October 17, 1965
The British Invasion band Manfred Mann captured the #1 spot on Billboard’s singles chart.
Named after their keyboardist (who was born Manfred Lubowitz in Johannesburg, South Africa), the original 1964 lineup also included Paul Jones (vocals), Michael Vickers (guitar), Tom McGuinness (bass) and Mike Hugg (drums).
Manfred Mann 1964 (L-R): Vickers, McGuinness, Jones, Hugg, Mann
🎵🎵🎵
[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.
•
DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY
Manfred Mann
[1964]
https://youtu.be/zgLRtGaxlos
Manfred Mann’s recording sat at the top of Billboard for 2 weeks – succeeding Roy Orbison‘s Oh, Pretty Woman (see On This Date/October 8th) and preceding Baby Love by The Supremes). It resided in the Top 10 for nine weeks.
•
The song was originally recorded by The Exciters in 1963 (see below) and written by Brill Building songwriting legends, the husband and wife team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.
Barry and Greenwich were among the most successful songwriters of the 60’s. In 1964 alone, 17 of their compositions made the pop charts. And besides ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, their writing resume included four other songs that went to #1: Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups, Leader Of The Pack from The Shangri-Las, Hanky Panky by Tommy James & The Shondells and the Shaun Cassidy cover version of The Crystals‘ Da Doo Ron Ron.
•
DO-WAH-DIDDY
The Exciters
[1963]
The Exciters, a quartet from Jamaica, NY, recorded the song first in 1963. Known as just Do-Wah-Diddy, it featured lead vocals by Brenda Reid, who along with husband Herb Rooney, Carol Johnson and Lillian Walker completed the group, Despite the foursome’s initial release Tell Him reaching #4 on the Hot 100 a year earlier, 5 subsequent singles all failed to crack even the Top 50, with ‘Do-Wah-Diddy’ stalling at #78 on Billboard in early 1964.
https://youtu.be/JEBrUYqtLQg
This original version was produced by legendary L.A. songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, On Broadway, Yakety-Yak, Kansas City and a host of other well-known classics).
[Note] And as I always advise, if your ‘Do Wah’ doesn’t ‘Diddy Diddy’ – get it fixed! It should!
•
DEEP TRAK!
While in the Manfred Mann section of the vault of House of the Hits, I couldn’t resist pulling out a couple of other MM gems – first, this great song from 1966 (#29).
By 1966, guitarist Vickers had left the band, replaced on lead axe by existing member McGuinness, with future legend of the supergroup Cream, Jack Bruce, recruited as the group’s new bass player.
PRETTY FLAMINGO
Manfred Mann
[1966]
https://youtu.be/lDvcFVD17W8
•
DEEP(er) TRAK!
And this #10 hit from 1968 by a re-formed Manfred Mann group – Mike d’Abo had replaced original lead vocalist Paul Jones when they covered the Bob Dylan song Mighty Quinn.
MIGHTY QUINN (Quinn The Eskimo)
Manfred Mann
[1968]
https://youtu.be/jFsb5Am_xgE
•
Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
