“Good Golly, Miss Molly” was recorded in 1956 by Little Richard and released in January 1958. The song, a jump blues, was written by John Marascalco and producer Robert “Bumps” Blackwell. Although it was first recorded by Little Richard, Blackwell produced another version by The Valiants, who imitated the fast first version recorded by Little Richard, not released at this time. Although the Valiants’ version was released first in 1957, Little Richard had the hit, reaching #4.
The song by Little Richard is ranked #94 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Like all his early hits, it quickly became a rock ‘n’ roll standard and has subsequently been covered by hundreds of artists.
Little Richard first heard the phrase “Good golly, Miss Molly” from a Southern DJ named Jimmy Pennick. He modified the lyrics into the more suggestive. “Good golly, Miss Molly/You sure like to ball.”
Little Richard himself later claimed that he took the music from Ike Turner’s piano intro to Jackie Brenston’s influential 1951 rock and roll song “Rocket 88”, and used it for “Good Golly, Miss Molly”.
“I always liked that record,” Richard recalled, “and I used to use the riff in my act, so when we were looking for a lead-in to ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’, I did that and it fit.”
Little Richard’s publisher sued Creedence Clearwater Revival over their song “Travelin’ Band,” which they claimed lifted from “Molly.” Instead of the result of the gift of a diamond ring being “When she hugs me, her kissin’ make me ting-a-ling-a-ling,” John Fogerty sang, “Would you pardon me a kissin’ and a ting-a-ling-a-ling?” A settlement was reached with Creedence giving up some of their royalties.
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