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October 2, 1965
The #1 song on this date in 1965 was a pop-rock hit by the American group, The McCoys, called Hang On Sloopy.
The quartet from Union City, IN was made up of Rick Zehringer (vocals/guitar), brother Randy Zehringer (drums), Randy Hobbs (bass) and Ronnie Brandon (keyboards).
Prior to the formation of group, Rick Zehringer had changed his professional name to Rick Derringer.
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‘Sloopy’ was co-penned by songwriter Bert Berns, who wrote under the name Bert Russell. He, along with friend and former bandmate in The Mustangs, Wes Farrell (Shirelles, Jay & The Americans, Partridge Family) had written the song under it’s original title, My Girl Sloopy (see below).
The single was released on a new label Berns created in 1965 called Bang Records.
[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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HANG ON SLOOPY
(Hit Version in “True” Stereo)
The McCoys
Hang On Sloopy was produced by Bang staff writers/producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein & Richard Gottehrer, who also recorded for Berns on Bang as the Strangeloves (I Want Candy, Night Time).
The tandem had recorded and produced the first version of the re-worked/re-titled Hang On Sloopy – also on Bang (See below).
In fact, the hit version by The McCoys was actually the same instrumental backing tracks as the Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer production, but with the original vocals replaced with those from Derringer.
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After it replaced Barry McGuire‘s Eve Of Destruction (see On This Day • September 26, 1965) at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, ‘Hang On Sloopy’ by the McCoys had a cup of coffee stay; it was trumped the very next week by the Beatles all-time classic, Yesterday.
The McCoys’ second single release was a super rocked-up version of an R&B song co-written by the great Otis Blackwell (Great Balls Of Fire, Don’t Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, Handy Man) called Fever – the same song that became American vocalist Peggy Lee‘s signature number). The McCoy’s cover version topped out at #7 in late 1965 – followed by seven more singles for Bang Records. And none of them cracked Billboard’s Top 20.
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[Trivia Bits] Bert Berns was an important player for Atlantic at that time; being a protégé of one of most distinguished of Atlantic’s record producers during the 50’s and 60’s – Jerry Wexler. And Berns had written mid-level recordings by Soloman Burke, Ben E. King, and the Drifters for the label.
- Also, Bern Berns is listed at #64 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Songwriters.
- And you can see the picture of how the recording industry worked then; Berns was in tight with Atlantic, which helped his (and Wes Farrell’s) song get recorded and released by the label. Then in 1965 when he created Bang Records, one of the first songs selected for release, of course, was his own ‘Hang On Sloopy’.
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MY GIRL SLOOPY
(Original Version)
The Vibrations
[1964 – Live Recording]
The original version of the McCoys’ chart-topper was known as My Girl Sloopy, a live rendition recorded by the Los Angeles R&B group The Vibrations. Released in 1964 on Atlantic Records, it peaked at #26 on May 16th during its 8th week on Billboard’s Hot 100.
[Trivia Bits]Another version of My Girl Sloopy was done in 1965 by a Canadian quartet known as Little Caesar & The Consuls. Prior that recording, early members of the group included music legend Robbie Robertson (co-founder of The Band) and Gene MacLellan, author of Anne Murray‘s 1970 hit Snowbird.
The Vibrations had previously recorded a song called Peanut Butter as The Marathons (1961 • #20).
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EXTRA #1
HANG ON SLOOPY
(Extended Version)
The McCoys
[1965]
This is the full version of HOS. It’s identical to the original by the Strangeloves (heard below) but, again, with Rick Derringer‘s overdubbed vocals.
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EXTRA #2
HANG ON SLOOPY
(First Version)
The Strangeloves
[1965]
For true oldies aficionados! Here’s the first version of HOS recorded for Bert Berns‘ Bang Label by the Strangeloves (Feldman, Goldstein & Gottehrer). And extra verse is also included.
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After the dissolution of The McCoys, Rick Derringer found his way to famed rock-blues musician Edgar Winter and became a guitarist in his band Edgar Winter and White Trash.
In 1970, Edgar and his group were the first to record a new song written by Derringer – Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo, and released it on their album Johnny Winter And.
EXTRA #3
ROCK AND ROLL, HOOCHIE KOO
(Single Version)
Rick Derringer
[1973]
By 1973, Rick Derringer was performing as a solo artist, under contract with Columbia/Epic. His first single for the label was the cover version of his own song, Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo, from the album All American Boy. Released in late ’73, it peaked at #23 in January of 1974.
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In 1984, Derringer produced the only million-selling hit by “Weird Al” Yankovich, Eat It, his parody of the Michael Jackson classic, Beat It. Derringer also play lead guitar on Weird Al’s version; the same guitar solo on Jackson’s huge hit was played by Eddie Van Halen.
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CREDITS
Produced & Written By: Rick Murray Hunter / HouseoftheHits.com
Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
References:
• The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits (5th Edition) by Fred Bronson
• 1000 UK Chart Hits (Kindle Edition) by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh
• The Archives of RollingStone.com
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
Special thanks to the patio of Starbucks, Little Road in New Port Richey, FL 😎
Other #1 Songs on This Date Posts are HERE
