Not intended for airplay.

The Tokens were a doo wap group auditioning for a record company. An African chant -Wimowa - allowed them the opportunity to demonstrate their vocal ranges and harmonies. The executives at the company had no real intention of releasing the song; it was a demo. However, as the recording progressed, it became obvious that this song could be a hit.

The session was in New York where it wasn't hard to find an opera singer who would be happy to make a little extra money singing on this "demo" so Anita Darien was brought in from the opera to add the high notes which played as big a part of the song's success as anything.

Once the song was completed, the company wanted to release it. The Tokens said "No!" This was a demo. Not a record.
The record company got their way, the song was released, and it skyrocketed to number one and remains a classic to this day.

---

John Cougar Mellencamp was most influenced by:

A) Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley
B) Cat Stephens, John Lennon, the Cars
C) Bob Dylan, Woodie Guthrie, the Rolling Stones
D) George Jones, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie



The answer: Click here.