Song Clearance Sheet
6 sources citedHang On Sloopy
Rock And Roll1960s116BPM
G majKey
More around 120 BPM → · More in G major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Bert Berns, as “Bert Russell,” and Wes Farrell), no formal dispute found. The Sloopy-vs-Lupe origin question is presented honestly as a real, documented but unresolved discrepancy — not asserted either way. Opens this batch’s Bert Berns thread.
Quick Facts
Released1965
AlbumHang On Sloopy
GenreRock And Roll, Rhythm And Blues, Garage Rock
LabelBang Records
ProducerBert Berns
Recorded atNew York City
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Bert Berns (as “Bert Russell”) & Wes Farrell
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Bang/Atlantic; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A #1 standard and the official rock song of Ohio (1985); opens this catalogue’s Bert Berns thread (Twist and Shout, Cry to Me, and more).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter(s) of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same writer, Bert Berns (this batch)
Bert Berns; Burke rejected this song before recording “Cry to Me” (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Bert Berns (as “Bert Russell”) & Wes Farrell
A documented, unresolved origin discrepancyThe most-cited explanation credits jazz pianist Dorothy Sloop of Steubenville, Ohio, nicknamed “Sloopy” — but a separate theory suggests the name derived from “Lupe” (a Latino nickname), possibly connected to an earlier, uncredited Latino/Cuban song reworked for crossover. Presented as a real, documented, unresolved discrepancy, not asserted either way.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Discovered as a touring support act
The McCoys were toured by The Strangeloves, who wanted this song as a follow-up single but were beaten to a competing UK version — so The Strangeloves recruited The McCoys to record it over their own backing tracks. No lyrics reproduced.
Floating World Records · read it →
The official rock song of Ohio
Became Ohio’s official rock song via a 1985 legislative resolution; the Ohio State University Marching Band’s arrangement, first performed Oct 9, 1965, remains a stadium tradition. Bert Berns died in 1967 at just 38.
Jon Kutner · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A #1 hit and Ohio’s official rock song
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
HS
Bert Berns & Wes Farrell (Bang)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 6 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 19/20)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass