My Boy Lollipop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "My Boy Lollipop" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Millie Small | ||
| from the album 'My Boy Lollipop' | ||
| B-side(s) | "Something's Gotta Be Done" | |
| Released | 1964 | |
| Genre | Pop, Ska | |
| Label | Fontana, Island | |
| Writer(s) | Morris Levy, J. Roberts, Robert Spencer | |
| Producer(s) | Chris Blackwell | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
Ireland #1, UK #2, US #2, Germany #5 |
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| Millie Small singles chronology | ||
| "Don't You Know" (1963) |
"My Boy Lollipop" (1964) |
"Sweet William" (1964) |
"My Boy Lollipop" is a song written in the mid-1950s. It was originally a minor R&B hit for an American singer named Barbie Gaye in late 1956, but enjoyed greater success in 1964 when it was covered by Jamaican singer [[Millie Small].
The song was discovered by Chris Blackwell, who was trying to find songs for Millie Small to record. Millie's version was recorded in a ska/bluebeat-style, and became her breakthrough blockbuster hit in Britain, reaching #2. It also went to #1 in Ireland and #2 in America. "My Boy Lollipop" was one of the few international ska hits and was the first record to help Blackwell's Jamaican label, Island, make millions. It remains one of the best-selling reggae/ska hits.
It has been said that a yet-to-be discovered Rod Stewart did the harmonica solo on the recording.
Swedish dansband Lotta & Anders Engbergs Orkester covered the song in Swedish, as "På min sommaräng", on their 1989 album "Genom vatten och eld" with lyrics in Swedish by Christer Lundh.
