Doo Wop

How about a little doo wop, rock and roll dance music?

The Cameo-Parkway label out of South Philadelphia had many hits in the late 50s and early 60s. The Bristol Stomp was written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, who were executives for the label. The song uses a catchy “4-over-8” beat and refers to Bristol, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Teenagers there were dancing a step called “The Stomp” at Good Will Hose Company dancs. The record peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the R&B Chart in 1961 and features lead singer Len Barry. The group at this point had Barry, Jerry Gross, Arnie Silver, Jim Mealey, and Mike Freda. The song sold more than one million records and was awarded an RIAA gold record.

The song has been covered by the British band The Late Show. Fox Sports used the song in Food City City 500, a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Here are the lyrics to “The Bristol Stomp” by The Dovells:

(Chorus)
The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol
When they do the Bristol Stomp
Really something when they join in jumpin’
When they do the Bristol Stomp

Whoa whoa they started spinning every Friday night
They dance the greatest and they do it right
Well it’s the latest it’s the greatest sight to see

(Chorus)

Whoa whoa it started in Bristol at a dee jay hop
They hollered and whistled never wanted to stop
We pony and twisted and we rocked with Daddy G

(Chorus)
It’s got that groovy beat
That makes you stomp your feet
Come along and try
Gonna feel fine
And once you dance with me
You’ll fall in love you see
The Bristol Stomp will make you mine all mine
The stars are spinnin’ every Friday night
They dance the greatest if they do it right
But it’s the latest it’s the greatest sight to see

(Chorus)
It started in Bristol at a dee jay hop
They hollered and whistled
Never wanted to stop
We pony and twisted and we rocked with Daddy G

(Chorus)
Feel so fine
Oh I gotta say please mine”

For a song by Len Barry after he left The Dovells: “1-2-3”

If you are interested in purchasing more music by The Dovells, please consider this: Best of 1961-1965

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 “The Bristol Stomp” by The Dovells.