The Olympics - Baby Do The Philly Dog

And yet another legendary Northern Soul smash, that we filmed for "The Strange World Of Northern Soul". This is The Olympics, singing their absolute Northern Soul anthem, "Baby Do The Philly Dog". This was first recorded in 1967 and we recut it in 1998 when we were filming our marathon six disc, twenty four hour massive documentary about the entire history of the Northern Soul scene, which contained 131 specially recorded performances of all the classics, and is still available on a six disc box set from Wienerworld. The Olympics were a doo-wop group formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward. The group included Eddie Lewis (tenor), Charles Fizer (tenor), Walter Hammond (baritone) and Melvin King (bass) and except for Lewis were friends in a Los Angeles high school. They recorded "Western Movies" (Demon Records) in the summer of 1958. Co-written by Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, "Western Movies" made it to #8 on the Billboard chart. The song reflected the nation's preoccupation with western themed movies and television programs. It told the story of a man who lost his girl to TV westerns, and it included doo-wop harmonies as well as background gunshots and richochet effect. In 1960 the group recorded "(Baby) Hully Gully," which initiated the hully gully dance craze. "Big Boy Pete," which the group also released in 1960, served as inspiration for The Kingsmen's "Jolly Green Giant." The Rascals later covered their song "Good Lovin'" and took all the way to #1. Over the next 10 years The Olympics recorded upbeat R&B songs, often about dances popular at the time. Fizer was shot and killed during the Watts Riots in 1965. Shortly thereafter, King left the group after his sister died in an accidental shooting. A revamped group continued to record into the early 1970s, but were unable to attain popular chart success after the mid 1960s. The Olympics continued to perform on the "oldies group" circuit in the United States and other countries. In 1998, after much searching, we tracked down the Olympics to make this one and only one-time performance especially for us, for our ground breaking Encyclopedia Britannica of Northern Soul, and I am so glad that we did. Especially as lead singer Walter Ward passed away since.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Male-Soul-Groups
• Sixties
• Classic
• Soul
• Mirwood
• Male-Soul
• Uptempo

[lharrell22]

Are there any other songs that use a xylophone to open?

[IanLevine]

Er - just a few Northern Soul classics. MORE than a few.

[Gerri000]

Just plain.........AWESOME ! Thanks for sharing.

[SOULXCHANGE]

Groovettes- Think it over baby..

[jjaniero]

it's because the r&r hall of fame is totally commercial and the board of directors contains too many business heads who know nothing about music

[lharrell22]

Someone with connections and some authority needs to get these guys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[lharrell22]

The Olympics belong in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. How can Wanda Jackson be an inductee but not the Olympics?

[allwayssoul]

Danced my heart out to this many moons ago, love it like i love food!!!! Many thanks for posting it xx

[dturner256]

hi from youngstown ohio,,, tony