Song Details
- Artist
- The Five Satins
- Album
- In the Still of the Nite
- Released
- 1956
- Genre
- Doo-Wop, R&B
- Length
- 3:05
¶ Deep Analysis
"In the Still of the Nite" is the quintessential doo-wop ballad. Recorded in a church basement with simple instrumentation, it relies almost entirely on the vocal blend of the group to carry the emotional weight.
The "Shoo-Doo-Shoo-Be-Doo"
The song's rhythmic "shoo-doo-shoo-be-doo" backing vocal hook is one of the most recognizable in music history, defining the entire doo-wop genre.
Lead singer Fred Parris wrote the song while on guard duty in the Army. The "Nite" is spelled with "nite" because Parris wasn't sure if "night" was correct and wanted to be distinctive.
@ History & Impact
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1
Doo-Wop Anthem
It is frequently cited as the greatest doo-wop song of all time and has been covered by countless artists, from The Beach Boys to Boyz II Men.
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2
Chart Longevity
Though it only reached #24 on the pop charts upon release, it has sold millions of copies over the decades and appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in three different years (1956, 1960, 1961).