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Back in1963, the duo of Bob & Earl released a single that, like many songs of the era, promoted a new dance craze. (Examples included The Twist, The Locomotion, The Limbo, The Pony and The Watusi)
Unfortunately, "The Harlem Shuffle" did not catch on here in the US, and the song stalled at #44 on Billboard's Hot 100.
Over in UK, it didn't chart at all...until it was re-released in 1969 and reached #7 on the British Charts.
At that point, it caught the attention of Keith Richards, who fell in love with the song...and thought it would be perfect for The Rolling Stones.
On the other hand, Keith was pretty sure Mick Jagger would never want to record it. After all, it would be a "cover" and for the most part, (with a few exceptions) The Stones avoided covers. More importantly, Keith didn't think Mick would record a song about a dance craze.
In the mid-80s, however, while The Stones were taking one of their periodic breaks from performing and recording, Keith was working with American singer/songwriter Bobby Womack--who also loved the song--and they came up with a plan.
Instead of directly pitching "The Harlem Shuffle" to Mick, Keith would make cassettes of the song, and hide them in Mick's luggage--and several other spots where they might be found--and listened to.
That didn't appear to work at all--until the day the Stones were set to begin recording their 1986 album "Dirty Work." Mick walked into the studio singing the song!
He not only loved it, he agreed to record it...even though it was about a dance craze...and it became The Stones' first cover release in 21 years!
As a single, "The Harlem Shuffle" took the world by storm ...charting in 19 countries while reaching the Top10 in 15!
In the US, It was a FOUR-Chart Hit: #2 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart, #4 on the Dance Club Chart, and #5 on both the Dance Singles Chart and the Hot 100!
According to Keith, it was well worth all money he spent on cassettes.
Fun Fact: The list of background signers on the track was pretty impressive: Tom Waits, Jimmy Cliff, Beverly DeAngelo, Kirsty McColl, and the future Mrs. Springsteen, Patty Scialfa.
"The Harlem Shuffle:" It may not have been a "Great Song of 1963 by Bob & Earl---but it was certainly destined to become Great in 1986, thanks to the Rolling Stones (with a nod to Bobby Womack)!
Bob & Earl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bZyk5mixXk
Tomorrow: Spanish Madonna
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