Born in Belhaven, North Carolina, she moved to the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York, at a young age. Although some sources claim that her stage name was inspired by a character from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, she stated in an interview that she was named after her aunt, which prompted her family to call her "Little Eva." As a teenager, she worked as a maid and earned extra money as a babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It is often claimed that Goffin and King were amused by Boyd's particular dancing style, so they wrote "The Loco-Motion" for her and had her record it as a demo (the record was intended for Dee Dee Sharp).
However, as King said in an interview with NPR and in her "One to One" concert video, they knew she could sing when they met her, and it would be just a matter of time before they would have her record songs they wrote, the most successful being "The Loco-Motion."
Music producer Don Kirshner of Dimension Records was impressed by the song and Boyd's voice and had it released. The song reached #1 in the United States in 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. After the success of "The Loco-Motion," Boyd was stereotyped as a dance-craze singer and was given limited material.
The same year, Goffin and King wrote "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)" (performed by the Crystals) after discovering that Boyd was being regularly beaten by her boyfriend. When they inquired why she tolerated such treatment, Eva replied without batting an eyelid that her boyfriend's actions were motivated by his love for her.
Phil Spector's arrangement of the song was ominous and ambiguous.
It was a brutal song, as any attempt to justify such violence must be, and Spector's arrangement only amplified its savagery, framing Barbara Alston's lone vocal amid a sea of caustic strings and funereal drums, while the backing vocals almost trilled their own belief that the boy had done nothing wrong. In more ironic hands (and a more understanding age), 'He Hit Me' might have passed at least as satire. But Spector showed no sign of appreciating that, nor did he feel any need to. No less than the song's writers, he was not preaching, he was merely documenting.
Boyd's other single recordings were "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby," "Let's Turkey Trot," and a remake of the Bing Crosby standard "Swinging on a Star," recorded with Big Dee Irwin (though Boyd was not credited on the label). Boyd also recorded the song "Makin' With the Magilla" for an episode of the 1964 Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Magilla Gorilla Show.
She continued to tour and record throughout the sixties, but her commercial potential plummeted after 1964. She retired from the music industry in 1971. She never owned the rights to her recordings. Although the prevailing rumor in the 1970s was that she had received only $50 for "The Loco-Motion," it seems $50 was actually her weekly salary at the time she made her records (an increase of $15 from what Goffin and King had been paying her as nanny). Penniless, she returned with her three young children to North Carolina, where they lived in obscurity.
Interviewed in 1988 after the success of the Kylie Minogue cover version of "The Loco-Motion", Boyd stated that she did not like the new version; however its then-current popularity allowed her to make a comeback in show business.
She returned to live performing with other artists of her era on the cabaret and oldies circuits. She also occasionally recorded new songs.
The only existing footage of Little Eva performing "Loco-Motion" is a small clip from the ABC sixties live show Shindig! where she sang a short version of the clip along with the famous dance steps. She also sang "Let's Turkey Trot" and the Exciters' song "I Want You to Be My Boy" in the same episode. This TV show was one of her final performances until 1988, when she began performing in concerts with Bobby Vee and other singers. In a 1991 Richard Nader concert, she performed "Loco-Motion" and "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby". The concert was partially documented on videotape, albeit of marginal quality.
She continued performing until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2001. She died on April 10, 2003 in Kinston, North Carolina, at the age of 59, and is buried in a small cemetery in Belhaven, North Carolina. Her gravesite was sparsely marked until July 2008, when a report by WRAL-TV of Raleigh, North Carolina highlighted deteriorating conditions at the cemetery and efforts by the city of Belhaven to have it restored. A simple white cross had marked the site until a new gravestone was unveiled in November of that year. Her new grey gravestone has the image of a steam locomotive prominently engraved on the front and the epitaph reads: "Singing with the Angels".
Makin' With The Magilla
Little Eva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Bandsintown
We've got a gorilla for sale
Magilla Gorilla for sale
Won't you buy him
Take him home and try him
Gorilla for sale
Magilla Gorilla
Full of charm and appeal
Handsome
Elegant
Intelligent
Sweet
He's really ideal
Don't you want a little gorilla you can call your own
A gorilla who'll be with you when you're all alone
This is the Magilla Gorilla Show
Starring me and Mr. Peebles
With Mushmouse and Punkin' Puss
And Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-a-Long!
Gorilla
Magilla Gorilla for sale!
(How much is that Gorilla in the window?)
Take our advice
At any price
A gorilla like Magilla is mighty nice!
Gorilla
Magilla Gorilla for sale!
The song "Makin' With The Magilla" by Little Eva is actually a jingle for the cartoon show "The Magilla Gorilla Show" that aired in the 1960s. The lyrics are about selling Magilla Gorilla, an anthropomorphic gorilla who was a part of a pet store. The song constantly repeats the line "Magilla Gorilla for sale, won't you buy him, take him home and try him," as it tries to convince listeners to buy Magilla from the pet store.
The verse "see in the window, Magilla Gorilla, full of charm and appeal, handsome, elegant, intelligent, sweet, he's really ideal" is essentially the advertisement pitch and is accompanied by music that has a catchy upbeat tune. The chorus also repeats the question "how much is that gorilla in the window?" as it tries to attract listeners to buy Magilla.
Overall, the song's main aim was to be a playful and fun advertisement for the cartoon show, as well as to promote the cute and lovable character of Magilla Gorilla. It was an effective jingle, and the show was very popular during its time.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got a gorilla for sale
We have a gorilla available for purchase
Magilla Gorilla for sale
Specifically, our gorilla for sale is named Magilla Gorilla
Won't you buy him
Would you like to purchase Magilla Gorilla?
Take him home and try him
Take Magilla Gorilla home with you and give him a try
Gorilla for sale
We're selling a gorilla named Magilla Gorilla
See in the window
If you look in the window, you can see Magilla Gorilla
Magilla Gorilla
A gorilla, named Magilla Gorilla
Full of charm and appeal
Magilla Gorilla is very charming and appealing
Handsome
Magilla Gorilla is good-looking
Elegant
Magilla Gorilla is stylish and graceful
Intelligent
Magilla Gorilla is smart
Sweet
Magilla Gorilla is kind and caring
He's really ideal
Overall, Magilla Gorilla is the perfect pet
Don't you want a little gorilla you can call your own
Wouldn't you like to have a gorilla companion to call your own?
A gorilla who'll be with you when you're all alone
Magilla Gorilla will keep you company when you're by yourself
This is the Magilla Gorilla Show
The name of the TV show featuring Magilla Gorilla is "The Magilla Gorilla Show"
Starring me and Mr. Peebles
The show stars Magilla Gorilla and a character named Mr. Peebles
With Mushmouse and Punkin' Puss
Other characters on the show include Mushmouse and Punkin' Puss
And Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-a-Long!
Additionally, the show features Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-a-Long
How much is that Gorilla in the window?
What is the asking price for Magilla Gorilla?
Take our advice
We suggest you take our recommendation
At any price
Regardless of the cost
A gorilla like Magilla is mighty nice!
Magilla Gorilla is an incredibly nice gorilla
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ryandalton2834
Making with the Magilla
Making with the Magilla
Do you wanna do a dance that’s funky?
(Making with the Magilla)
I got something better than a monkey
Follow me now
I’ll show you how
It’s as easy as peeling a banana
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
Making with the Magilla (You got it)
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
Making with the Magilla
Squeeze her tight until she hollers “uncle” (Making with the Magilla)
Stomp around just like you’re in the jungle
Beat on your chest
Then shake the rest
Scratch your sides
And you’re doing the Magilla
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
Making with the Magilla (You got it)
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
Making with the Magilla
Well, we’re really gonna start to swing now (Making with the Magilla)
Dance around and really do the thing now
Starting to sway
Hey, that’s the way
You look fine, yeah
You do it like you own it
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
Making with the Magilla (You got it)
Making with the Magilla ( Hey, you’re doing fine now)
Making with the Magilla (You got it)
Making with the Magilla (Hey, you’re really looking fine now)
Making with the Magilla (You got it)
Making with the Magilla (You want it?)
@UNOwen1
I know I'm not the only one who saw this first as a little kid, one afternoon, and really liked the song.
At that time and age, that's pretty much all you knew.
As I grew older, I developed a passion for mucic - in particular from the early 60s through to the mid 90s (there've been a few songs - very few - which have been of note, during the past decade or so, but by and large it's aural crap).
I remember I was in a Tower Records (remember those?)? In LA,, and I saw this Japanese Little Eva compilation import, which featured this song.
'Til that moment, I hadn't connected them..
I really wish there was the cross-promotion there is now of this fun music back then, but, they didn't look at placing this track on a Hannah Barbera cartoon as anything serious (things sure have changed. Not all for the best), but if it was done today, there'd be a video of Ms Boyd doing the Magilla with Magilla on this site.
Sigh...I watch this, and I'm transported back in time to when I was a kid - hike school - just watching some TV.
@PinkLaffs
Of all the Magilla Gorilla segments, this was easily the best. Watched the show on WPIX-11 in the late 70s and always hoped this episode would air ever day.
@Prop
New York in the House
@leninmercedes926
PinkLaffs Wow...... I really love this song. Brings back to my childhood. Rushing home from school. To put on Chanel 11 WPIX nyc. Late 1970,s.
@sherriearrington6830
Lenin Mercedes yes growing up in Brooklyn New York. Doing chores on a Saturday morning and then the cartoons. Played outside all day. We kids back in the day had so fun. When the street lights came on everybody headed home. No more hanging out. That was the RULE. Miss those days 😔😢
@rockyracoon3233
The 60s was one magical time!
@bkdro70
Your from NYC...cool...I remember seeing this on channell 11 in grandmas house on her black and white tv...lol
@gwendolynbrown8248
I'm 62yrs old, but my youngest brother 10yrs old at the time in the seventies! we loved this Cartoon. these were funny and innocent, along with bugs bunny etc.free TV channels 11 -9 -5 bull crap boomerang channel, none of them are the same. this generation of children are missing out on the best.
@Rhiaanon
Had this song on my mind! Brought a big smile to my face to watch this again after all these years!😀
@codymann6152
Yes Indeed
@rogermccloud5671
Same here! Golden days indeed!