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"The Nitty Gritty" is a 1963 song written by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Shirley Ellis. Released by Congress Records, it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1964. In Canada it was No. 19 for 2 weeks.

Cover versions

• Motown released a version of "The Nitty Gritty" by Gladys Knight & The Pips in mid-1969 on its Soul imprint. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the soul chart. In Canada it reached No. 27.
• A version by Diana Ross & The Supremes can be found on the 2001 edition of their album, Anthology.
• Southern Culture on the Skids covered it on the Dirt Track Date album.

Popular culture

• A televised performance of the dance associated with the song by Robert Banas, recorded for a January 1964 episode of The Judy Garland Show, has had more than 18 million views on YouTube, 60 years after its original airing.

References

1. Considine, J.D.; Coleman, Mark; Evans, Paul; McGee, David (1992). "Gladys Knight and the Pips". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Random House. pp. 163–164.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 205.
3. "CHUM Hit Parade - December 30, 1963".
4. "CHUM Hit Parade - January 6, 1964".
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 330.
6. "RPM Top 100 Singles - August 30, 1969" (PDF).
7. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Best 60s Dancer Boy Ever - The Nitty Gritty. YouTube.

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• 1963 songs
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• Gladys Knight & the Pips songs
• Songs written by Lincoln Chase
• Novelty songs
• 1960s rhythm and blues song stubs