"Mashed Potato Time" is a 1962 single written by Brian Holland, Daniel Rey, Dee Dee King, Freddy Gorman, Georgia Dobbins, Kal Mann, Robert Bateman, William Garrett, and performed by Dee Dee Sharp, with backing vocals by The Orlons, on her debut album It's Mashed Potato Time. The song refers to the Mashed Potato dance move, which was a fad at the time. It was one of several songs that came out at that time that referenced the dance, another being James Brown's "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."[1] The Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman" is mentioned in the lyrics and is copied in the arrangement. Also mentioned in the lyrics are the songs "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens and "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sharp recorded a follow up sequel to "Mashed Potato Time" called "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)".
"Mashed Potato Time" | |
---|---|
Single by Dee Dee Sharp | |
from the album It's Mashed Potato Time | |
B-side | "Set My Heart at Ease" |
Released | 1962 |
Recorded | 1962 |
Genre | R&B, pop |
Length | 2:27 |
Label | Cameo |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Kal Mann |
In 1996 the Campbell Soup Company used the song in a $30 million advertising campaign, featuring a new, more upbeat recording by Sharp.[2]
In 2009, the song appeared in the video game Just Dance as a playable track.
In 2022, it appeared in a TV commercial for AirBNB.
The song reached No. 1 on the Cashbox Top 100 and Billboard R&B charts in 1962,[3] as well as No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4] It was kept from the No. 1 spot by "Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles.[5] Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1962.[6] It became a gold record.
Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash," released a few months after "Mashed Potato Time", was written in part as a parody of Dee Dee Sharp's record, even copying the "whaa-oo" backing vocal.[8]
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