Today’s classic song of the day is “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” by Betty Everett. Released as a single in January of 1964, this one went all the way to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Cash Box’s R&B chart.
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” was written by professional songsmith Rudy Clark. Mr. Clark was also responsible for writing such hits as “Got My Mind Set on You” for James Ray (and later a hit for George Harrison), “Good Lovin’,” a hit for the Rascals, and “Everybody Plays the Fool,” for the Main Ingredient.
Clark first offered “The Shoop Shoop Song” (originally just called “It’s In His Kiss”) to the Shirelles, the premier girl group of the day, but they rejected it. Merry Clayton, a noted session singer, recorded it first, as her first solo single; released in June of 1963, it was not a success.
Betty Everett got hold of the song next, thanks to Calvin Carter, the chief A&R man for Vee-Jay Records. Carter had previously brought “You’re No Good” to Ms. Everett and it was a hit, so the singer had no problem embracing the next song Mr. Carter brought her. (They did, however, change the title to the one we know today, to distinguish Ms. Everett’s recording from one by R&B singer Ramona King, who actually released her single a week before Ms. Everett’s.)
“The Shoop Shoop Song” was covered by many other singers over the years. In 1975, British vocalist Linda Lewis released a disco version (retitled “It’s In His Kiss”) that became a top ten hit in the UK and garnered lots of club play here in the U.S. In 1990, Cher recorded a version of “The Shoop Shoop Song” for inclusion in her film, Mermaids. Cher’s version peaked at #33 in the Billboard Hot 100 but went all the way to #1 in the UK.
No disrespect for any of those performers, but I think my favorite version of “The Shoop Shoop Song” was sung by Linda Ronstadt on The Muppet Show in 1980, which is today’s daily bonus video of the day. Linda never recorded an official version of the song, but she should have. It’s perfectly suited for her voice.
