The selection for this week’s Flip-Side Monday is “Jitterbug Mary” by The Del Vkings. In this fun, up-tempo doo wop tune, crazy Jitterbug Mary has now changed to rock and roll. It was written by group member Clarence Quick. The song “Jitterbug Mary” was the B-Side to “Cool Shake.”  While “Cool Shake” wasn’t as big a hit as “Come Go With Me,” it charted in 1957 at #12 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Chart and #9 on the R&B Chart. (“Come Go With Me” sold more than one million copies and earned an RIAA gold record.)

The Del Vikings (aka Dell Vikings, Del-Vikings, Dell-Vikings) formed in 1955 in Pittsburgh, where all the members were stationed in the U.S. Air Force.  They were one of the few interracial groups in the 1950s. Throughout the years has had many personnel,  group name, and label-affiliation changes.  This was due in part because they were in the armed forces and members sometimes were stationed in other places.  There have been numerous splits and reunions, and the history gets complicated.  “Jitterbug Mary” featured Gus Backus.

Here are the lyrics to “Jitterbug Mary” by The Del Vikings:

Jitterbug jitterbug jitterbug whoa whoa whoa
Jitterbug Mary
That’s what they call my baby
Jitterbug Mary
Oh no, I don’t mean maybe
Jitterbug Mary
And now she’s changed to rock m roll…rock and roll

Oh oh, Jitterbug Mary
Some people think she’s crazy
Jitterbug Mary
She makes my brain so hazy
Jitterbug Mary
And now she changed to rock and roll…rock and roll

Jitterbug is standin’ on a corner
Doin’ what she wants to do
Jitterbug is standin’ on a corner
I bet she waitin’ for you you you

Oh, Jitterbug Mary
Some people think she’s crazy
Jitterbug Mary
She makes my brain so hazy
Jitterbug Mary
And now she changed to rock and roll…rock and roll

[instrumental interlude]

Jitterbug is standin’ on a corner
Doin’ what she wants to do
Jitterbug is  standin’ on a corner
I bet she waitin’ for you

Jitterbug Mary
Some people think she’s crazy
Jitterbug Mary
She makes my brain so hazy
Jitterbug Mary
And now she changed to rock and roll
And now she changed to rock and roll
And now she changed to rock and roll
…Now she changed to rock and roll

Rock and roll!!

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.

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