Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Just prior to breaking through with "Tango Pelargonia" in 1964 Kari Kuuva (see earlier entry) recorded this "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" with the group Islanders (Danny's backing group) using the obvious name Kari & The Islanders. The song was on the B-side of their cover of Searchers' "Don't Throw Your Love Away". The Finnish lyrics were written by Kari himself. In 1977 Seppo Närhi did another cover with different lyrics using the title "Meikäläinen makaa niinku petaaki" (I lie in my bed as I have made it). The original "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and originally recorded in 1963 by the American vocal group The Exciters. They are best remembered for their Top 10 hit "Tell Him" (US number 4)in 1962. (finnpicked here) The "Diddy" song was monster hit for Manfred Mann when they covered it in 1964. You can see them perform it, here.

Here's the triplet:

Tell Her/Him - Minun on hän

Today we continue the series Both Sides Now. On the flipside of yesterday's Gulliver finnpick was this song "Minun on hän" (She's mine). It's a good cover of a good song and the lyrics again were provided by Vexi Salmi. The original song was called "Tell Her" and it was written by a pioneer of sixties rock and soul, Bert Berns. It was first interpreted by American r&b singer Gil Hamilton. Gil later changed his name and rode high in 1963 on Billboard chart (number 4) with "Loop De Loop" under the name Johnny Thunder. The the hit version of "Tell Her" was done by the American vocal group The Exciters in 1962 with the slightly updated title "Tell Him" (becouse the singer was a woman; lead singer Brenda Reid). This was Exciters' first hit record. It was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and reached number 4 in US pop charts. It also remained their only hit, making them one of the 'One Hit Wonders'.

Updated on 18.09.2010: added the first Finnish version "Sano hänelle niin" (Tell him so) by Katri Helena.

Here's the bunch: