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DINAH LEE
Don't You Know Yockomo (Johnny Vincent - Huey "Piano" Smith) New Zealand 1964 #16 Sydney #1 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #3 Adelaide Single on Viking label (NZ), released in Australia on HMV label. Powerful, energetic New Zealand singer known as 'The Dynamic' Dinah Lee, an admirer of Dee Dee Sharp and Millie Small, born Diane Jacobs in 1943. Her rocking versions of astutely chosen songs and her cutting-edge mod image made her extremely popular in New Zealand and Australia in the mid-60s. See the full account and appreciation at Milesago. Dinah Lee also recorded Huey "Piano" Smith's Don't You Just Know It, also written by Vincent-Smith.  Update: In 2006, inspired by her success in the Long Way To The Top project, Dinah released a new album with a contemporary version of Don't You Know Yockomo (see foot of this page).
DEE DEE SHARP
Don't You Know Yockomo (Johnny Vincent - Huey "Piano" Smith) USA 1963 Influential version On 1963 album Down Memory Lane on Cameo label. This is the version that Dinah Lee was familiar with. Her version of Reet Petite was also inspired by a Dee Dee Sharp album track. (See Milesago's Dinah Lee page.) Dee Dee Sharp: singer from Philadelphia (b. 1945), real name Dione La Rue, initially a back-up singer, heard with Chubby Checker on Slow Twistin' (#3 USA, 1962). Married soul/disco producer Kenny Gamble of Gamble & Huff fame. See 1999 interview with Dee Dee Sharp by Doug Fuhrmann at The Lively Set.
HUEY 'PIANO' SMITH
Don't You Know Yockomo (Johnny Vincent - Huey "Piano" Smith) USA 1959 Original version Recorded in New Orleans for the ACE label. The co-writer credit is to Johnny Vincent, founder of ACE Records. Also recorded by: New Orleans rocker Frankie Forde; British singer Alma Cogan; German-based British beat band Casey Jones & the Governors; and by Montreal garage band Les Sexereenos. Later versions:
DINAH LEE
Yockomo: The Stellar Mix (Vincent - Smith) Australia 2006 Later version New version of Dinah's 1964 hit, recorded for her album Islands, released August 2006 on Regal Records through MGM distribution. Thanks to Doug Jansen for clarification. Corrections or comments? Contact the writer. |