Description
Release Date: 1990
Label: Collectables
Track List
1. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
2. Why Holler
3. Whip It On Me
4. I Got Mine
5. Get In Touch
6. Oogsey Moo Tk.10
7. I Need Your Love
8. The Pot’s On Strike
9. Oogsey Moo Tk. 1
10. Popcorn Pop Pop
11. Scoop Scoobie Doobie
12. High Head Blues
13. Can’t Get Enough (Of That Ooh Poo Pah Doo)
14. In My Mind
15. Candy
16. Sweet Jelly Roll
Notes
Hill was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. By his teens he was playing drums in local bands, and in 1951 he formed his own group, the House Rockers. After periods performing as drummer with Professor Longhair and then Huey “Piano” Smith, Hill formed a new version of the House Rockers in 1958, which enabled him to focus on singing with the band.
The origins of “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” were apparently created from a tune played by a local pianist, who was known only as Big Four. Hill wrote the lyrics and melody, later expanding the work with an intro taken from Dave Bartholomew. It was further honed on stage, before Hill recorded a demo that he shopped to local record labels, finally recording a session at Cosimo Matassa’s studio produced by Allen Toussaint.
Upon its 1960 release on Minit Records, “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” emerged as a favorite at Mardi Gras, selling 800,000 copies and reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B chart and #28 in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. There have been over 100 cover versions of “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” recorded and performed live over the years by other popular musicians.
His follow-up “Whip It On Me” reached #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Further recordings in New Orleans were less successful, and he moved to California to work with fellow New Orleans musicians including Harold Battiste and Mac Rebennack. In this period, he wrote songs recorded by Ike and Tina Turner, Sonny and Cher, and Willie Nelson.
