Doo Wop

The song “Speedoo” (pronounced speed-oh) by The Cadillacs is classic doo-wop music from its infectious beat to its harmonies to the nonsense syllables. “They often call me Speedo but my real name is Mr. Earl,” sings the group’s lead Earl Carroll — and his nickname really was Speedo. (They say it may have had something to do with fast-talking the ladies, but we’re not going to vouch for that.) The Cadillacs, from Harlem, New York, are known for their choreography and great performances as well as their singing. The group has had numerous personnel changes over the years, but for the “Speedoo” recording,  the members were  Earl Carroll, LaVerne Drake, Robert Phillips, Charles Brooks, and Earl Wade with the Jesse Powell Orchestra.

In 1955, “Speedoo” went to #3 on the R&B Chart and #17 on the U.S. Pop Chart. Songs such as “Speedoo” were important in making this type of music (that is, R&B, doo-wop, rock and roll) attractive to a larger audience. The group also had success with “Gloria,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Peek-A-Boo,” and “What You Bet.”

Here are the lyrics to “Speedoo” by The Cadillacs:

“Bom-bom-bom-bom
Ba-ba-do-do-do
Bom-bom-bom
Ba-ba-do-do-do

Bom-bom-bom
Ba-ba-do-do-do
Bom-bom-bom
Ba-ba-do-do-do

Well now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Umm-hm-hm-hm

Now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Um-hm-hm-hm

Known for meetin’ brand new fellas
And takin’ other folks’s girl

Well now, they often call me Speedo
‘Cause I don’t believe in wastin’ time
Umm-hm-hm

Well, they often call me Speedo
‘Cause I don’t believe in wastin’ time
Umm-hm-hm

Well, I’m known some pretty women
And that’s caused them to change their minds
Umm-hm-hm

Well now, some may call me, Joe
Some may call me, Moe
Just remember Speedo
He don’t never take it slow

Well now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Umm-hm-hm

Well now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Umm-hm-hm

Well now, some may call me, Moe
Some may call me, Joe
Just remember Speedo
He don’t never take it slow

Well now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Umm-hm-hm

Well now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Umm-hm-hm

And now they got to call me Speedo
‘Til they call off makin’ pretty girls
Umm-hm-hm, um-hm-hm-hm
Hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm, hm-hm-hm-hm”

If you would like to read about and listen to another song by The Cadillacs, please click here for “Gloria.”

If you are interested in purchasing music from The Cadillacs, please consider this: The Cadillacs For Collectors Only

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, 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 “Speedoo” by The Cadillacs.