Little Bitty Pretty One

"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a 1957 song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day. The same year, the song was popularized by Thurston Harris.[1] Produced by Aladdin Records (located in Los Angeles, Calif.), and featuring the Sharps on backing vocals,[2] Harris's version reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Best-Sellers chart and No. 2 on the R&B chart.[3] The Bobby Day version reached No. 11 in the Canadian CHUM Chart.[4]

"Little Bitty Pretty One"
Single by Thurston Harris and the Sharps
B-side"I Hope You Won't Hold It Against Me"
ReleasedSeptember 1957
Length2:22
LabelAladdin
Songwriter(s)Bobby Day

Reception

Bryan Thomas writes that the song "has gone on to become one of the best loved oldies of the late '50s".[5]

The song is famous for its hummed opening.[6][7]

It was used in the 1989 comedy/fantasy film Little Monsters, as well as the 1996 comedy/fantasy film "Matilda".

Cover versions

"Wiggle, Wiggle"

"Little Bitty Pretty One" was the inspiration for the Accents' sole hit "Wiggle Wiggle" in 1958, and though the similarities were evidently not sufficient to warrant a lawsuit, Aladdin Records took the expedient step of covering the song with a group called the Chestnuts.[13]

References
  1. Dave Marsh, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made (Da Capo Press, 1999), 429.
  2. The Lamplighters at Allmusic
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 246.
  4. "CHUM Hit Parade - November 18, 1957".
  5. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, John Bush, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul (Backbeat Books, 2003), p. 297.
  6. Otfinoski, Steven (December 30, 1997). The Golden Age of Rock Instrumentals. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823076390 – via Google Books.
  7. Gillett, Charlie (May 1, 2011). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll. Souvenir Press. ISBN 9780285640245 – via Google Books.
  8. "Frankie Lymon - Chart history". Billboard. 1960-08-20. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles (12th ed.). p. 645.
  10. Soulsation! (1995), liner notes
  11. Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles (12th ed.). p. 482.
  12. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 15, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  13. "The Great Doo Wop Vocal Groups..." Pinterest.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.


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