Uploaded May 2015 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
An attempt at starting a new dance craze called "The Hootch"; the plan was foiled when DJ's balked at playing the record since "Hootch" is slang for alcohol and it was worried that the meaning of the record may be misinterpreted by listeners. The B-side is "It's Summer Time U.S.A." and it probably should have been the A-side anyway as cute as "The Hootch" is, as it's a great rousing summer anthem. After the "Hootch" controversy, Mercury issued another picture sleeve for the single, switching the A and B-sides and started to promote "Summertime U.S.A." As a result, that side did bubble under the Hot 100 and you can check it out elsewhere on this channel. "The Hootch" itself did manage to chart locally in the Top 30 in Erie, Pennsylvania on the WJET radio survey in June 1964, so there appears to have been at least one DJ who was not afraid to play it.
Original Billboard review: "First is a great, driving rock dance number sung to the appaluse of a cast of thousands. Flip is right in groove for the younger set ready for summer vacation. Gals run the gamut of major cities in the lyric."
Written by Madara, White, Huff and Carl.
An attempt at starting a new dance craze called "The Hootch"; the plan was foiled when DJ's balked at playing the record since "Hootch" is slang for alcohol and it was worried that the meaning of the record may be misinterpreted by listeners. The B-side is "It's Summer Time U.S.A." and it probably should have been the A-side anyway as cute as "The Hootch" is, as it's a great rousing summer anthem. After the "Hootch" controversy, Mercury issued another picture sleeve for the single, switching the A and B-sides and started to promote "Summertime U.S.A." As a result, that side did bubble under the Hot 100 and you can check it out elsewhere on this channel. "The Hootch" itself did manage to chart locally in the Top 30 in Erie, Pennsylvania on the WJET radio survey in June 1964, so there appears to have been at least one DJ who was not afraid to play it.
Original Billboard review: "First is a great, driving rock dance number sung to the appaluse of a cast of thousands. Flip is right in groove for the younger set ready for summer vacation. Gals run the gamut of major cities in the lyric."
Written by Madara, White, Huff and Carl.
