Released September 1966 Genre Rock, blue eyed soul | Format 7" Label New Voice | |
Length 3:01 (with "Good Golly, Miss Molly") Writer(s) Frederick Long, William Stevenson | ||
"Devil with a Blue Dress On" (also known as "Devil with the Blue Dress On") is a song written by Shorty Long and William "Mickey" Stevenson, first performed by Long and released as a single in 1964. A later version recorded by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels in 1966 peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Contents
Song information
"Devil with the Blue Dress On" was originally released as Shorty Long's debut single on Motown in 1964, but the single failed to chart.
Two years later, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels recorded the song as a medley with an original arrangement of Little Richard's "Good Golly, Miss Molly". Their version was notably more up-tempo than Long's more blues-influenced rendition. Reaching #4 on the Hot 100, their version of the track would end up becoming their most well-known and highest charting hit in the United States.
Cover versions
"Devil with a Blue Dress On" was also recorded by Pratt & McClain, who are best known for the theme from the television series Happy Days. Bruce Springsteen's version of the song was part of the No Nukes concert album in 1980, and he has performed it regularly in concert from the 1970s to the present. A Spanish language version of the song was recorded by Los Lobos and released on the Eating Raoul film soundtrack in 1982.
The Duke Blue Devils use "Devil with a Blue Dress On" as a victory song.