Friday October 16, 2020 “Pappa Oom Mow Mow” The Rivingtons
Here comes the most frivolous Friday earworm..
The Rivingtons, actually several different group names, wrote and recorded this little gem, not a number one hit but definitely a memorable tune. Remarkably the song has been covered by several other artists including the Beach Boys, Gary Glitter, the Persuasions and Kermit the Frog.
The Rivingtons, as the Sharps, also had a top ten hit doing background vocals for Thurston Harris on “Little Bitty Pretty One”, a song written by Bobby Day (“Rockin Robin”). They also provided the handclaps and rebel yells on guitarist Duane Eddy’s top ten hit “Rebel Rouser”.
The Rivingtons would follow up “Pappa Oom Mow Mow” with, wait for it, “Mamma Oom Mow Mow” which surprisingly is a very bad song, IMHO. It didn’t do so well but they would have better success with “Bird is the Word” which The Trashmen would later combine with“Pappa Oom Mow Mow” and create a top five song, “Surfin Bird”.
The Trashmen were sued for not licensing either song
Stay safe and well...and you may not know “Pappa Oom Mow Mow” but I promise even after a partial listen it will be yours all day...and I bet you’ll be smiling.
