Ooh Poo Pah Doo


"Ooh Poo Pah Doo" is a song written and performed by Jessie Hill. It was arranged and produced by Allen Toussaint. The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100 in 1960 although the charts list the B-side, instrumental "Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part II", as the hit.

Origins

"Ooh Poo Pah Doo" was performed by a New Orleans pianist known only as "Big Four". Reportedly Jessie Hill wrote down the melody and lyrics while hearing it live and began performing it with his own band. Hill later added an intro which he said was taken from Dave Bartholomew. Bartholomew himself used the intro in his song "Hey Hey".

Ike & Tina Turner versions

Ike & Tina Turner recorded a live version of the song which was released as "Ooh Poop A Doo" by Warner Bros. in 1964. It was included on their 1967 album The Ike & Tina Turner Show – Vol. 2. They recorded a studio version of "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" for their 1970 album Workin' Together. It was released as a single in May 1971 following their hit single "Proud Mary". The single reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 60 on the Hot 100 chart. It peaked at No. 37 on the Cash Box Top 100 and No. 22 on Cash Box's R&B chart.

Reception

Billboard : "The dynamic duo add a new touch to the old favorite–new lyric and performance, loaded with Hot 100 and soul chart potency. Wild vocal workout."
Cash Box : "One of the regulars in LP's by blues and some top forty acts, 'Ooh Poo Pah Doo' is turned into a powerful sales single by the 'Proud Mary' duo. Riding a new peak in their career, Ike & Tina should have no problems seeing this one break R&B and T-40."

Other versions

In popular culture

Chart performance

Chart Peak
position
Canada 67
US Billboard Hot 10060
US Billboard R&B31
US Cash Box Top 10037
US Cash Box R&B22
US Record World Singles40
US Record World R&B26