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"The Nitty Gritty" is a 1963 song written by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Shirley Ellis. Released by Congress Records, it reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1964.

Cover versions

• Motown released a version of "The Nitty Gritty" by Gladys Knight & The Pips in mid-1969 on its Soul imprint. It went to #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Soul chart.
• A version by Diana Ross & The Supremes can be found on the 2001 edition of their album, Anthology
• Southern Culture on the Skids covered it on the Dirt Track Date album.

Popular culture

• A 1963 televised performance of the dance associated with the song by Robert Banas, recorded for an episode of The Judy Garland Show, has more than 10 million views on YouTube.

History of the phrase "nitty gritty"

There is disagreement about the origin of the phrase "nitty gritty" and its earliest meaning. In this song it meant the heart of a matter, the basic truth.

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 205.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 330.
3. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Best 60s Dancer Boy Ever - The Nitty Gritty. YouTube.
4. Higginbotham, W. R. "The Real Nitty Gritty." American Speech 49, no. 1/2 (1974): 90-101.

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• 1963 singles
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• Songs written by Lincoln Chase
• 1963 songs
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