Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Sh-Boom

Written and originally recorded by The Chords (US #9/R&B #2 1954).
Other hit version by The Crew Cuts (US #1/UK #12/AUS #1 1954).

From the wiki: “‘Sh-Boom’ was written by James Keyes, Claude Feaster, Carl Feaster, Floyd F. McRae, and James Edwards, all members of the R&B vocal group The Chords, and was first recorded on Atlantic Records’ subsidiary label Cat Records by The Chords on March 15, 1954 . It would be their only hit song.

“‘Sh-Boom’ reached #2 on the Billboard R&B charts and peaked at #9 on the pop charts. It is sometimes considered to be the first Doo-wop or Rock ‘n’ roll record to reach the Top-10 on the Pop charts (as opposed to the R&B charts). This version is ranked #215 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“A more mainstream version of ‘Sh-Boom’ was recorded by The Crew-Cuts for Mercury Records and was #1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart for nine weeks during August and September 1954.

“The record for most recordings of ‘Sh-Boom’ by any one single group probably belongs to the Harvard Din & Tonics, an a cappella men’s singing group that has featured the song on 12 of their 13 albums. The Din & Tonics began performing their own arrangement of ‘Sh-Boom’ in 1979, and it has served as the Dins’ signature song since then. The group has performed it at almost every concert since, and the song is featured on thirteen of the group’s fourteen albums.”

The Crew Cuts, “Sh-Boom” (1954):

Harvard Din & Tonics, ‘Sh-Boom” live performance (2015):

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