1961 Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)

Time for another round of Throwback Thursday!

This is where we get to listen to some great music from days gone by. 

Today’s music comes to us from 1961

Wikipedia tells us this about today’s tune:

"Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" is a doo-wop style novelty song from 1961 co-written (with Gerry Goffin) and recorded by Barry Mann. It was originally released as a single on the ABC-Paramount label.

In this song, Mann sings about the frequent use of nonsense lyrics in doo-wop music, and how his girl fell in love with him after listening to several such songs.

Examples of the type of song referred to include the Marcels' version of "Blue Moon" (in which they sing "Bomp bomp ba bomp, ba bomp ba bomp bomp" and "dip-de-dip-de-dip") and the Edsels' "Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong", both of which charted earlier the same year. The spoken part is a reference to the song "Little Darlin'" by the Diamonds. "Boogidy shoo" can be found in the lyrics to "Pony Time" by Chubby Checker, released earlier that year. Mann was backed up by the Halos, a doo-wop group of its own renown that had a single top-40 hit with "Nag" and also sang on Curtis Lee's hit "Pretty Little Angel Eyes."

The song inspired the title of an eponymous music magazine.

The song fits into the category of "self-referential" songs. Rock songs are often about rock, reggae songs about reggae, rap songs about rap, etc. In this particular song that aspect is accentuated by the fact that Mann is a songwriter singing about songwriters.

The single debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 on August 7, 1961, and remained for twelve weeks, peaking at No. 7. Mann's version did not chart in the UK, though a cover version by the Viscounts reached No. 21 there in September, 1961. The Viscounts' record was in turn covered by comedians Morecambe and Wise with the same melody and modified lyrics ("We put the Bomp in the..."), and the record was titled "We're the Guys (Who Drive Your Baby Wild)."

A newer version by Showaddywaddy charted at No. 37 in August 1982.

See you again soon! Share with me your thoughts about this theme.  If you have a favorite oldies song or artist, let me know and I’d be happy to feature them.