Darl 1002 - Barbie Gaye - My Boy Lollipop

The original version recorded and released around 1957. The U.S. Darl label looks like this but is black with silver lettering. This is a Jamaican bootleg, pressed (allegedly) by Studio One, by the look and feel of it on old tyres. I picked up some copies of this decades ago in a trade involving some spares I had of the original version of 'Riding West' by Billy Hope on Savoy with George (now deceased) of Peckings (the well-known record shop and Studio One distributor) in Askew Road, Shepherds Bush. Nope! I only have my own copy left.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rhythm
• and
• blues
• ska
• rock
• steady
• roll
• Barbie
• Gaye
• My
• Boy
• Lollipop

[fattyfurlong]

i got my copy from rob  AT THE HOP fulham broadway 1979 two pound fifty sold it and rebought it from terry RIP AT SPINNING DISC CHISWICK 5 years later in bargin bin for 50p the same copy! it had to be mine my no1 tune.....cheers

[EagerBoy59]

I knew and visited both emporia. I didn't know Terry had passed on. I would guess Rob Finnis of At The Hop is still with us. Given that both shops aren't too far from Peckings, I guess that it originally came from there.

[EagerBoy59]

Yes, she does. You're right.

[TommyKarate]

@morenocarlos12 If you listen to the vocals carefully, you will notice that although the singers speak very different dialects of English (Jamaican vs Brooklyn, New York) the pronunciation of the most of the song's lyrics are very similar. Barbie Gayes version was recorded in 1956. Chris Blackwell of Island Records selected it to be covered by Millie Smalls eight years later, in 1964. Therefore, it's Millie who sounds like Barbie.

[TommyKarate]

A lot of people say Barbie Gaye sounds like Millie Smalls. The opposite is true.Barbie Gaye was given the sheet music and lyrics a few days before recording. Her singing teacher played it for her on the piano, and Barbie created the vocals, rearranged omitted, added and made it the song it is. Smalls' changed very little , as you can tell by listening to it. That's another reason why its wrong to call the her cover version the first "ska" song.

[billyvee]

That's Big Al Sears on the tenor sax solo.

[Steamstock]

I've just ordered a re-issue of this, only discorvered this original version today, well cool!

[lewisldurham]

Funny this, I have this record. When ever I play it in a club, people sing along and don't realise that its not the millie small version! Some people go to mime the harmonica break, then look stupid when the sax comes in. So funny watching it everytime. I would like to get hold of the 78, but its pretty rare.

[thecountofbasie]

Have this one on reissue...never knew it was booted in JA...but not surprised...great version, but I think Millie tops it...thanks for sharing this classic

[XLickleBitCheekyX]

wow..didnt no this was the origional..blown away mate

[BrooklynBabe65]

Millie has to sound like Ms. Gaye who recorded this when she was only 15 years old. At least Ms. Gaye had the chance to sing it on American Bandstand when the show was in Philadelphia back in 1957.