R&B

The lyrics of the song are by Mack David and music is by Elmer Bernstein, and  “Walk on the Wild Side” was the title song for the 1962 film of the same name. The song occurs at the film’s coda and closing credits. The song incorporates elements of jazz and gospel.  It won the writers an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It went to #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

Other artists have versions of the song. These include recordings by Jimmy Smith, which was an instrumental, one by Harry James , and also by The Persuasions.  There was also a different song titled “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed, which was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson.

Brook Benton, who was born Benjamin Franklin Peay, was a singer, songwriter, and actor. Benton write hit songs for himself (e.g., “So Many Ways,” “Baby (You’ve Got What it Takes),” “A Rockin; Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall in Love),” and “Kiddio”) and for other artists (e.g., Nat King Cole and Clyde McPhatter).

Here are the lyrics to “Walk on the Wild Side” by Brook Benton:

“Sinner, hear what I’m sayin’
Sinner, you’ve been swingin’, not prayin’
One day of prayin’ and six nights of fun
The odds against goin’ to heaven, six-to-one

You walk on the wild side, the Devil is waitin’
He’s waitin’ to take your hand
You walk on the wild side, you’re walkin’ with Satan
Away from the Promised Land
One day of prayin’ and six nights of fun
The odds against going to heaven, six-to-one

You better cross over, you better walk humble or you’re gonna stumble
And Satan is waitin’ to take your hand
You walk on the wild side, you walk on the wild side
Away from the Promised Land
One day of prayin’ and six nights of fun
The odds against going to heaven, six-to-one

The odds against going to heaven six-to-one”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Walk on the Wild Side” by Brook Benton.