‘Whoops! La-di-dah…’
If I had to nominate a favourite tiny moment, lasting no more than a couple of seconds, from any piece of music I know, it might be the one that occurs 1 minute and 30 seconds into “Stay”, by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.
The record — the shortest ever to hit No 1 in the US pop charts — is already fading out when Maurice suddenly cries: “Whoops! La-di-dah…” Goodness knows why, but somehow it fits perfectly and it sticks in the mind. Or at least it’s stuck in mine for six and a half decades, and I like the record enough to own it on a 45, an EP and an LP (for which I see I paid 50 cents — in an oldies store in Greenwich Village in the early ’70s, I think).
Maurice’s death has just been announced. He was 86, and he died at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’ve been writing a full obituary for the Guardian this morning; it includes the charming story behind the song, as well as mentioning its various and very successful reincarnations. No doubt the piece will appear online before long.
Meanwhile, I thought those who already know the moment of which I’m so fond might like to be reminded of it, and those who don’t might enjoyed being introduced.
thebluemoment.com 
Terrific homage.
I believe a group called Ian and the Zodiacs covered this and it appalled me. Then I heard Jackson Browne dong it live and Lindley’s aping of the high vocal really bothered me.
You have now directed people to the real-to-reel thing.
I wonder was Woody Allen similarly tickled by this la di dah…
I bet I am one of the very few persons on this thread to have seen Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs live. This was 1976 in Kentucky at a debutante dance. Go figure. All of it. Go figure.
They were quite good too, BTW.
La-di-dah!
Hi Richard, I just listened to it. When I saw the heading on my e-mail I thought you were going to be writing about Diane Keaton in Annie Hall. I grew up with the Hollies version, which is sitting above me in a box in the loft.
The Hollies had a lot to answer for in their mid-60s cover versions.
Lah-di-dah! Up there with Jake Thackray! Well, not quite.
You know how to pick’em, Richard. One of the best of a great year,1960:
Doggin’ Around, Georgia On My Mind, Walkin to New Orleans, Harbour Lights, You Got What It Takes, Save the Last Dance For Me, Only the Lonely, Where or When and, er, Alley Oop!
And all brought to the UK via wobbly Radio Luxembourg.
Is Maurice recalling Billy & Lillie’s immortal “La Dee Dah” – an American #9 hit from 1958?
Suddenly, sadly, it’s too late to ask him…
Covered execrably in the UK by Scottish youth Jackie Dennis. In a kilt. After seeing him perform it on 6.5 Special in 1958 I thought for a long time that La Dee Dah was some kind of traditional Caledonian exclamation.
Is Maurice Williams perhaps remembering Billy & Lillie’s immortal 1958 US hit “La Dee Dah”?
One of the best things about Maurice Williams` story was his personally expressed gratitude to Ernie Young of Excello Records who corrected Maurice`s casual approach to publishing his songwriting efforts . He made sure that Maurice was properly recorded as the writer and that he would continue to receive royalties over the years . His fairness -in striking contrast to several other major outlets of R&B- later showed its worth with a huge windfall from the Diamonds version of “Little Darling”.
The Gladiolas – as MW and the Zodiacs-had moved on to Herald Records by 1960 for their Billboard 100 topping “Stay”.
“Stay” resurfaced several times over the years – not least in the film “Dirty Dancing” – and pretty definitely Mr Young`s wise words had safeguarded Maurice`s subsequent interests throughout .
(I like “Shoop shoop”, an earlier Gladiolas track)
martin Newman
brilliant.i recommend you follow jonnyiroc on instagram