Song:The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
Album:It's In His Kiss: The Very Best of the Vee-Jay Years
Though The Shoop Shoop Song is frequently perceived as part of the early 60s girl group sound, the song was a departure for soul singer Betty Everett. Apparently she didn't like the song but it was her biggest chart hit. She was born Nov. 23, 1939 in Greenwood, MS and grew up singing in church. She moved to Chicago in 1957 and after recording for small labels, she signed with Vee-Jay Records in 1963. Her second single You're No Good charted. That song would be a much bigger hit for Linda Ronstadt in the 70s. Vee-Jay A & R director Calvin Carter frequently traveled to New York looking for songs. It's In His Kiss was written by Rudy Clark. He frequently wrote with Bobby Darin. He also co-wrote Good Lovin' and Everybody Plays The Fool. It's In His Kiss was rejected by The Shirelles and then Merry Clayton recorded it in 1963 with no results. Betty didn't like the song but agreed to record it. The backup singers are Vee-Jay regulars The Opals. Ramona King released the song on Warner Bros. as It's In His Kiss. Vee-Jay changed the title to The Shoop Shoop Song to distinguish Betty's version. It reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered many times but Cher's 1990 cover of The Shoop Shoop Song was the biggest cover hit. Betty Everett's other big hit was her duet with Jerry Butler of The Everly Brothers hit Let It Be Me. She recorded for Vee-Jay until they closed in 1966 and you can get all her hits on this comp from Charly Records. Betty signed with UNI Records and had a top 30 hit with There'll Come A Time in 1969. That was written and produced by Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites. She also recorded for Fantasy Records in the 70s. She moved to Beloit, WI to live with her sister in the 80s. Attempts to revive Betty's singing career were foiled by health problems. Betty Everett died on Aug. 19, 2001 at age 61. Here's a video for The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) by Betty Everett.
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