Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans was an early 1960s vocal group produced by Phi… Read Full Bio ↴Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans was an early 1960s vocal group produced by Phil Spector, and was initially conceived as a vehicle for the lead vocals of Bobby Sheen, who took the stage name Bob B. Soxx. "The Blue Jeans" were backing vocalists, Darlene Love and Fanita James, both of whom were also members of girl group The Blossoms.

Despite Sheen's status as group leader, by the time the trio entered the recording studio, Spector was often using Darlene Love as the group's primary vocalist. Sheen sang lead on the group's first hit: 1962's "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (originally from the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South). Love, meanwhile, handled the lead vocals on Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans' two follow-up singles: 1963's "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts?" and "Not Too Young to Get Married".

Sheen and Love share vocal duties on the only album the group ever recorded (1963's Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah).

Sheen can be heard as lead vocalist on the group's final recordings, two cuts on the classic Spector-produced LP "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" (1963), on which Love also appears as a solo artist. On the cover of this album, a group portrait shows Sheen with two "Blue Jeans" vocalists who have been tentatively identified as James and yet another Blossoms member, Gloria Jones.

After 1963 the group was dropped by Philles Records and effectively ceased to exist. Sheen went back to using his real name, cut some tracks for Capitol Records in the mid 1960s, and later joined a late-running touring version of The Coasters. Love, meanwhile, recorded a few solo hits, but, more memorably was the lead vocalist on at least two hit records by The Crystals.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headed my way
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay

Oh mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Everything is gonna be satisfactual

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
Wonderful feelin'
Wonderful day

Oh mister bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Everything is gonna be

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
Wonderful feelin'
Wonderful day
Wonderful feelin'

Wonderful day
Wonderful feelin'

Overall Meaning

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a joyful and uplifting song that was originally composed for the 1946 Disney movie "Song of the South." The song has spawned numerous covers and has become a beloved classic.

The lyrics describe a perfect day, where sunshine and happiness are abundant. The singer encounters a bluebird, symbolizing hope and positivity, on their shoulder. The phrase "It's the truth, it's actual, everything is gonna be satisfactual" emphasizes the importance of positive thinking and the power of belief.

The use of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in the song title and throughout the verses is a nonsensical catchphrase that is meant to evoke a feeling of whimsy and playfulness. The song encourages listeners to embrace a childlike sense of wonder and to appreciate life's simple pleasures.

Overall, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a testament to the transformative power of happiness and optimism, and has remained a popular tune for generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
Expressing excitement and joy for the upcoming day

My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Anticipating a great day with many positive experiences

Plenty of sunshine headed my way
Expecting good things to happen

Oh mister bluebird on my shoulder
Being in a positive mood with a bluebird symbolizing happiness

It's the truth, it's actual
Confirming the reality of the situation and its positivity

Everything is gonna be satisfactual
Everything will go according to plan and result in satisfaction

Wonderful feelin'
Feeling great and positive

Wonderful day
Experiencing a truly fantastic day

Wonderful feelin'
Continuing to feel fantastic and appreciative

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Allie Wrubel, Ray Gilbert

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@user-ww7ec2ot4n

4y↑16

Lyrics:

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
My, my, my, my, my, my what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay

Woah Mister Bluebird on my shoulder
Ain’t it truth, oh no it’s actual (yeah-ay)
Everything’s gonna be (satisfactual)

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day

Oh Mister Bluebird on my shoulder
Ain’t it truth, oh no it’s actual (yeah-ay)
Everything’s gonna be (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
(One more time child)
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
(Wow, oh, oh, oh yeah)
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
(One more time now)…

All comments from YouTube:

@paracog

11w

Years before I ever saw any weed, I was laying on the floor with the lights out listening to this great cut.

@muffs55mercury61

2y↑19

I bought the 45 when the song was a few years old (maybe 1967-68) but had no idea this cut has such a heavy and rocking beat until mom got a new modern stereo in the 70s & I played my records on it. This is by far my favorite version.
Spector's private life was a train wreck but he was a top notch producer and gave us a lot of hits especially with girl groups.
Darlene Love is now 84 and is still performing from time to time.

@jeastman9603

1y↑1

"private life may have been a train wreck" is a strange euphemism for "killed a woman by shooting her in the face for refusing to sleep with him"

@johnberger4687

50w↑2

There's no "may" about Spector's private life having been a "train wreck," but you are absolutely right in saying that he was a "top notch producer" -- I'd say "brilliant" -- and that includes his work with the Alley Cats and the Righteous Brothers.

@williamallen6487

2y↑12

That guitar slowly beats the living crap out of me and the solo tears up the rest of my innards. This is song is from Hell and I love it.

@thewyldness

35w↑1

Lead guitar solo fuzz inspired Harrison to use a fuzzbox on "Think for Yourself."

@matthewhernandez7941

3y↑15

Rip Mr Spector, you crazy genius

@NENWAR

Tf is wrong with you glad he’s gone he literally killed and innocent girl

@G8GT364CI

@@NENWAR He paid the price in spades, who are you to judge and he finally died in prison from Covid, now F off.

@georgedupuy1068

2y↑7

Darlene Love was the lead singer -- she is so talented! Has the best holiday song in Christmas!

@muffs55mercury61

She's now 84 and still singing.

@trevmac8362

2y↑7

Weird ,out of nowhere I thought of this song for the first time in years and years today .. (And here I am in late 2021 listening)

@radioPete444

34w

Darlene Love out front . . . In the background of "Uncle Phil's" mix is a great guitar solo. How many times have you heard a song with a guitar solo off in the distance? What on earth was he thinking?

@josephscovitch2701

51w

Great folk song of nice optimism and easy living. Well done by Bobby S. & Darlene Love. Banned by Bob Iger and the puritans at Disney. Dance version here is a modified cha cha sound. Even played on AB by Dick Clark. Not so sure about the muffled guitar. Did not ruin the record pop nature or commercial sales popularity. Historic & Memorable. Thanks, Phil, and Soxx & Blue Jeans, Bobby Sheen, and Darlene Love, and Philles records. Great effort. Vive les pop rock & retro freaks ....

@robertkramer7625

46w

This would have been 1962/3 when I heard this for the first time when my Mum bought it on a US base in France. It was so unusual a sound,

@WEBALON12

2y↑3

Thanks for the music Phil RIP

@rosemaryaloisio7125

6y↑26

This is the BEST version !!! Love it. I am a huge fan of Phil Spector!!!

@boredonyoutube8289

5y↑4

Fan of his music, not his murder

@boredonyoutube8289

4y↑1

@@BaranoffIsaac very true me as well, but with it came an affection of sorts growing up and in retrospect it makes me feel inner guilt and also a kind of disturbance

@G8GT364CI

@@boredonyoutube8289 He paid the price.

@boredonyoutube8289

2y↑1

@@G8GT364CI Thank you for editing it I appreciate it being nicely said and mean that genuinely

@G8GT364CI

2y↑3

@@boredonyoutube8289 You're welcome. He had a rough life, a great book on him was written in 1989 called "He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer" Mark Ribowsky, it was written before the killing and is a very balanced book on both his genius and his screwed up life, it gave me a lot of perspective on him. He was so screwed up on alcohol and other stuff the last part of his life, I bet he doesn't even know himself if he did it or remember it if he did.

5 More Replies...

@geoffreyarendsr.7126

6y↑10

Spector and his great artists delivered this tune as a slow drag and gave it real soul.

@michaelmendel4004

In 1963, i saw them in concert and yes, Darlene Love was the lead singer! Wow was such a great Dick Clark Caravan of Stars!

@tomasgulas

2y↑1

Heard it on 60s Gold on Peter Noone's show today.

@j.c7719

30w

Off the damn hook!

@johnhorazy12notes

6y↑7

Gold Star Recording Studio made that special deep tone in the recordings. The studio is gone but the deep sounds can be heard in the golden classic music recorded there.

@MrmelodyUs

6y↑1

#ANALOGRULES

@pardyhardly

I'm glad that no one got shot while making this.

@scottfunkhouser

16w

According to George Harrison, this was the first song the Beatles heard that featured a fuzzy, distorted guitar. Apparently the guitar sound was not intended -- perhaps a malfunction -- but Phil Spector liked it and kept it.

@scottburton9701

2y↑1

From the Walt Disney movie "song Of The South"-Great tune!

@maipantoon7823

3y↑8

The arrangement/song that inspired about a million songs in the 60s. True story - a lot of the Beatles/Stones songs were inspired by this. Especially the use of distorted guitars - remember, this was YEARS before the Kinks popularized guitar distortion

@danawilkes6174

2y↑3

One of the very first that used the distorted guitar, was Marty Robbin's "Don't Worry About Me".

@doitnowvideosyeah5841

@@danawilkes6174 Hank Garland had a defective pre amp tube that produced a distorted sound ( as on Marty Robbins) he used to carry it with him to sessions

@ayinger2

2y↑2

@@doitnowvideosyeah5841 Just reading a book on the Wrecking Crew and according to it Billy Strange is credited as lead guitarist and removed the one tube w/o knowledge to Spector. They didn't even have the guitar's level up at all on the board --- all that you hear was bleed-through to the surrounding mics!

@j.c7719

They invented the fuzz box because of this song, Spector chose to have it sound that way

@user-ww7ec2ot4n

4y↑16

@rtrepsas

5y↑22

Unseen Phantom
Because It features, if memory serves, the great Darlene Love on lead vocals. I read her autobiography My Name Is Love, it’s terrific you should read it.
In it she describes her history with Phil Spector as he shuttled her among several different groups like the Crystals and This one, she sang lead on some of those big hits but she never got credit personal credit although there are some other hits that she was credited as the artist on.

@BobMay1

4y↑4

Richard Trepsas Bobby Sheen was the Leader of Bob-B-Soxs and The Blue Jeans with Darlene Love and right this minute I can’t remember the other girl. If it comes back to me I’ll be back.

@San-br4qv

3y↑7

@@BobMay1 Fanita James is the other girl.

@BobMay1

3y↑2

@@San-br4qv Thanks, Fernita was the other Blue Jean. My point on the other comment was that Bobby Sheen was not only the Leader but also the Lead Singer on Zippa De Doo Dah. Bobby had a great octave scale, and was a good Friend. I don’t know your age, but if you’re near my age you’d know He was a Great Entertainer.

@muffs55mercury61

2y↑1

She left the group sometime after this one was cut.

@ricardovisconti5681

48w

just heard the fuzzy bass line from the beatles "think for yourself" has been inspired by this solo

@timothymaynard5122

6y↑1

There would be no 80's without Phil Spector.

@jeffreylear7594

6y↑11

Can you imagine Phil used our Newport Beach "Surf-Band", the Centurions, to do backing tracks for Bob B. Soxx, Anything was possible back in the young 60's. Dennis Rose on lead guitar (Deceased)

@janeleekeller

3y↑1

J L ;

SPECTOR, Now Deceased.
THANK GOD 👍🏻

RIP Lana Clarkson

@G8GT364CI

@@janeleekeller He paid the price, leave him alone.

@G8GT364CI

Billy Strange was on lead guitar or at least that's what the book I just read said.

@janeleekeller

@@G8GT364CI
NO

@G8GT364CI

@@janeleekeller It's your choice to go on hating a man who died after spending 17 years in prison to pay for his sin, it only hurts you not Phil. Spector was pretty much insane besides being a genius.

6 More Replies...

@lesscobrandeau2451

3y↑22

So long Phil, you insane musical genius you. Thanks.

@janeleekeller

3y↑4

W D ;

You Mean Murdering Creep 😠

@lesscobrandeau2451

3y↑6

@@janeleekeller Musical genius, murdering creep. TomAto, Tomahto. Same thing.

@janeleekeller

3y↑1

@@lesscobrandeau2451 ;

Not quite 👿

JaneLee
5/9/21

@kicksmartjumpstick9889

3y↑1

@@janeleekeller you strange

@janeleekeller

@@kicksmartjumpstick9889 ;

You Think So 😂 !

And of Course,You're Not 😊 !

15 More Replies...

@SoulStylistJukeBox

The Amazon Prime TV series "Them'' brought me here

@DaveBinRI55

4y↑32

I hear this was the first recording to use distorted guitar. A mistake that Specter decided to leave as is

@chrisjames6327

4y↑8

It's one of the first examples - probably the 3rd song released to use distortion - but not the very first. Link Ray's "Rumble" was released in 1958, and that's commonly considered the first use of distorted guitar. And also the song that inspired most musicians of the 60s and 70s to pick up a guitar and play rock. Quite a few bands were experimenting with distortion around the time this came out. And then a few years later it was mainstream, when The Rolling Stones released "Satisfaction" and The Kinks released "You Really Got Me!

@rtrepsas

4y↑4

Upon rehearing this, I realized that I simply had glossed over that distorted guitar solo: very cool, thank you for that history. This is 1963, so other than Link Wray, it definitely preceded the Kinks’ 1965 opus.

@glennhecker4422

3y↑6

"Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston And His Rhythm King's (1951) had distorted guitar (guitarist: Willie Kizart).

@williamkraushaar

3y↑1

the first recording to use distorted bass***!

@pelofiromain3128

3y↑5

The take is known for another reason. Spector turned the guitar's track (played by Bill Strange) off. It is only heard by spilling through other instrument's mikes. Hence that particular effect, as if the guitar were recorded from another room.

4 More Replies...

@torreyreno7567

Darlene Love and the blossoms

@FVDaudio

Excelente.

@Jimbo_McBacon

4y↑7

I'd never heard this music. So sorry for the poor woman spector murdered

@rtrepsas

4y↑3

Kev Alve Referring to the crazy neurotic and power-hungry producer here: Phil Spector. Just look it up, pointing guns at artists in the studio, OK?

@janeleekeller

2y↑1

J A

Speak for Yourself Jeffy.

RIP Lana Clarkson

@Jimbo_McBacon

2y↑1

@@janeleekeller Yes I agree this man was a real monster, a worthless scumbag. I am never praising him

@janeleekeller

2y↑1

@@Jimbo_McBacon

You're a Good Man Mr. Adams.

@unseenphantomamvsytp2186

9y↑4

thank you for uploading this but why this cover?

@fromthesidelines

8y↑4

Because this was a "Top Ten" hit when it was released in 1962.

@unseenphantomamvsytp2186

+Barry I. Grauman ok

@rtrepsas

5y↑3

@maryfrench8071

The best version! In my humble opinion anyway.

@chuckcunningham9653

8y↑35

Phil Spector rocks this song out with using the Wrecking Crew musicians. Those who don't like this song know nothing about 60's style rock from the Spector studios.

@gxgerald

8y↑3

+Chuck Cunningham Phil got 17 years for murder, 2 years for possession of an unlicenced firearm. He should have got another 20 years for what he did to music.

@fromthesidelines

8y↑7

In the studio, Phil was a genius. As a human being.....he was a monster.

@Janet2268

6y↑1

Ca Nadian thepride enjoyed reading your eloquent writings. Excellent and I agree.

@socrates1818

4y↑1

check out The Rationals version/ blows this away!

@janeleekeller

3y↑1

C C

Most of us Know More than we Care to about , Murderer SPECTOR 😠 !

RIP Lana Clarkson

11 More Replies...

@luissol

7y↑18

"It was at this moment that the complex of relationships among all the layers and aspects of the sonic texture came together to bring the desired image into focus. As long as Strange’s unmiked guitar plugs away as one of the layered timbral characters that make up the track’s rhythmic groove, it is simply one strand among many in a texture whose timbres sound more like impressionistic allusions to instruments than representations. But the guitar has a latency about it, a potential. Because it has no microphone of its own, it effectively inhabits a different ambient space from the rest of the track. As it chugs along in its accompanying role, it forms a connection with a parallel sound world of which we are, for the moment, unaware. Indeed, we would never know of the secondary ambient layer were it not for the fact that this guitar is the one that takes the solo. As it steps out of the groove texture and asserts its individuality, a doorway opens to an entirely other place in the track. It becomes quite clear that this guitar inhabits a world all its own, which has been before us from the beginning yet has somehow gone unnoticed."

@danielbaldwin7888

5y↑3

Luis Sol: what is the source of that brilliant quote?

@adiohead

4y↑4

@@danielbaldwin7888 According to Wikipedia:
'The Poetics of Rock: Cutting Tracks, Making Records' by Albin J. Zak III

@danielbaldwin7888

4y↑2

Thanks!

@G8GT364CI

Well you do realize it was an error though, correct? haha! Phil was in such a rush to record it once he got his 'sound' he was told Strange's guitar mic was off and he said "Record it anyway" but it did make you aware of things going on below the surface. I suppose he could have done it for the reason you posted above but I think that's a reach, I think it was a happy accident. I think that the song is very deep with many layers would be obvious to most musicians and unconsciously felt by most non-musicians. Phil was a genius and this song especially is proof of that.

@G8GT364CI

2y↑2

Phil was in such a rush to get this recorded when he finally got "the sound" he recorded it with Billy Strange's lead guitar mic shut off, what you hear is leakage from all the live mics. RIP Phil, you had a rough life.

@robertwalker5521

47w

Self inflicted....So did Al Capone,...etc.

@dcscott100

3y↑4

Some say this was this first use of a distorted guitar. The guitar is distorted, not because it came through the amplifier that way, but because of the way it was recorded. Which is to say, through other mics in the room and not a mic set up for the guitar amplifier itself. So I would argue that it is NOT the first distorted guitar when you get technical, at least not in the way we think of them today, or since Link Wray and others deliberately distorted the sound. But no matter, what a great version! Incidentally, I think the guitar is a bit too low in the mix, therefore I don't take it as a sign of Spector's genius, which he certainly possessed, but as a miscue on this song.

@G8GT364CI

2y↑3

The guitar was low in the mix because the mic was off, there was a mic on it, Phil was just in such a rush to record it when he got "the sound" he wanted he didn't care, the engineer told him. It sounded like that out of the amp too but much bigger. Mics do not change the sound, just that the mics were way too far away to get any bottom at all out of the guitar so it ended up sounding tiny with no balls. Guitars have been recorded distorted since the early blues days, way before this and before "Rumble".
Read 'He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer' EXCELLENT very detailed book, written in 2000 by Mark Ribowski

@Naminski1a

4y↑2

Is this is a Disney song?

@Claro1993

4y↑2

Naminski Yes, it’s actually the theme for a Disney movie “Song of the South” which fell into obscurity due to its alleged racist undertone.

@elbowjames7625

2y↑1

Entire guitar solo buried.

@G8GT364CI

Mic was off, it was picked up by room mics.

@MsKatyminnie

Oh yeah . . .

@thomaskiavel6760

Massive sound, I bet this has some Sausage fattener and Ozone 8 behind.

@tryarunm

9y↑2

Please don't mind, but I have heard much better versions. Bing Crosby's is the best.

@pikaxubiq3411

6y↑3

+ tryarunm Well, sorry, but Bing Crosby's cover is just one more "Feel good" "Sounds Nice" version, maybe just in the top-ten among some hundred other versions..
This one, by Phil Spector, is TOTALLY different. Just another musical world.
Its like comparing Mozart and Heavy Metal. Both good in their own world, but quite different..
Have a nice day.

@janeleekeller

@@pikaxubiq3411 ;

And YOU, Enjoy Another one of Your Sicko Loving, Days‼️😡

JaneLee 😡
1/29/20

@maryfrench8071

Just a different opinion as we all have different likes and dislikes. For me personally, this is my favorite version but then I love the 'Phil Spector sound.'

@caribman10

3y↑1

In your opinion. A minority one, by the way.

@Kitandrox

@@pikaxubiq3411 I love Miss Darleen and I love this version. She to me was the Queen of the 60's!!!

@dougpiranha3619

5y↑1

Before SONG OF THE SOUTH had been condemned and censored.

@MrGiorgioud

Phil Spector is probably the closest thing to God ever shat into humanity. His work will always be immortal and will inspire generation after generation of talented, inquisitive and hip musicians. Even if he'd only done the guitar solo on "In Broadway" he's be a legend. But add to that all the monumental work he's revered for....I mean, come on....And then, the mighty Beatles and George Harrison and John Lennon's solo albums, and the Ranones.... Breathtaking. The only stain on a perfect career is producing that awfully boring and unimpressive band Starsailor. An unworthy shit-tainted epitaph for a stellar career....(note, I am not forgiving the manslaughter\murder and his countless character flawsI am just talking exclusively about the music).

@NENWAR

You must be joking. He killed an innocent girl now he can rot in hell

@fromthesidelines

3y↑9

R.I.P. Phil Spector (1939-2021).

@woolfy02

2y↑2

RIP IN PEACE

@briannemartindale1653

4y↑1

This song is from the Disney movie song of the south but not this version

@imnotthewalrus880

3y↑1

Good bye AND good riddance, Spector. You were an insane murderous bastard, and your only saving grace (as well as the only reason you didn't have to die in such a horrible or incredibly painful way) was all the brilliant music you gave to this earth. You had a Brain and a set of ears that were made out of gold, but a heart and soul scratched of tin.

@janeleekeller

I n t W
Zero Redemption for This Bastard 👿

RIP Lana Clarkson

@tedkay3750

The Jackson5 did this song on their first album..Dianna presents the Jackson 5! I LIKE THE J 5 VERSION MUCH BETTER.

@marfaxa

I mean the guitar sounds like shit, but it influenced all music going forward

@ER-ec4uq

3y↑1

Hardly sounds like "shit".

@WilkinsonX

If you’re looking at this through the lens of a traditional recording, the guitar will sound bad. It’s not intended as a focal point of the track, it’s a nuance.

The guitarist was playing, but he wasn’t actually even being tracked on the recording. What you’re hearing is the spillover from mics setup around the room to track other instruments.

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