What’s a genre worth if it can’t make fun of itself? In the novelty song “Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)” by Barry Mann, he does just that to doo wop music. The singer claims that the syllables don’t matter, because his girl fell in love with him when she heard those doo wop songs — and is thankful. By the way, who did put the Ram in the Rama Lama Ding Dong or the Dip in the dip da dip da dip? It’s a game of sorts to catch all the references, and kids drove their parents crazy listening to and singing along with the song. Barry Mann co-wrote this novelty song with songwriter Gerry Goffin and had a hit with it as a performer in 1961. Mann was backed up by The Halos, who had backed up Curtis Lee on “Pretty Little Angel Eyes.” The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Barry Mann is a music industry giant, particularly as a songwriter and publisher in many genres — from pop to rock and roll to country. The list of artists who performed his songs goes on and on, including The Drifters, Three Dog Night, The Crystals, Elvis Presley, Gene Pitney, Jay and the Americans, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Johnny Crawford, Marianne Faithful, Conway Twitty, The Animals, The Monkees, and The Righteous Brothers just to name a few. The famous song “You’ve Lost That Lovin” Feelin'” was written by Mann with Phil Spector.
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What’s a genre worth if it can’t make fun of itself? You are so right. Love this song and love Doo Wop.