If You Wanna Be Happy

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"If You Wanna Be Happy"
IfYouWannaBeHappy45.PNG
Single by Jimmy Soul
from the album If You Wanna Be Happy
B-side"Don't Release Me"
Released1963
GenreDoo-wop
Length2:14
LabelS.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 Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart.[1] It was issued on Frank Guida's S.P.Q.R. label[2] 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."[citation needed]

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[]

References[]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 803.
  2. ^ "London Group a Tight Little Island of Know-How in Putting Together Hits". New York, New York: Billboard. 1962-09-22. p. 4.
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