The Nitty Gritty (song)

"The Nitty Gritty" is a 1963 song written by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Shirley Ellis. Released by Congress Records, it reached No. 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 reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 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 televised performance of the dance associated with the song by Robert Banas, recorded for a January 1964 episode of The Judy Garland Show, has had more than 18 million views on YouTube, 60 years after its original airing.