The McCoys Sang One of Our Very Favorite ’60s Songs

Every time it comes on you can’t help but sing along.

This 1965 hit made it all the way to #1 on the Billboard charts and there’s a really good reason why: this song was one of the catchiest songs of the era. “Hang on Sloopy” was written by an unnamed high school student in St. Louis and Sloopy in the song refers to local jazz legend Dorothy Sloop, a pianist from Steubenville, Ohio. The songwriter Bert Berns bought the song from this high schooler and, with a little tweaking, a hit was born. Berns was also responsible for many other hits of the era like “Twist and Shout,” “Take Another Piece of My Heart,” and “Brown Eyed Girl.”

The McCoys formed in the early 1960s under the name Rick and the Raiders, a name that was changed once they were enticed to record “Hang on Sloopy” in 1965 on Berns’ own record label, Bang. Have a look at the McCoys performing this incredible hit in 1965 on the TV show Hollywood a Go Go in the video below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2NUZzB8_XHM

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