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Mashed Potato Time

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Wikipedia article




"'Mashed Potato Time'" is a 1962 single written by Brian Holland, Daniel Rey, Dee Dee King, Freddy Gorman, Georgia Dobbins, Kal Mann, Robert Bateman, William Garrett, and performed by Dee Dee Sharp, with backing vocals by The Orlons, on her debut album 'It's Mashed Potato Time'. The song refers to the Mashed Potato dance move, which was a fad at the time. It was one of several songs that came out at that time that referenced the dance, another being James Brown's "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."James McBride. "THE POTATO'S GREAT IMPACT ON THE WORLD". Boston Globe, Oct 2, 1981. The Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman" is mentioned in the lyrics and is copied in the arrangement. Also mentioned in the lyrics are the songs "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens and "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sharp recorded a follow up sequel to "Mashed Potato Time" called "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)".

In 1996 the Campbell Soup Company used the song in a $30 million advertising campaign, featuring a new, more upbeat recording by Sharp."1962 HIT SONG, DANCE GIVE CAMPBELL SOUP NEW TWIST". 'Associated Press', 1996.

In 2022, it appears in a TV commercial for AirBNB.

Chart performance



The song reached No. 1 on the 'Cashbox' Top 100 and 'Billboard' R&B charts in 1962, as well as No. 2 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. It was kept from the No. 1 spot by "Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles. 'Billboard' ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1962.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1962 It became a gold record.

Cover versions



*Dick and Dee Dee released a version of the song on their 1962 album 'Tell Me - The Mountain's High'.[http://www.discogs.com/Dick-And-Dee-Dee-Tell-Me-The-Mountains-High/release/5594545 Dick and Dee Dee, 'Tell Me - The Mountain's High'] Retrieved May 2, 2015

*Dee Dee Ramone, as Dee Dee King, recorded a hip hop version of the song, with new lyrics, on his 1989 album 'Standing in the Spotlight', with Debbie Harry on backing vocals.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash," released a few months after "Mashed Potato Time", was written in part as a parody of Dee Dee Sharp's record, even copying the "whaa-oo" backing vocal.

See also



*List of number-one R&B singles of 1962 (U.S.)

References



Category:1962 songs

Category:1962 debut singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Dee Dee Sharp songs

Category:Songs about dancing

Category:Songs written by Bernie Lowe


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