A Little Bit Of Soap

Album: A Little Bit Of Soap (1961)
Charted: 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Laurie label from New York wanted something like The Drifters and found the soundalike Jarmels, from Richmond, Virginia. Bert Berns, who later worked with Van Morrison and other greats, wrote "A Little Bit Of Soap" for the group, which became a one hit wonder. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    paul - enkhuizen, Netherlands

Comments: 6

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1961 {August 7th} the Jarmels performed "A Little Bit of Soap" on the ABC-TV weekday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    Six weeks later it would peak at #12 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, and it spent ten non-consecutive weeks on the Top 100...
    "A Little Bit of Soap" was written by Bert Berns, who also penned such hits as "Here Comes the Night", "Piece of My Heart", "Hang on Sloopy", and "Twist and Shout"...
    Four covered versions of "A Little Bit of Soap' have made the Top 100 chart, Garnet Mimms {#95 in 1961}, The Exciters {#58 in 1966}, Paul Davis {#52 in 1970}, and Nigel Olsson {#34 in 1979}...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 27th 1965, Garnet Mimms' covered version of "A Little Bit of Soap" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart for a one week stay at position #95...
    Four years earlier on September 18th, 1961 the Jarmels' original version of the song peaked at #12 for one week...
    Three other covered versions have made the Top 100 chart; The Exciters {#58 in 1966}, Paul Davis {#52 in 1970}, and Nigel Olsson {#34 in 1979}...
    Sadly, Paul Davis passed away on April 22nd, 2008; the day after his 60th birthday...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Adrian from Johor Bahru, MalaysiaThere was another version by the Hong Kong based group The Fabulous Echoes.
  • Soong Jing from Beijing, ChinaI heard this song in high school ten years ago, I love it. At that time I was busy with my learning things, but when I listened to this lovely song in weekend, I swinged along with it, I miss that happy feeling.
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaMy brother loved this song back in the day....

    cool little record.
  • Kevin from Reading , PaElton John's longtime drummer, Nigel Olssen, did a remake of this in the late 70s or early 80s and had, I believe, a Top 40 hit with it. Probably his only one as a solo artist. Later on, Elton rehired Nigel and the other members of his band during his hottest years, 1971-75. Foolishly, Elton replaced most of them in late '75 when he recorded a pretty sub-par album called "Rock of the Westies." This album wenet to #1, as did the first single, "Island Girl," but it marked the beginning of a creative and commercial decline that lasted fo some time.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."