MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Each day leading up to the unveiling of the 2018 Grooveyard Great 88, we’ll share a video of one song that just missed the survey. Hear the full Great 88 on a special five hour edition of “The Grooveyard” on Saturday, December 29 from 7 PM to midnight. Check out the complete year-end schedule here.
#92
“If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul (1961)
Producer Frank Guida adapted this song from the calypso melody. Guida loved calypso music and spent some time in Trinidad; he came up with a song called “Twistin’ Matilda (And The Channel)” by combining calypso and R&B. Guida, who was from Norfolk, Virginia, had produced Gary U.S. Bonds and Tommy Facenda, but he found a new singer to record “Twistin’ Matilda” – James McCleese, who became Jimmy Soul. “Wanna Be Happy” was his follow-up song.
2017: not on survey, Highest Ranking: first year on survey
Come back each day as we unwrap another song that just missed the Great 88. You can also check out first round results here. Then join host Alan Seltzer on”The Grooveyard” for the Great 88 countdown on a special five-hour show Saturday, December 30 at 7 PM until midnight. Listen to “The Grooveyard” following “Rick’s Redneck Ranch” each Saturday night at 7 PM on 88.1 FM on Long Island, by clicking the 88.1 FM link on wcwp.org or via the TuneIn app. or the 88.1 FM button on the WCWP app for Android or iPhones. You can also follow us on Twitter.
Happy holidays from. . .
The Grooveyard 