1970: Connie Stephens Meets Thom Bell

[JSngry]

The original, then called "Keep Going Strong".

[Bill Nelson]

Damn Jim, you coulda played me for a sucker by laying bets on who sang the original of 'Betcha By Golly, Wow'.

Ain't nobody gonna guess 'Connie Stevens'.

And listen to those French horns 'ska-weee' each time the melody and verse lands on "wow".

Still, I must say Miss Connie is no match for Russell Thompkins, Jr.'s lilting, graceful falsetto.

For that matter, nobody was.

[Dan Gould]

Maybe it's my ears but isn't she singing "Bet Ya By Golly, Wow?"

It isn't just the guy's falsetto that made the hit, it's the contraction.

Thanks for exposing me to this bit of musical pre-history.