Reet Petite

Jackie Wilson, Ron Wood

About Reet Petite

"Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)" (originally subtitled "The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet") is a song made popular by Jackie Wilson. It was his first solo hit after leaving the Dominoes and, over the years, has become one of his biggest international chart successes.


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Jackie Wilson

Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was considered a master showman, one of the most dynamic and influential singers and performers in R&B and rock history. Gaining fame in his early years as a member of the R&B vocal group Billy Ward and His Dominoes, he went solo in 1957 and recorded over 50 hit singles that spanned R&B, pop, soul, doo-wop and easy listening. During a 1975 benefit concert, he collapsed on-stage from a heart attack and subsequently fell into a coma that persisted for nearly nine years until his death in 1984, aged 49. By this time, he had become one of the most inf… more »

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10 facts about this song

Song Background
"Reet Petite" was a song recorded by Jackie Wilson in 1957. It was his first solo single after leaving the group, The Dominoes.
Writers
The song was co-written by Berry Gordy Jr., who later founded Motown Records, and Wilson's cousin, Roquel "Billy" Davis (under the pseudonym Tyran Carlo).
Song's Popularity
Initially, the song was quite successful, reaching number six on the US Billboard R&B chart. However, it didn't make a significant impact on the pop chart.
Song's Resurgence
Despite modest success at its release, it became a massive hit almost 30 years later in the UK in 1986 when it reached number one in the singles chart, following the release of a clay animation video.
Clay Animation Video
The video which was created by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, the founders of Aardman Animations, helped to propel the song to new levels of popularity. The colourful clay animation video featured a dynamic performance from a miniature clay model of Wilson.
Posthumous Recognition
Impressively, "Reet Petite" gained its number one slot in the UK four years after Wilson's death, marking it as a posthumous recognition of Wilson's talent.
Song's Title
The term "Reet Petite" is a Louis Armstrong-inspired slang phrase that means "quite petite."
In Popular Culture
It was famously featured in the 1986 movie 'Blue Velvet,' directed by David Lynch.
Cover Versions
Since its release, "Reet Petite" has been covered by several notable artists including Van Morrison and Tom Jones.
Historical Influence
"Reet Petite" is considered an important song in the history of soul and R&B music for its innovative mix of doo-wop and rhythm and blues.

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