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Stand By Me
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Raindrops
Gypsy Woman
Pony Time

"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker
"Boogety, boogety, boogety, boogety shoo."

In 1961 a dance craze was launched that would populate the Billboard charts for the next two years. Since its beginnings, rock and roll had promoted dances. As rock and roll filled the airwaves, "The Stroll," "The Bop," "The Cha-Cha," "The Chalypso," and "The Hand Jive" made their way tot he dance floor. But when Chubby Checker (and Hank Ballard) introduced "The Twist" in late 1960, dance records were launched into a new orbit. Checker's "The Twist" had climbed to #1 and he needed a follow-up. Don Convey had written a song called "Pony Time" and recorded it in late 1960. It was actually an adaptation of "Boogie Woogie," a 1928 compositionof Clarence "Pinetop" Smith. When the record started getting local play in Philadelphia, Chubby Checker and Cameo/Parkway records quickly issued their own version. Both releases made the Hot 100, but Convey's peaked at #60 while Checker's went to the top of the chart. Later in the year, Checker would capitalize on the rising twist craze that was spreading across the nation and take "Let's Twist Again" into the top ten (#8). And in an unparalleled feat, at the end of 1961, "The Twist" would be re-issued and become #1 for a second time. (see 1962 "Introduction" for more twist information) Chubby Checker had become the "King of the Dance Record."

 

 

 

LYRICS:

It's pony time, get up
Boogety, boogety, boogety shoo

Hey now let's party with the union hall,
It's pony time when ya hear this call,
So get with it,
Don't quit it,
Get up.

Do the pony with your partner,
With a big boss line,
Well anyway ya do it,
You're gonna look real fine,
So get with it,
Don't quit it,
Get up.

Now ya turn to the left when I say gee,
You turn to the right when I say haw,
Now gee, ya ya baby,
Now haw, ya oh baby, oh baby, pretty baby,
Do it baby, oh baby, oh baby,
Boogety, boogety, boogety, boogety shoo.

Gonna see little Suzie, who lives next door,
She's doin' the pony, she's takin' the floor,
Eeea ah, so get with it, don't quit it, come on,
Boogety, boogety, boogety, boogety shoo.

Do the pony with your pardner,
Oh in a big boss line,
But anyway you do it,
You're gonna look just fine,
So get with, Don't quit it,
Come on. Eeeaaah

Now you turn to the left when I say gee,
You turn to the right when I say haw,
Now gee, ya ya little baby,
Now haw, ya oh baby, oh baby, pretty baby,
Do it baby, oh baby, oh baby,
Boogety, boogety, boogety, boogety shoo.
week debuted highest ranking Date Highest Rank Weeks in Top Twenty Weeks in Top Forty BillBoard Rank Cashbox Ranking GT rank
1961 1 30 1 1961 2 25 11 14 7 14 6