Ooh Poo Pah Doo Explained

"Ooh Poo Pah Doo" is a song written and performed by Jessie Hill. It was arranged and produced by Allen Toussaint. The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100 in 1960^[1] although the charts list the B-side, instrumental "Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part II", as the hit.^[2]

Origins

"Ooh Poo Pah Doo" was performed by a New Orleans pianist known only as "Big Four". Reportedly Jessie Hill wrote down the melody and lyrics while hearing it live and began performing it with his own band.^[3] Hill later added an intro which he said was taken from Dave Bartholomew.^[4] Bartholomew himself used the intro in his song "Hey Hey".

Ike & Tina Turner versions

Ike & Tina Turner recorded a live version of the song which was released as "Ooh Poop A Doo" by Warner Bros. in 1964. It was included on their 1967 album The Ike & Tina Turner Show – Vol. 2. They recorded a studio version of "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" for their 1970 album Workin' Together. It was released as a single in May 1971 following their hit single "Proud Mary".^[5] The single reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 60 on the Hot 100 chart.^[6] It peaked at No. 37 on the Cash Box Top 100 and No. 22 on Cash Box's R&B chart.

Reception

Billboard (May 8, 1971): "The dynamic duo add a new touch to the old favorite–new lyric and performance, loaded with Hot 100 and soul chart potency. Wild vocal workout."

Cash Box (May 8, 1971): "One of the regulars in LP's by blues and some top forty acts, 'Ooh Poo Pah Doo' is turned into a powerful sales single by the 'Proud Mary' duo. Riding a new peak in their career, Ike & Tina should have no problems seeing this one break R&B and T-40."^[7]

Other versions

• Ronnie Dio & The Prophets released a version of the song as a single in 1962, but it did not chart.^[8]
• The Shirelles and King Curtis released a version of the song on their 1962 album Give a Twist Party.^[9] It was also featured on The Shirelles' 1963 album Foolish Little Girl.
• Etta James released a version of the song on her 1963 live album Etta James Rocks the House.^[10]
• Sandy Nelson released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1963 single "Feel So Good".^[11]
• Rufus Thomas released a version on his 1963 album Walking the Dog
• Freddie Fender released a version of the song as a single in 1964, but it did not chart.^[12]
• The Standells released a version of the song on their 1964 live album In Person at P.J.s.^[13]
• The Kingsmen released a version of the song on their 1964 album The Kingsmen Volume II^[14] and on their 1966 album 15 Great Hits.^[15]
• The Righteous Brothers on their 1965 album Just Once in My Life^[16]
• Trini Lopez released a version of the song on his 1965 album The Rhythm & Blues Album.^[17]
• Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels recorded a version for their 1966 album Break Out.^[18]
• Steve Alaimo released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1967 single "New Orleans".^[19] It had originally been released on his 1962 album Mashed Potatoes.
• Johnny O'Keefe released Parts 1 & 2 as the A side of a 1967 single.^[20] It was a live favorite for him, especially on his TV shows, and was included in three EPs and several Anthologies.^[21]
• The Cake released a version of the song on their 1967 album The Cake.^[22]
• Wilson Pickett released a version of the song on his 1967 album The Wicked Pickett.^[23]
• Jimmy Smith released a version of the song on his 1974 album Black Smith.^[24]
• Dr. Hook released a version of the song on their 1981 live album Live in the U.K.^[25]
• Paul Revere & the Raiders released a version of the song on their 1965 album Here They Come!. They had performed the song on the TV series Hullaballoo.
• Tommy Ridgley released a version of the song on his 1992 album How Long?^[26]
• Taj Mahal released a version of the song on his 1996 album Phantom Blues.^[27]
• Steve Miller Band released a version of the song on their 2010 album Bingo!^[28]
• Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers released a version of the song on their 2016 album Everything Under the Sun - Osaka, Japan 1968.^[29]
• Australian blues rock band Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs recorded a 15 minute live version of the song at the 1972 Sunbury Pop Festival for their 1972 album Aztecs Live at Sunbury that took up all of side four. ^[30]

In popular culture

• The Shirelles' version was featured in the 1995 film Stonewall.

Chart performance

Jessie Hill!Chart (1960)!Peak
position

US Billboard Hot 100	28
US Billboard R&B	3

Ike & Tina Turner!Chart (1971)!Peak
position

Canada (RPM)	67
US Billboard Hot 100	60
US Billboard R&B<ref name=":1" />	31
US Cash Box Top 100[31]	37
US Cash Box R&B<ref name=":3" />	22
US Record World Singles[32]	40
US Record World R&B<ref>June 19, 1971. The R&B Singles Chart. Record World. 38.	26

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jessie Hill, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Chart Positions. February 25, 2019.
2. Web site: Billboard Hot 100™ Week of March 28, 1960. September 4, 2024.
3. Web site: Jessie Hill Biography. Jason Ankeny. AllMusic. September 4, 2024.
4. Web site: Jessie Hill. Dave Stephens. Toppermost. September 4, 2024.
5. May 8, 1971. Spotlight Singles: Top 60 Pop Spotlight. Billboard. 66.
6. Web site: Ike & Tina Turner, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Chart Positions. February 25, 2019. Music VF, US & UK hits charts.
7. May 8, 1971. Singles Reviews. Cash Box. 20.
8. Web site: Ronnie Dio & The Prophets, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Single Release. . 24 January 1962 . February 25, 2019.
9. Web site: The Shirelles and King Curtis, Give a Twist Party. . 1962 . February 25, 2019.
10. Web site: Etta James, Etta James Rocks the House. . 1964 . February 25, 2019.
11. Web site: Sandy Nelson, "Feel So Good" Single Release. . 1963 . February 25, 2019.
12. Web site: Freddie Fender, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Single Release. . 1964 . February 25, 2019.
13. Web site: The Standells, In Person at P.J.s. . September 1964 . February 25, 2019.
14. Web site: The Kingsmen, Volume II. . 1964 . February 26, 2019.
15. Web site: The Kingsmen, 15 Great Hits. . 1966 . February 24, 2019.
16. Web site: Oo-Poo-Pah-Doo by The Righteous Brothers . SecondHandSongs .
17. Web site: Trini Lopez, The Rhythm & Blues Album. . 1965 . February 25, 2019.
18. Web site: Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Breakout. . 1966 . June 27, 2020.
19. Web site: Steve Alaimo, "New Orleans" Single Release. . 1967 . February 25, 2019.
20. Web site: Johnny O'Keefe – Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Parts 1 And 2). . 1967 . 3 September 2024.
21. Web site: Johnny O’Keefe - Ooh Poo Pah Doo (1961). Pop Archives. September 3, 2024.
22. Web site: The Cake, The Cake. . 1967 . February 25, 2019.
23. Web site: The Wicked Pickett, The Cake. . 1967 . February 25, 2019.
24. Web site: Jimmy Smith, Black Smith. . 1974 . February 25, 2019.
25. Web site: Dr. Hook, Live in the U.K.. . 1981 . February 25, 2019.
26. Web site: Tommy Ridgley, How Long?. . 1992 . February 25, 2019.
27. Web site: Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues. . 1996 . February 25, 2019.
28. Web site: Steve Miller Band, Bingo!. . 15 June 2010 . February 25, 2019.
29. Web site: Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers, Everything Under the Sun - Osaka, Japan 1968. . February 25, 2019.
30. Web site: Aztecs – Aztecs Live! At Sunbury . . 1972 . September 25, 2021.
31. June 19, 1971. Cash Box Top 100 / Top 60 In R&B Locations. Cash Box. 4, 29.
32. June 19, 1971. The Singles Chart. Record World. 29.