1958 single by Johnny Otis
"Willie and the Hand Jive" is a song written by Johnny Otis and originally released as a single in 1958 by Otis, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart.[1][2] The song has a Bo Diddley beat and was partly inspired by the music sung by a chain gang Otis heard while he was touring. The lyrics are about a man who became famous for doing a dance with his hands, but the song has been accused of glorifying masturbation,[2] though Otis always denied it.[3] It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Crickets, The Strangeloves, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard, Kim Carnes, George Thorogood, The Bunch, and in live performances by The Grateful Dead.[4][5] Clapton's 1974 version was released as a single and reached the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 26. Thorogood's 1985 version reached No. 25 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart.
- ^ Dean, M. (2003). Rock 'n' roll: Gold rush : a singles un-encyclopedia. Algora Publishing. pp. 330, 429. ISBN 978-0-87586-207-1.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
midnight was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
- ^ Otis, Johnny, Johnny Otis: The Capitol Years, COL CD 2773, Collectables Records, Narberth PA, 2000, liner notes.
- ^ "Willie and the Hand Jive". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-01-21.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Trager, O. (1997). The American book of the Dead: the definitive Grateful Dead encyclopedia. Simon & Schuster. p. 407. ISBN 978-0-684-81402-5.
