
One last song of the "everyone stops but the drummer, then comes back in one at a time" genre, and maybe my favorite of the bunch (I play it all the time here), is "Cool Jerk" by the Detroit-based vocal trio The Capitols. They were (secretly) backed on this track by The Funk Brothers, the house band at Motown Records. According to one Funk Brother, the song was originally named "Pimp Jerk," which, according to Wikipedia, was inspired by "watching neighborhood pimps, who would dance in the clubs, but were too ‘cool’ to do the jerk like regular folks." Ollie McLaughlin, the producer, was concerned that stations would either ban the record or not give it sufficient airplay with that title, and the song as given its current name.
Released in 1966, it went to #2 on the R&B chart, #7 on the Hot 100, and #9 on the Canadian charts. It placed #36 on the year-end Hot 100.
That will wake you up…or keep me up tonight. Good sixties song.
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no clue about the history of this song and love this song. I love the reference
LikeLiked by 2 people
I danced to this in my. high school talent show )
LikeLike
Good song, huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice dose of wake-up.
LikeLike
That’ll get you moving…
LikeLiked by 1 person
almost 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person