Splish Splash (song)

"Splish Splash"
Single by Bobby Darin
B-side"Judy Don't Be Moody"
ReleasedMay 19, 1958
RecordedApril 10, 1958
Atlantic Studios
(New York, New York)
Genre
Length2:12
LabelAtco #6117
Songwriter(s)Bobby Darin, Murray Kaufman
Bobby Darin singles chronology
"Just in Case You Change Your Mind"
(1958)
"Splish Splash"
(1958)
"Early in the Morning"
(1958)

"Splish Splash" is a 1958 novelty rock song performed and co-written by Bobby Darin.

It was written with DJ Murray the K (Murray Kaufman), who bet that Darin could not write a song that began with the words, "Splish splash, I was takin' a bath", as suggested by Murray's mother, Jean Kaufman. The song was credited to Darin and "Jean Murray" (a combination of their names) to avoid any hint of payola.

It was Darin's first hit and the song helped to give him a major boost in his career, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. pop singles chart, No. 2 on the R&B Best Sellers chart,[2] and No. 3 in Canada.[3] "Splish Splash" was Darin's only entry on the C&W Best Sellers in Stores chart, where it peaked at No. 14.[4] In a 1967 interview,[5] Darin claimed that he was so happy about having his first hit that his skin condition cleared up.[6]

  1. ^ a b Burke, Ken (January 1, 1998). "Bobby Darrin". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 121–122.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 145.
  3. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - July 14, 1958".
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 97.
  5. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "A-D interview index" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference pc13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).