Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Good Golly Miss Molly

First released by The Valiants (1957).
Hit versions by Little Richard (US #10/R&B #4/UK #8 1958), The Swinging Blue Jeans (US #43/UK #11 1964).
Also recorded by Los Teen Tops (1959).

From the wiki: “‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ was written by John Marascalco and producer Robert ‘Bumps’ Blackwell. Although it was first recorded in 1956 (during two separate sessions in July and October 1956 at J&M Studios, New Orleans) by Little Richard, Blackwell – after leaving Specialty Records (Little Richard’s label) to manage Sam Cooke – produced another version, by The Valiants, that was rush-released to radio and stores in late 1957 only to be quickly eclipsed when Richard’s recording was finally, belatedly released in January 1958.

“In the early 1960s the song became a continental hit in Latin America performed by the Mexican band Los Teen Tops, whose lead singer was teen idol Enrique Guzman, and sung in Spanish under the title, ‘La Plaga’ (‘The Plague’), which actually is a Mexican Spanish slang word referring to “the gang” (as in the “gang one hangs out with”). It was recorded in 1959, and it was the first single of the band. It’s considered one of the first rock in Spanish hits.

“The British band The Swinging Blue Jeans skirted the US Top 40 and the UK Top 10 hitting #43 and #11, respectively, with their 1964 revival.”

Little Richard, “Good Golly Miss Molly” (recorded 1956, released 1958):

Los Teen Tops, “La Plaga” (1959):

The Swinging Blue Jeans, “Good Golly Miss Molly” (1964):

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