This song was made famous by Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs at Sunbury'72. Johnny O'Keefe recorded it before Thorpie in 1967. I've always loved Thorpie's version, but JO'K's version is worth a listen and, in my opinion, a real rocker!
Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Parts 1 and 2) was originally released in 1967 on the Leedon label (LK-1653). It was written by Jessie Hill, an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter. 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 early 1960 release, it emerged as a favourite at Mardi Gras, selling 800,000 copies and reaching the Top 5 in the US Billboard R&B chart and a Top 30 slot in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
It has been recorded by many artists including Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal, Etta James, Ike and Tina Turner, Dr Hook and most famously by Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs. This JO'K version was taken from the 3CD set "Johnny O'Keefe...The Birth of Australian Rock and Roll".
download more Johnny O'Keefe here
..and here is one of Thorpie's versions..(from 1998 with Lobby Lloyde)
