJOMAN*COM
@hollisterstudd13 You are right,,J.O. heard BO's sound and wrote this. Check the recording dates,,everything is here on the internet. I love J.O. and his thing BUT I'm honest about what's what. I was ON THE AIR playing these records during all those years. THEMOJOMAN*COM
@hollisterstudd13 Just check the recording dates. J.O. heard BO's songs and then wrote this,,that's the facts. READ ROCK HISTORY QUIT GUESSING. I was there all those years ON THE RADIO playing those records. THEMOJOMAN*COM
TOOK HIS 'CLUE" FROM "BO DIDDLEY",,,everybody wanted to be BO even Johnny Otis. Now don't get me wrong I love Johnny Otis but lets face it BO even had a song called WILLIE & LILLIE. Even John Fogerty took a clue from BO with WILLIE & THE POOR BOYS. nobody ever used WILLIE in a song until BO did.
@THEMOJOMANsince1959 Bo Diddley ripped off "I'm a Man" from "Hootchie Cootchie Man" by Muddy Waters. He stole the beat and even some of the words. And the Bo Diddley beat goes back a long way before Bo used it. Bo just developed his own version. Nothing new under the sun. And Johnny Otis got ripped off with "Hound Dog". A lot of people stole his ideas like Rufus Thomas for "Bear Cat". And his name was taken off the songwriting credit. "Mickey's Monkey" by Smokey is also a rip off of Bo.
@kingoma61 You should get your songs straight. I'm a Man AND Mannish Boy are the same not HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN. Read the writing credits under either Mannish Boy OR I'm a Man,,,SAME. Whose name was taken off MICKEY'S MONKEY??? Johnny or Bo ??
@kingoma61 LOOK UP I'm a Man on WIKIPEDIA. Read who is credited for writing it. Mannish Boy's writing credits are Waters some guy named MEL and Bo Diddley. It was written as a response to Bo's I'm a Man. Hell here we are argueing and they were all friends and performed together and knew each other well. Thanks
"Hound Dog", which Johnny Otis co-wrote, produced, and played drums on, was no. 1 for 7 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts in 1953. "Roll With Me Henry" which Otis co-wrote and produced, was no. 1 for 4 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart. "Pledging My Love" which Otis produces and played vibes on was no. 1 for 10 weeks on the R&B chart. "So Fine", which Otis wrote, was recorded by The Fiestas, who reached no. 3 on the R&B chart and no. 11 on the pop chart. This only scratches the surface.
The lead guitarist on "Wille and the Hand Jive" is Jimmy Nolen, who would join the James Brown band in 1965. With James Brown, Nolen developed the distinctive "chicken scratch" or "chank" sound that would become James Brown's trademark funk sound. Jimmy Nolen was with the Johnny Otis Show from 1957-1959. Johnny Otis wrote "Willie and the Hand Jive" an is on lead vocals. The single was released on Capitol Records in 1958. Eric Clapton recorded the song in the 1970s and it is cited in Grease.
@kingoma61 OOPS JOHNNY OTIS HEARD "BO" and then wrote WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE,,isn't that what you meant to say. I look up to JO and think he should've gotten more recognition than he has BUT lets give credit to wher credit is due.
Johnny Otis co-wrote, played the drums, and produced the original 1953 version of "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton, a no. 1 R&B smash, co-wrote and produced "Roll With Me Henry" for Etta James, wrote "Every Beat of My Heart" which was a no. 1 smash for Gladys Knight, wrote "So Fine" for the Fiestas in 1959, and produced and played the vibes on "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace, which was no. 1 for 10 weeks on the R&B charts in 1955. "Willie and the Hand Jive" hit no. 9 on the pop charts in 1958.
Sweet, I never heard the original, only Eric Clapton's cover from the mid 80's. Now I'm wondering if this is where the Bo Diddley sound came from. Thanks for posting.
Respect this (currently 88-year old) man NOW, because when he's gone, it'll signal the end of an era. Johnny Otis did things his way and never compromised his gifts, his integrity, his ear for others' talent or his natural love of Black culture. "Willie" is one of the most jumpin' interpolations of the Bo Diddley beat,yet it's only the tip of the iceberg. Find his incredible LP Cold Shot!,one of the best blues LP's ever released.And it only scratches the surface of the man's accomplishments.
"The old folks home"-I love that! We were young once upon a time. We called it "Shave and a hair cut-six bits" beat.
1958 was one of the great years for rock and roll. It took off like a mad bomber! Never stopped until we got tired, and Buddy Holly died! The music didn't die; it just stopped to mourn for a while.
Now this song can really take you back. Now when I was in elementary school they used to have parties specific months if it celebrated a holiday or a season. The Dj always used to play this along with the Grease Hand Jive all the time. He'd tell little kids who didn't know how to Hand Jive he had to teach them. Now parties don't play classics like this anymore. They play Lady GaGa, All American Rejects, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Marron 5 and retardation
@brucklay227 I've been looking for it since I've seen the scene with Tommy, and couldn't even figure out through the soundtrack. I found it while watching this infomercial about similar tunes like these haha well any great tune
i never said that Bo diddley wrote this..It does have the same type beat, but lots of songs do...i can understand that some people don't kbow, so they guess,,,but yes,Johhnt Otis wrote it, trying to dcecide, i like the Johnny Otis song better than the bo Diddley one
@eugenecraddock Know this,,,,Bo himself said EARLY ON that he was trying to play "I've got Spurs that Jingle and Jangle" by Gene Autry when he developed his signature Guitar Sound.
rip Johnny Otis!!
MrPklon 1 month ago
Went to His TV show w/ my Dad & when THIS tune came out,I played it over & over till the Beatles came out & STILL Played It ! Johnny IS THEE West-Coast Jump & Rock`n Roll KING th@ is the REAL HISTORY Kid`s !
dukeuke1 4 months ago
Johnny Otis produced and played vibes on "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace, one of the great 1950s recordings. Not many people lnow that he was behind that moster record. In my view, Leiber and Stoller took his name off of :"Hound Dog" because of the money involved. The Elvis version made so much money in royalties for Jerry and Mike. Moreover, the Elvis version was a new song and they were the principal songwriters so they felt justified in removing his name.
kingoma61 6 months ago
You can find the Peacock 78 on the web. On the label it says the songwriters of "Hounf Dog" are "J. Leiber-M. Stoller-J.Otis". The publisher is Lion Publishing which I believe is Otis' publisher. You can find the Peacock 78 all over the internet. It is red and is # 1612 from January, 1953. Otis produced and played drums on the track. He also co-wrote it.
kingoma61 6 months ago
Johnny Otis was an accomplished songwriter. "Hound Dog" originally had him as the co-writer. I guess Leiber and Stoller wanted all the money when Elvis recorded his version and removed Otis' name. The Elvis version is different, a totally new version of the song. But Otis was cheated here. His name was removed from one of the biggest songs in rock and roll history. Also, they backdated the removal so his name disappeared from the Big Mama version too. It is weird how that worked.
kingoma61 6 months ago
Great song! Besides the obvious arguments, it still is a Great song!
Quiett55 9 months ago
The beat that is being used is a clave, which is an Afro/Cuban rhythm. Which developed as a result of the slave trade in South America pre-dating U.S. slave trade,out of which came Blues another element in this song and the Bo Diddly beat.
56bluestone 1 year ago
The bottom line is Bo Diddley should have sued every time anyone used the music from "Bo Diddley". That is what copyright lawyers are for. The beat goes back way before Bo but in this context I think everyone knows that people are basing their songs on his music. I think Johnny Otis said that the beat he used predated Bo's, that it was an old beat that could not be copyrighted. But everyone recognizes the Bo Diddley beat. Bo should have sued. It is that simple.
kingoma61 1 year ago
@kingoma61 John Alexander Veliotes, son of Greek immigrants, changed his name to Johnny Otis (as it sounded more black) He made a choice to live his professional and personal life as a member of the African-American community. Otis was born in 1921, Bo in 1928. Guess Otis had some years on his hands before bo was born. Otis already had a hit in 1945, Harlem Nocturne. He discovered Big Jay MCNeeley, Etta James, produced the original recording of Hound Dog w/Big Mama written by, OMG, 2 white...
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@bellgardens53 (cont)...Jewish youngsters Leiber&Stoller. As A&R man for King Rec. he discovered Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Willie John. Not to bad. Stole and being sued by Bo? My o my. Guess then Bo should sued Buddy Holly too, for "Not Fade Away". And dammit, drummer Earl Palmer should have sued 1000s of people as he is the musician that can be credited with defining rockn'roll as a rhytmic idiom distinct from the jump, R%B, and all else that preceded it. PLEASE ....
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@bellgardens53 (cont) Palmer, Mr backbeat. PLEASE morenocarlos12, do you think you can post Otis "Mumblin' Mosie" (late '59) here? I can only find one pale version by Cliff Richard (live 1976) of all persons. That was a guy who knew how to snatch the rockin' goodies from US original artists. In music performers/musicians take things from here and there and the only one that get rich (or used to) was the record label owners, white & black. I met Bo in the 90's, a very nice person to chat with.
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@bellgardens53 Fact is, Johnny Otis was "white", European-American, if you will, or "Caucasian". By not suing, Arc Music, Bo Diddley's publising company, in essence, conceded that the so-called beat was around before Bo Diddley and that they could not or would not sue. The issue was never litigated. "Hound Dog" originally was published as written by Johnny Otis, as well as Leiber and Stoller. They pulled a fast one on Otis and removed his name when Elvis recorded the song.
kingoma61 6 months ago
@kingoma61 He was born in US. Caucasian is a US "invention", never used here. People can have black complexion but be more white than white people or vice versa. There are stories of white people growing up in black culures and is counted by themselves and other black people as black, and vice versa. Okay no fuzz about that. Where have you got your info that Johnny Otis was co-writer of "Hound Dog"? I only know that Otis produced the song in August 1952, Radio Recorders on Santa Monica Boulevard
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@bellgardens53 Sammy Davis, Jr and Michael Jackson come to mind. They wanted to be part of white culture and perceived themselves as white. If you look at the original 78 of "Hound Dog" from 1953, on the record label it says the songwriters are "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". This is how the song was published. Just look at the original record label of the Big Mama Thornton recording. Later, Leiber and Stoller took Otis' name off, arguing, I believe, that the new version was different than the original.
kingoma61 6 months ago
@kingoma61 cont...(in their book), Stoller "One morning I got a call from Johnny Otis...Big Mama needed a hit. Johnny invited us over to his garage... 'You have a song for her?' Johnny asked us during a break. 'We don't know,' said Jerry, 'but we will in a few minutes.'...So once Johnny gave us the word, we ran back to Mike's house on Norton...and knocked out a song in a matter of minutes" So if they are not true here it means they lie and/or cheat acccording to you. Maybe you are right.
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@bellgardens53 Go and look at the Peacock record label for the 78 single that was released. "Hound Dog" was ORIGINALLY published as written by "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". This is how it appears on the record. Later, Leiber and Stoller took Otis' name off. They claimed that Otis just put his name on it. That they actually wrote the song. But it was published as "Leiber-Stoller-Otis". They changed the credit when Elvis recorded the song because the royalties would be massive. It is arguable though.
kingoma61 6 months ago
@kingoma61 I believe you about that Otis name was on the Peacock 78 single but Otis was no spring chicken. He was 12 years older than Leiber&Stoller and knew the business and surely much more experienced than them about recording stuff. In 1952 he negotiated a deal with the notorious Don Robey and to get off well with that man, one have to be tough and smart. I think Otis just made them put his name on the record as co-writer. Of course only Otis and Leiber&Stoller know the truth....
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@kingoma61 (cont) As a side-track (from Eddie Cochran's nephew Bobby's book) in August 1959 Ed was scheduled to appear on Otis show broadcasted live. Ed's buddy Ronnie watched the entire program - and no Eddie. According to Ed, "I got down there and that S.O.B. started to jumpinng in my face...me being late for rehearsals" Later Otis had the habit of announcing that Ed would be appearing at the El Monte Legion Stadium without arranging any dates with Ed and Jerry (Capehart, Ed's manager)
bellgardens53 6 months ago
@kingoma61 (cont) ..."Just to save face, Ed would play the unscheduled concerts. 'And then he had nerve to start cussing me because I was late for rehearsals?' Ed fumed to his friend. 'Who does he think he is?!' " haha. Okay, this is from a book by Bobby Cochran and Susan Van Hecke and I have not for the moment chance to check and re-check the truth. Never mind, good story.
bellgardens53 6 months ago
We are talking about three different songs. "Hoochie Coochie Man" was written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. "I'm a Man" was a Bo Diddley song based on the Dixon song recorded in 1955. "Mannish Boy" was a different song released by Muddy Waters based on the two earlier songs, incorporating elements from both. Muddy liked what Bo did with his original song. But no question that Bo based his song "I'm a Man" on "Hoochie Coochie Man:".
kingoma61 1 year ago
I can't believe anyone on the planet does not know that "Hand Jive" is based on the Bo Diddley beat from 1955. Duh!!! This is so obvious that it is ridiculous. LOL It is absurd even. Listen to "Hey Little Girl" by Dee Clark. Listen to "Mickey's Monkey" by The Miracles. Listen to that song by the Supremes, the "Love Light". They are all rip offs of Bo Diddley. He did not get any credit or royalties from them. He was very influential to say the least. That is why he is a legend.
kingoma61 1 year ago
@kingoma61 And BO loved it. Even after all these years when you hear any of those songs you think of BO. My relationship with BO goes way back when I was IN RADIO BO was the very first recording star that I booked for one of my many record hops. TeenDanceLand Wellsville,Ohio 1958,, Many times after that. Bo was a great influence in the direction of my persona in radio. THEMOJOMAN*COM
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
@kingoma61 RIGHT ON !!!
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
@hollisterstudd13 You are right,,J.O. heard BO's sound and wrote this. Check the recording dates,,everything is here on the internet. I love J.O. and his thing BUT I'm honest about what's what. I was ON THE AIR playing these records during all those years. THEMOJOMAN*COM
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
@hollisterstudd13 Just check the recording dates. J.O. heard BO's songs and then wrote this,,that's the facts. READ ROCK HISTORY QUIT GUESSING. I was there all those years ON THE RADIO playing those records. THEMOJOMAN*COM
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
TOOK HIS 'CLUE" FROM "BO DIDDLEY",,,everybody wanted to be BO even Johnny Otis. Now don't get me wrong I love Johnny Otis but lets face it BO even had a song called WILLIE & LILLIE. Even John Fogerty took a clue from BO with WILLIE & THE POOR BOYS. nobody ever used WILLIE in a song until BO did.
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
@THEMOJOMANsince1959 Bo Diddley ripped off "I'm a Man" from "Hootchie Cootchie Man" by Muddy Waters. He stole the beat and even some of the words. And the Bo Diddley beat goes back a long way before Bo used it. Bo just developed his own version. Nothing new under the sun. And Johnny Otis got ripped off with "Hound Dog". A lot of people stole his ideas like Rufus Thomas for "Bear Cat". And his name was taken off the songwriting credit. "Mickey's Monkey" by Smokey is also a rip off of Bo.
kingoma61 1 year ago
@kingoma61 You should get your songs straight. I'm a Man AND Mannish Boy are the same not HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN. Read the writing credits under either Mannish Boy OR I'm a Man,,,SAME. Whose name was taken off MICKEY'S MONKEY??? Johnny or Bo ??
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
@kingoma61 LOOK UP I'm a Man on WIKIPEDIA. Read who is credited for writing it. Mannish Boy's writing credits are Waters some guy named MEL and Bo Diddley. It was written as a response to Bo's I'm a Man. Hell here we are argueing and they were all friends and performed together and knew each other well. Thanks
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
This has to be the best version! always loved it's catchy little tune.
airielle4 1 year ago
Better than the newer version that's on my iPod
7isunlucky 1 year ago
I loved listening to him do his live show on KPFA.
byronrush1 1 year ago
Awesome song.
stoprejectingmynames 1 year ago
"Hound Dog", which Johnny Otis co-wrote, produced, and played drums on, was no. 1 for 7 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts in 1953. "Roll With Me Henry" which Otis co-wrote and produced, was no. 1 for 4 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart. "Pledging My Love" which Otis produces and played vibes on was no. 1 for 10 weeks on the R&B chart. "So Fine", which Otis wrote, was recorded by The Fiestas, who reached no. 3 on the R&B chart and no. 11 on the pop chart. This only scratches the surface.
kingoma61 1 year ago
The lead guitarist on "Wille and the Hand Jive" is Jimmy Nolen, who would join the James Brown band in 1965. With James Brown, Nolen developed the distinctive "chicken scratch" or "chank" sound that would become James Brown's trademark funk sound. Jimmy Nolen was with the Johnny Otis Show from 1957-1959. Johnny Otis wrote "Willie and the Hand Jive" an is on lead vocals. The single was released on Capitol Records in 1958. Eric Clapton recorded the song in the 1970s and it is cited in Grease.
kingoma61 1 year ago
@kingoma61 Love to know this old history.
airielle4 1 year ago
@kingoma61 OOPS JOHNNY OTIS HEARD "BO" and then wrote WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE,,isn't that what you meant to say. I look up to JO and think he should've gotten more recognition than he has BUT lets give credit to wher credit is due.
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
Johnny Otis co-wrote, played the drums, and produced the original 1953 version of "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton, a no. 1 R&B smash, co-wrote and produced "Roll With Me Henry" for Etta James, wrote "Every Beat of My Heart" which was a no. 1 smash for Gladys Knight, wrote "So Fine" for the Fiestas in 1959, and produced and played the vibes on "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace, which was no. 1 for 10 weeks on the R&B charts in 1955. "Willie and the Hand Jive" hit no. 9 on the pop charts in 1958.
kingoma61 1 year ago
If you replace the lyrics of "hand jive" with "handjob," it's hilarious!!
packerfanforlife 1 year ago
Sweet, I never heard the original, only Eric Clapton's cover from the mid 80's. Now I'm wondering if this is where the Bo Diddley sound came from. Thanks for posting.
Trapar137 1 year ago
@Trapar137 NO "BO was on that sound long before W&HJ . J.O. heard BO doin his thing and then he wrote W&HJ. Check the dates on the recordings.
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
Respect this (currently 88-year old) man NOW, because when he's gone, it'll signal the end of an era. Johnny Otis did things his way and never compromised his gifts, his integrity, his ear for others' talent or his natural love of Black culture. "Willie" is one of the most jumpin' interpolations of the Bo Diddley beat,yet it's only the tip of the iceberg. Find his incredible LP Cold Shot!,one of the best blues LP's ever released.And it only scratches the surface of the man's accomplishments.
MrJamesrnolan 2 years ago 2
"The old folks home"-I love that! We were young once upon a time. We called it "Shave and a hair cut-six bits" beat.
1958 was one of the great years for rock and roll. It took off like a mad bomber! Never stopped until we got tired, and Buddy Holly died! The music didn't die; it just stopped to mourn for a while.
Then we rockers took off again! Rock on, Daddio!
6hojoe6 2 years ago
Did Wayne Bennett play the guitar on the studio version? Bennett never gets the credit he deserved!
jleoblues 2 years ago
Good rhythm', good voice and for that time good recording. Otis was his time forward
Jerry Lee King
1944Floppy 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
hahah it sounds like hes saying handj** instead of handjive
insaninater 2 years ago
yeah i agree thanks for postin this
futuremrsrupertgrint 2 years ago 2
An UBER-MEGA-ULTRA ALL-TIME RAVE-FAVE o'mine!!
Thanx fer it, m8..
BadNews88 2 years ago 2
Thanks for posting the original!
juslookin3 2 years ago 8
Now this song can really take you back. Now when I was in elementary school they used to have parties specific months if it celebrated a holiday or a season. The Dj always used to play this along with the Grease Hand Jive all the time. He'd tell little kids who didn't know how to Hand Jive he had to teach them. Now parties don't play classics like this anymore. They play Lady GaGa, All American Rejects, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Marron 5 and retardation
jazzalex22 2 years ago 2
The song is playing too slow...
cmf1965 2 years ago
You're likely not used to hearing the original version which this is.
JamesA46 2 years ago 2
Plays on Shawshank Redemption. Great movie
brucklay227 2 years ago 10
yeah i totally agree, Shawshank Redemption was a really really great movie
futuremrsrupertgrint 2 years ago 2
@brucklay227 I've been looking for it since I've seen the scene with Tommy, and couldn't even figure out through the soundtrack. I found it while watching this infomercial about similar tunes like these haha well any great tune
mikeyzemaniac11 1 year ago
@brucklay227 Yes it was.
airielle4 1 year ago
The beat is the same as a song by Bo Diddly called "Bo Diddly".
waynothewizard 2 years ago
i heard this song a billion times when i worked at the old folks home
Prouductions 2 years ago
it's still good. ;-)
busybody2012 2 years ago
@Prouductions AND I'LL BET you like LETTERMAN & JON STEWART & COLBERT. people like you usually do SMARTASS
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
One of the greatest rock songs ever!
aldiboronti 2 years ago
i never said that Bo diddley wrote this..It does have the same type beat, but lots of songs do...i can understand that some people don't kbow, so they guess,,,but yes,Johhnt Otis wrote it, trying to dcecide, i like the Johnny Otis song better than the bo Diddley one
hah13 3 years ago
just a jungle beat
eugenecraddock 2 years ago
what does that mean?
hah13 2 years ago
the jungle beat is used by Bo Diddley
eugenecraddock 2 years ago
@eugenecraddock Know this,,,,Bo himself said EARLY ON that he was trying to play "I've got Spurs that Jingle and Jangle" by Gene Autry when he developed his signature Guitar Sound.
THEMOJOMANsince1959 1 year ago
i didn'y know that's what you call it
hah13 2 years ago
Anyone know who his guitarist is?
garymb350 3 years ago
The guitarist is Jimmy Nolen. He went on to be James Brown's guitarist and made history as the originator of funk guitar.
tomthefunky 2 years ago
great song
hah13 3 years ago
Thank you!
I have the exact same original studio recording too
jimmorrisondiva 3 years ago
That's the best! He's more in tune on the studio version.
love it love it love it.
busybody2012 3 years ago
great Bo Diddly sound one of my favorites
hah13 3 years ago