R&B

Even as this first era of rock and roll was coming to an end right before the British invasion in 1964, there were still songs that contained doo wop elements. One such, is Betty Everett’s golden oldie “The Shoop Shoop Song,” which was originally known as “It’s In His Kiss.” Betty Everett was an R&B soul singer and pianist.

Vee-Jay Records renamed “It’s In His Kiss” to “The Shoop Shoop Song” in honor of the compelling “shoop shoops” provided by backup singers The Opals. They were Rose Addison, Nyra Tillison, and Rose “Tootsie” Jackson from Chicago. The song was written by Rudy Clark, whose hits include “Got My Mind Set on You,” “Good Lovin’,” and “Everybody Plays the Fool.” Everett’s record features a marimba, in deference to the ’63-’64 Latino sound explosion brought on by the popularity of West Side Story and furthered by groups like The Rocky Fellers in their smash “Killer Joe.” In 1964, the song went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box R&B Chart.

This song has the unique distinction of being covered by many singers including The Swingin’ Blue Jeans, Cher, Lulu, The Nylons, Kate Taylor featuring James Taylor, The Searchers, The Hollies, The Newbeats, The Supremes, and Aretha Franklin. (Like “My Boyfriend’s Back,” it was rejected by the Shirelles, who had so many hits they had to say “no” once in a while.)

Here are the lyrics to “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) by Betty Everett:

“Does he love me, I wanna know
How can I tell if he loves me so

(Is it in his eyes)
Oh no, you’ll be deceived
(Is it in his eyes)
Oh no, he’ll make believe

If you wanna know if he loves you so
It’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is, oh yeah)

(Or is it in his face)
Oh no, it’s just his charm
(In his one embrace)
Oh no, that’s just his arm

If you wanna know if he loves you so
It’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)
Oh, oh, it’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)

Oh, oh, oh, kiss him and squeeze him tight
And find out what you wanna know
If it’s love, if it really is
It’s there in his kiss

(How ’bout the way he acts)
Oh no, that’s not the way
And you’re not listenin’ to all I say

If you wanna know if he loves you so
It’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)
Oh yeah, it’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)

Whoa, oh, oh, kiss him and squeeze him tight
And find out what you wanna know
If it’s love, if it really is
It’s there in his kiss

(How ’bout the way he acts)
Oh no, that’s not the way
And you’re not listenin’ to all I say

If you wanna know if he loves you so
It’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)
Oh yeah, it’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)

Oh, oh, it’s in his kiss
(That’s where it is)”

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.

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