| "If You Wanna Be Happy" | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Single by Jimmy Soul | |
| from the album If You Wanna Be Happy | |
| B-side | "Don't Release Me" |
| Released | 1963 |
| Genre | Doo-wop |
| Length | 2:14 |
| Label | S.P.Q.R./London Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Rafael de Leon (Roaring Lion) Joseph Royster Carmella Guida Frank Guida |
"If You Wanna Be Happy" is a 1963 song recorded by Jimmy Soul, written by Rafael de Leon (Roaring Lion) and adapted by Joseph Royster, Carmella Guida and Frank Guida.
Background
"If You Wanna Be Happy" is based on the song "Ugly Woman" by the Trinidadian calypsonian Roaring Lion recorded in 1934. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart.[1] It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by London Records, and in the United Kingdom on EMI's Stateside label.
The original single lists a running time of 2:14; some later releases are slightly longer due to a longer fade-out. The song was banned on many radio stations, due to the use of the words "Ugly Girl/ Woman."
Towards the end of the song, a brief dialogue takes place between Soul and a backup singer, based on Bo Diddley's song "Say Man": "Say Man!!"/ "Hey baby"/ "I saw your wife the other day."/ "Yeah??"/ "Yeah, and she's ugly-y-y-y-y!!!"/ "Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby"./ "Yeah, alright."/ Soul's counterpoint melody in a falsetto is heard as the song fades out.
Covers
- Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman released a version on his solo album Stone Alone, in 1976.
- Joe Dolce released a version in 1981 as the follow-up to his international hit single "Shaddap You Face". It reached the top 40 in New Zealand and no. 7 in Austria.
- Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Racey, The Skatalites and Barnes & Barnes have also released cover versions of the song.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 803.