"You Can't Sit Down" was originally recorded in 1959 as "Can't Sit Down" by The Bim Bam Boos on Dasher Records catalogue number D-500 and credited to Dasher - Muldrow; it featured Philip Upchurch on guitar and Cornell Muldrow on organ.
Background
The song references "South Street", which is the same good-time area the Orlons sang about in their 1963 recording of the same name. The Orlons and the Dovells, who later recorded the most popular version, were both from Philadelphia, and recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records.
Other versions
- The later better-known recording of "You Can't Sit Down" by Phil Upchurch and his Combo (Upchurch, Muldrow, David Brooks, Mac Johnson and Joe Haddick) was re-recorded in New Orleans in 1960 and released in 1961 by Boyd Records (Boyd 3398) of Oklahoma with distribution by United Artists Records.[3] Upchurch's own version reached No.29 on the Billboard pop charts.[4]
- This was followed by the vocal cover version by the Dovells that reached No.3 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1963. It is based, at least in part, on the gospel song "Sit Down Servant".[citation needed] This version also reached No.10 on the Hot R&B Singles chart[5]
- In 1962, it appeared as a cover on Booker T. and the MG's first album, Green Onions.[6]
- The Bar Kays and Hound Dog Taylor have recorded it (on albums Soul Finger and Natural Boogie).
- In 1964, the Kingsmen included it on their LP The Kingsmen in Person.
- The Shangri-Las recorded it for their 1965 debut album.
- Paul Revere & the Raiders had the track on their 1965 album Here They Come!.
- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have played it live as an encore over thirty times since 1976.[7]
Usage in media
- The song was set to two Disney cartoons on D-TV, The Hockey Champ and Hockey Homicide.
- The Philadelphia 76ers used a modified version of the song with team-specific lyrics for the franchise's marketing campaign during the 1991–92 season.
References
- ^ a b Allmusic song info
- ^ Porter, James (2001). "The Hardy Boys". In Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (eds.). Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Los Angeles: Feral House. pp. 211–213.
- ^ JMS. "Artist: The Dovells (Canary) You can't sit down / Wildwood days". secondhandsongs. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles. 12th edition, 2009, p. 1013.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 170.
- ^ Allmusic chart history
- ^ "You Can't Sit Down". Brucebase. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
This page was last edited on 20 November 2023, at 14:50