Millie Small was 17 when she recorded thus huge world wide hit in 1964 , No2 in the U.S and U.K ...young Millie a legend and the first Ska hit , singing in her broad Jamaican accent ..such a beautiful girl , infectious smile she stole hearts and brought Jamaican Music energy to the world , she was the first , the first Ska hit and also the first hit from Island Records...of course recording label of Reggae Legend and Fellow Jamaican Bob Marley ....no one else could have brought that energetic , sunny , fun dance craze sound to a world listening to Rock n Roll , The Brit Pop Invasion and of course Motiwn and Soul Millie passed away in 2020 RIP bless she never aged as you can see in your 1970s clip ...in terms of Black music and a girl who created musical first at just 17 years Millie Small was , is a legend and trailblazer for yes even Bob Marley ..other Ska and Reggae Legends from Jamaica followed but thus 17 year old bundle of amazing energy , in 1964 was a first in many things god bless young Millie
As Mike said below, this song was released in 1964. I was 7 yrs. old when this song came out. Brings back a lot of great childhood memories. Thanks for a great reaction! 💙✌
Sorry, wrong Lady. The original was Barbie Gaye. She was only 14. It was released in 1956 the year I was born and I'm 65. Just a cover, good cover but still a cover.
I just read Chris Blackwell (Island Records) autobiography. She was 15 when it was recorded. It was his first big hit on the label and literally funded the growth of Island into the company it became.
Wow! About time someone reacted to this gem from the golden era. You are correct about the Caribbean vibe, Mel (ska genre). Millie was Jamaican and released this song as a teenager in the early sixties; reached #2 in the US and sold 7 million copies worldwide. The version you watched was a famous lip-sync nightclub performance from the seventies. She is a cutie also!
"My Boy Lollipop" was a top ten hit in the U.S. for Millie Small in 1964 when she was still a teenager. Millie Small was from Jamaica, so Caribbean, yep. It's one of the top-selling ska songs of all time, more or less introducing that style of music to the world. You could say she was a one-hit wonder, but only in the U.S., as she enjoyed some additional success in Jamaica and the UK. For more classic sixties ska, check out The Wailing Wailers "Simmer Down" (1965), Desmond Dekker "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), and Toots & The Maytals "Monkey Man" (1968).
wow. thanks so much, for that. i was a nine year old [white] boy, when this first came out. i immediately fell in love with both her and the song. she was just 16 and i thought she was the most beautiful girl i'd ever seen, with those sparkling eyes and glorious smile. it's the only song, from that era, that has always stuck with me. i'll never forget either it, or her, until my dying day.
This Beautiful soul millie small,I,love her so much ...,she lived in London and she was just amazing .she passed away during peak covid Also to add she was definitely a pioneer of the Hippie movement in the 🇬🇧 during the 60s and 70s promoting love - friendship - diversity and continuous progression between Black and white in the UK im so proud we had her here and she fulfilled a true coming to the United Kingdom dream / pursued goals and ambitions and made her a name that won't be forgotten any time soon ❤ Another decent group to added to that kind of genra / but not the Hippe movment later towards the end of decade was groups like UB40
Millie was such a fresh person when she performed this song. What an inspiration she was. Now I was only 9 years old when she did this song, and I watched shows in the evenings like Lawrence Welk, Jimmy Dorsey and so on but as a kid never really paid attention to any of the performers. I wished I had tho. I do remember hearing that song when I was little and my mom would sing this while she was getting ready for work. I didn’t know who Millie was at that age but remember liking the song. Can you imagine Millie in todays Pop Culture? Me too. I sure do miss all those days of music.
The harmonica riff after the bridge was played by Rod Stewart when he was just a studio musician. This was recorded 1964. Only the video was done in '73. Love you guys! Hope you go on for years!
I heard this back then liked actually like it more now. Never saw her until now was out in 63 or 64. Listening closely with headphones realizing she has a good voice.
Millie Small was a Jamaican singer & songwriter. She is best known for her 1964 hit "My Boy Lollipop". She released a few other songs but not with the same success. She passed away in 2020.
This is a cover. Barbie Gaye released it in 1956. She's the one that changed the name to "My Boy Lollipop" original name was "My Girl Lollipop". Sorry folks it's been covered over and over. Unless you're old enough to remember the original from 56, it's a cover. 🤔😎
Jamaican Independence is coming up and inevitably every Jamaican radio station will be playing this song. Lol. This song definitely has that ska bluebeat vibe. R.I.P. Ms. Small.
Millicent Dolly May Small (10/6/1947-5/5/2020)CD [The Order of Distinction is a national order of the Jamaican Honors System]. Written by Robert Spencer, Morris Levy and Johnny Roberts in 1964. It was originally titled "My Girl Lillypop" originally recorded by Barbie Gaye (1956). Millie reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100. The song was only 2:01 min.
I'd be very surprised if this song - issued nearly sixty years ago - wasn't still used for a wedding or other celebration for people to get on their feet and dance. I was sixteen at the time, oh, blimey. Robert, UK.
As other comments have noted. Worth checking out earlier black and white clips from 1964. At 17 Millie probably had the first international ska hit with this in ‘64. When she was such a little cutie!
SHAWN and MEL, HERE is the video you should have watched. ua-cam.com/video/fMw4_QPDxPo/v-deo.html Millie singing it in 1964 when she originally had the hit with it, the one you reacted to was in the '70s and she was lip syncing to her 1964 recording. THIS is how we saw her back in 1964. She is 16 here, just a year younger than I was at the time. It went to #2 in the US during the height of "Beatlemania" I LOVE this song and I am STUNNED that you reacted to it....I NEVER thought ANYONE would!! THANK YOU FOR DOING SO. Sadly she is no longer with us. RIP Millie.
You guys are awesome , you are coving all bases. I remember listening to this song in the 80's in my car sometimes on a really good oldies station in Florida. Again , please check out Lou Christie doing "Lightning Strikes" you will love it!!!
The original song was by barbie Gaye from the 50s, but Millie made it into her version that is so happy and content, that’s why everyone loves it so much 🤗
This may well have been a 1973 appearance, possibly even later, but she was lip-syncing her 1964 ska cover of a Barbara Gaye hit, which was itself a cover. The original. however, was indeed a doo-wop recording from the 50s. Millie was a Jamaican signed by Jamaica-based British entrepreneur, Chris Blackwell, who would later make his name as boss of Island Records and is credited as launching Bob Marley. Throughout the 50s and early 60s, a burgeoning Jamaican diaspora in Britain had been forced to plough its own furrow in the face of animosity from locals. They established their own nightclubs and regular 'blues' parties, often in residential properties, and imported records from the Caribbean and the US to play on mobile 'sound systems'. The average Brit, meanwhile, frequented pubs or listened to live schmaltz or skiffle in ballrooms. Blackwell sensed an opportunity and began licensing Jamaican recordings for his own fledgling label in Europe. It wasn't long before noted Jamaican recording artists would in fact be based in London and other major UK conurbations. Millie, for example, spent most of the rest of her life in London. The only other song I remember by Millie was an unsuccessful follow-up called Sweet William or something similar . . . and yes, that was her natural voice, albeit she was a teenager when Lollipop was recorded.
I came to the comments to see if anyone related the role of Chris Blackwell in the making of this hit. I just listened to an interview with Blackwell a few weeks ago . What an interesting life he has had.
Millie first had a hit with My boy lollipop in the early 1960’s when she was younger . This is her lip sinc -ing it on a TV show about 10 years later ,probably because it had maybe been re -released & re entered the charts in the U.K. or the USA .
A ska classic covered later by the ska revival band Bad Manners which in turn is a cover version of a 1950's doo wop classic "My Girl Lollypop" by Barbie Gayle of the Cadillacs
If you like this song you might also like "Party Lights" by Claudine Clark or "Lovers Concerto" by The Toys , also "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.
It was 60s! This was a later performance of the original hit. She looks older. Ska old reggae,. A breakthrough watered down pop version of reggae. Some are famous some pave the way and don't get the credit they deserve.
I DO believe THIS song was the Reggae genre's first major hit. This kinda put Reggae music on the map. It's pretty easy to dismiss this song as bubble gum pop music, but the Reggae roots are strong in this song......the beat and that horn section are 100 percent Reggae
Please someone tell me I am NOT the only person who immediately thinks of the old HBO series "Real Sex" when they hear this song lmao......that show LOVED this song......AND the song "Patricia" by Perez Prado lol
The rumor has it that THIS harmonica solo is performed by the one and only Rod Stewart. Rod Stewart denies it, but Millie Smalls herself swore her entire life that it was Stewart.......what exactly a really young, 18 year old Rod Stewart was doing at a recording session at Island Records in 1963, and only playing a harmonica is anyone's wild guess. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But it's easy for these guys to forget stuff like that when you've had the giant, epic career Stewart has. My father was an EXTREMELY successful session baritone and tenor sax player for Motown Records early years and then later with Elvis. He was on so many number one's and top ten hits for Motown Records that he couldn't even remember what stuff he did and DIDN'T record. So it's definitely plausible that it's old Rod Stewart
This song's history is a Mafia story.. It was literally stolen from the true writer, and the two credited with writing it didn't write a single word of the song.. Robert Spencer of the doo-wop group The Cadillacs, wrote this song in the middle 50s. It was stolen by gangsters Morris Levy, and Johnny Roberts and recorded first by white teenager Barbie Gaye, before Jamaican Millie Small covered it and made it a hit.
What are you talking about! This masterpiece came out in the ‘60s! When I was only 8 and
I ❤ it so much still TODAY!
She was beautiful and had just a wonderfully unique voice. Love it!
Always sang along to this cute tune
Millie Small was 17 when she recorded thus huge world wide hit in 1964 , No2 in the U.S and U.K ...young Millie a legend and the first Ska hit , singing in her broad Jamaican accent ..such a beautiful girl , infectious smile she stole hearts and brought Jamaican Music energy to the world , she was the first , the first Ska hit and also the first hit from Island Records...of course recording label of Reggae Legend and Fellow Jamaican Bob Marley ....no one else could have brought that energetic , sunny , fun dance craze sound to a world listening to Rock n Roll , The Brit Pop Invasion and of course Motiwn and Soul Millie passed away in 2020 RIP bless she never aged as you can see in your 1970s clip ...in terms of Black music and a girl who created musical first at just 17 years Millie Small was , is a legend and trailblazer for yes even Bob Marley ..other Ska and Reggae Legends from Jamaica followed but thus 17 year old bundle of amazing energy , in 1964 was a first in many things god bless young Millie
My mother used to sing this around the house when I was small.
Jamaican Queen of Ska! RIP Queen.
My 1st tv crush, i watched her do that song on tv in 1960s, RIP Millie
Love that ska rhythm. So many great ska songs back in the sixties.
This was my first taste of modern Caribbean music... Millie stole our hearts!
Another great banger. 👍 Love this song. 🎵 🎶
As Mike said below, this song was released in 1964. I was 7 yrs. old when this song came out. Brings back a lot of great childhood memories. Thanks for a great reaction! 💙✌
Me, too!
The year i was born
Finally - somebody reviewing this - big in the ‘60’s!!
She was 16 when she released this song(a cover). Big hit in 1964.
She was eighteen and I was six. But we didn't care. We were young and in love. Well, I was, anyway.
Sorry, wrong Lady. The original was Barbie Gaye. She was only 14. It was released in 1956 the year I was born and I'm 65. Just a cover, good cover but still a cover.
Either way she was 16 18 that song really connect it to teenagers and younger
I just read Chris Blackwell (Island Records) autobiography. She was 15 when it was recorded. It was his first big hit on the label and literally funded the growth of Island into the company it became.
I thought it was in the 60s
A true genuine "feel good" song. The world needs more of that.
So happy you did this one I love it
Wow! About time someone reacted to this gem from the golden era. You are correct about the Caribbean vibe, Mel (ska genre). Millie was Jamaican and released this song as a teenager in the early sixties; reached #2 in the US and sold 7 million copies worldwide. The version you watched was a famous lip-sync nightclub performance from the seventies. She is a cutie also!
was huge in europe too in the 60s
"My Boy Lollipop" was a top ten hit in the U.S. for Millie Small in 1964 when she was still a teenager. Millie Small was from Jamaica, so Caribbean, yep. It's one of the top-selling ska songs of all time, more or less introducing that style of music to the world. You could say she was a one-hit wonder, but only in the U.S., as she enjoyed some additional success in Jamaica and the UK. For more classic sixties ska, check out The Wailing Wailers "Simmer Down" (1965), Desmond Dekker "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), and Toots & The Maytals "Monkey Man" (1968).
great recommendations Mike
wow. thanks so much, for that. i was a nine year old [white] boy, when this first came out. i immediately fell in love with both her and the song. she was just 16 and i thought she was the most beautiful girl i'd ever seen, with those sparkling eyes and glorious smile. it's the only song, from that era, that has always stuck with me. i'll never forget either it, or her, until my dying day.
That’s a fun song. And you can see it when she sings it
Originally recorded in the 60's- How cool is this ?!!! She is adorable!
he makes my heart go giddy up. ya never forget this song.
This Beautiful soul millie small,I,love her so much ...,she lived in London and she was just amazing .she passed away during peak covid
Also to add she was definitely a pioneer of the Hippie movement in the 🇬🇧 during the 60s and 70s promoting love - friendship - diversity and continuous progression between Black and white in the UK im so proud we had her here and she fulfilled a true coming to the United Kingdom dream / pursued goals and ambitions and made her a name that won't be forgotten any time soon ❤
Another decent group to added to that kind of genra / but not the Hippe movment later towards the end of decade was groups like UB40
🇨🇦🤗 This was the 60 's. I was about 9 when it came out. Good call with Caribbean
I love her.
When I heard Millie passed a wave of sadness hit me. I can't explain why.
Millie was such a fresh person when she performed this song. What an inspiration she was. Now I was only 9 years old when she did this song, and I watched shows in the evenings like Lawrence Welk, Jimmy Dorsey and so on but as a kid never really paid attention to any of the performers. I wished I had tho. I do remember hearing that song when I was little and my mom would sing this while she was getting ready for work. I didn’t know who Millie was at that age but remember liking the song. Can you imagine Millie in todays Pop Culture? Me too. I sure do miss all those days of music.
Awesome 👏 thank you 🙏 for your great reactions
You're right Mel!..
This song was released in 1964 and she was known as Little Millie Small. She was from Jamaica
Fantastic song RIP MILLIE SMALL
Wow superhit from 64 i was 11 years when this was on the radio
A hit originally in 1964 unfortunately Millie is no longer with us.
It was originally a hit in the 50's by The Cadillacs
The harmonica riff after the bridge was played by Rod Stewart when he was just a studio musician. This was recorded 1964. Only the video was done in '73. Love you guys! Hope you go on for years!
I heard this back then liked actually like it more now. Never saw her until now was out in 63 or 64. Listening closely with headphones realizing she has a good voice.
Millie Small was a Jamaican singer & songwriter. She is best known for her 1964 hit "My Boy Lollipop". She released a few other songs but not with the same success. She passed away in 2020.
omg Mel made me bust up when she said is that her voice LOL
This video was from a performance in the 70's...but done back in 64 I believe.
This is a cover. Barbie Gaye released it in 1956. She's the one that changed the name to "My Boy Lollipop" original name was "My Girl Lollipop". Sorry folks it's been covered over and over. Unless you're old enough to remember the original from 56, it's a cover. 🤔😎
Jamaican Independence is coming up and inevitably every Jamaican radio station will be playing this song. Lol. This song definitely has that ska bluebeat vibe. R.I.P. Ms. Small.
She was a cutie. That's for sure.
I havent heard this since 1964. This Live version looks like the 70s.
Huge international hit. Here in the U.S. too. We just lost Millie a couple of years ago.
She does a duet with Jimmy Cliff called "Hey Boy! Hey Girl!" that is one of my favourite old songs.
This is blue beat the forerunner of reggae. It was a huge in the early 60’s.
Millicent Dolly May Small (10/6/1947-5/5/2020)CD [The Order of Distinction is a national order of the Jamaican Honors System]. Written by Robert Spencer, Morris Levy and Johnny Roberts in 1964. It was originally titled "My Girl Lillypop" originally recorded by Barbie Gaye (1956). Millie reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100. The song was only 2:01 min.
Her talking voice is (was) like her singing.When this song came out,I had no idea how gorgeous she was.UA-cam has been fun.
She did some really neat covers of Fats Domino songs...check out "Three Nights a Week" and "What a Price"....worth a listen!!
Millie helped to bring ska music from Jamaica during the 60's. 🇨🇦🔥👍💖
This was a beach song when it came out that summer.
I remember when I was little when my parents got drunk they would pay us to sing song penny candy this song I chose
THIS IS MUSIC..
I'd be very surprised if this song - issued nearly sixty years ago - wasn't still used for a wedding or other celebration for people to get on their feet and dance. I was sixteen at the time, oh, blimey. Robert, UK.
As other comments have noted. Worth checking out earlier black and white clips from 1964. At 17 Millie probably had the first international ska hit with this in ‘64. When she was such a little cutie!
Try the songs "Lollipop" by The Chordettes or "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows " by Lesley Gore
SHAWN and MEL, HERE is the video you should have watched. ua-cam.com/video/fMw4_QPDxPo/v-deo.html Millie singing it in 1964 when she originally had the hit with it, the one you reacted to was in the '70s and she was lip syncing to her 1964 recording. THIS is how we saw her back in 1964. She is 16 here, just a year younger than I was at the time. It went to #2 in the US during the height of "Beatlemania" I LOVE this song and I am STUNNED that you reacted to it....I NEVER thought ANYONE would!! THANK YOU FOR DOING SO. Sadly she is no longer with us. RIP Millie.
You guys are awesome , you are coving all bases. I remember listening to this song in the 80's in my car sometimes on a really good oldies station in Florida. Again , please check out Lou Christie doing "Lightning Strikes" you will love it!!!
1964 Hit for her, video must be 70"s
Today she’d be a Disney star 💫
1964 classic! I believe this was the first reggae song that that made it on main stream radio.
Really cute one..😉👍🏻
The original song was by barbie Gaye from the 50s, but Millie made it into her version that is so happy and content, that’s why everyone loves it so much 🤗
It was a young Rod Stewart playing harmonica on the record
Just an upbeat feel good song, with a sharp crisp voice.
Song was so popular in 1964 that Mayor Wagner IN NYC pronounced a day in her name
This may well have been a 1973 appearance, possibly even later, but she was lip-syncing her 1964 ska cover of a Barbara Gaye hit, which was itself a cover. The original. however, was indeed a doo-wop recording from the 50s. Millie was a Jamaican signed by Jamaica-based British entrepreneur, Chris Blackwell, who would later make his name as boss of Island Records and is credited as launching Bob Marley. Throughout the 50s and early 60s, a burgeoning Jamaican diaspora in Britain had been forced to plough its own furrow in the face of animosity from locals. They established their own nightclubs and regular 'blues' parties, often in residential properties, and imported records from the Caribbean and the US to play on mobile 'sound systems'. The average Brit, meanwhile, frequented pubs or listened to live schmaltz or skiffle in ballrooms. Blackwell sensed an opportunity and began licensing Jamaican recordings for his own fledgling label in Europe. It wasn't long before noted Jamaican recording artists would in fact be based in London and other major UK conurbations. Millie, for example, spent most of the rest of her life in London. The only other song I remember by Millie was an unsuccessful follow-up called Sweet William or something similar . . . and yes, that was her natural voice, albeit she was a teenager when Lollipop was recorded.
I came to the comments to see if anyone related the role of Chris Blackwell in the making of this hit. I just listened to an interview with Blackwell a few weeks ago . What an interesting life he has had.
I happen to own a 45 RPM of Sweet William. Flip side What Am I Living For.
Millie first had a hit with My boy lollipop in the early 1960’s when she was younger . This is her lip sinc -ing it on a TV show about 10 years later ,probably because it had maybe been re -released & re entered the charts in the U.K. or the USA .
The flip side to My Boy Lollipop was Gee Wiz.
Would play Gee Wiz alot.
A charming song, & unique voice. In Oz, this is one of the Munchkins' favorite songs, especially the members of "the Lollipop Guild".
I absolute;y love the lollipop guild; I want to join those little jerks and dance just like they do! 😋
@@festidious2644 Let's find Dorothy's red slippers, & see if they work in reverse!
A ska classic covered later by the ska revival band Bad Manners which in turn is a cover version of a 1950's doo wop classic "My Girl Lollypop" by Barbie Gayle of the Cadillacs
You gotta watch her perform it in 1964 when it was a hit for her..she was 16. First ska hit in America too.
I’m sure she was born on October 6 1946 which makes her 17 when the song was recorded by Millie
This song came out in 1964. She was from Jamaica. Check out her other earlier videos on UA-cam. A one hit wonder!
Sweet little 16 yr old girl. And this song is a classic
That was a hit for her I think in 58 or 60.
Love this song Brings back good memories
I used to sing this to my grandson all the time. He says he still remember that song. Great choice
I remember Millie she was so cute
If you like this song you might also like "Party Lights" by Claudine Clark or "Lovers Concerto" by The Toys , also "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.
♥️
☮️💜
The song aired in 1964. She was a kid. Her voice didn't change. In my opinion, this song is a classic from the 1960s.
This song was originally released Barbie Gaye in 1956
This was the early 1960s!
Although the video says 1973-she is actually lip-synching to her 1964 recording.
first time it occurs to me that this may be where cyndi lauper got the style
It was 60s! This was a later performance of the original hit. She looks older. Ska old reggae,. A breakthrough watered down pop version of reggae. Some are famous some pave the way and don't get the credit they deserve.
This is actually older. She recorded this in 1964-1965 as a teen. I don’t know if she’s lip syncing here in ‘73
I DO believe THIS song was the Reggae genre's first major hit. This kinda put Reggae music on the map. It's pretty easy to dismiss this song as bubble gum pop music, but the Reggae roots are strong in this song......the beat and that horn section are 100 percent Reggae
I think the song actually came out in the early 60s.
Our preacher allowed us to listen to this song and assured us there was nothing Freudian about it at all.
☮️💙💙💙😍
Please someone tell me I am NOT the only person who immediately thinks of the old HBO series "Real Sex" when they hear this song lmao......that show LOVED this song......AND the song "Patricia" by Perez Prado lol
That harmonica is being played by some Brit you wouldn't expect; I forget who - Rod Stewart, maybe? Someone of that ilk. Look it up.
The rumor has it that THIS harmonica solo is performed by the one and only Rod Stewart. Rod Stewart denies it, but Millie Smalls herself swore her entire life that it was Stewart.......what exactly a really young, 18 year old Rod Stewart was doing at a recording session at Island Records in 1963, and only playing a harmonica is anyone's wild guess. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But it's easy for these guys to forget stuff like that when you've had the giant, epic career Stewart has. My father was an EXTREMELY successful session baritone and tenor sax player for Motown Records early years and then later with Elvis. He was on so many number one's and top ten hits for Motown Records that he couldn't even remember what stuff he did and DIDN'T record. So it's definitely plausible that it's old Rod Stewart
👏🏽👌🏾👏🏽👌🏾👏🏽🇲🇽
She's Jamaican
This Ska Music, not DoWap. A music from Jamaica, before reggae became exist.
you should watch the video of her singing "SOMETHINGS GOTTA BE DONE" on UA-cam
That was pop in the mid sixties. Mixed for Am radio
R.I.P. Side note Millie & Mel could be sisters.❤
Rod Stewart left the backing group four months before
This song's history is a Mafia story.. It was literally stolen from the true writer, and the two credited with writing it didn't write a single word of the song.. Robert Spencer of the doo-wop group The Cadillacs, wrote this song in the middle 50s. It was stolen by gangsters Morris Levy, and Johnny Roberts and recorded first by white teenager Barbie Gaye, before Jamaican Millie Small covered it and made it a hit.