Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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At the Hop (Do the Bop)

First recorded (as “Do the Bop”) by Johnny Madara & the Juvenaires (1957).
Hit version by Danny & the Juniors (US #1/R&B #1 1958).
Also performed by Sha Na Na (1969).

From the wiki: “Johnny Madara (aka Madora, aka Medora) had a minor 1957 hit (‘Be My Girl’) and Capitol Records was interested in a follow up. He had befriended a young vocal group called the Juvenaires and co-wrote for them ‘Do The Bop’ along with member Dave White. They recorded ‘At the Bop’ but Capitol passed on it.

American Bandstand host Dick Clark heard the recording and suggested a change of lyric – substituting the outdated ‘bop’ with ‘hop’, to reflect the popularity at the time of record hops. White had the Juvenaires re-do the recording, with member Danny Rapp on lead vocal (and without Madara in the group, entirely). The group acquired a new name – Danny & The Juniors – and the group scored their one and only #1 hit in 1958.”

“‘At the Hop’ returned to prominence after it was performed by rock and roll revival act Sha Na Na at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. ‘At the Hop’ was also one of the early rock ‘n roll hits featured in the coming-of-age teen motion picture American Graffiti (1973).”

Danny & the Juniors, “At the Hop” (1958):

Sha Na Na, live performance “At the Hop” (1969):

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