Cool Jerk

"Cool Jerk"
Single by The Capitols
from the album Dance the Cool Jerk
Released	1966
Format	7"
Genre	R&B
Length	2:45
Label	Karen Records
Writer(s)	Donald Storball

"Cool Jerk"
Single by The Go-Go's
from the album Vacation and Greatest
Released	May 27, 1991
Format	CD single
Recorded	1990-1991
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	2:53 3:07 (Version from Greatest)
Label	I.R.S.
Producer	Ollie Mclaughlin
The Go-Go's singles chronology
"Yes or No" (1984) "Cool Jerk" (1991) "The Whole World Lost Its Head" (1994)

"Cool Jerk" is a popular song written by Donald Storball and originally performed by The Capitols. Released in 1966, it reached the number two position on the American R&B chart and number seven on the pop chart. The backing track for this song was actually recorded (secretly) by the Motown house band The Funk Brothers.

Per one of the Funk Brothers, the song was originally to be called "Pimp Jerk." This was taken from watching neighborhood pimps, who would dance in the clubs, but were too "cool" to do the jerk like regular folks. Their version was subsequently named "the Pimp Jerk." The producer was afraid that a song with the word pimp in the title would be banned or not receive much positive attention, and had the title changed to its current form.

The Go-Go's, Todd Rundgren, Human Sexual Response, The La De Da's and The Creation have covered the song. Todd Rundgren did his version in an odd time signature (7/4), giving an obviously jerky feel to the song. The Go-Go's covered the song for their 1982 album Vacation, and later re-recorded it for their 1990 album Greatest.

In the feature film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Uncle Frank (Gerry Bamman) sings "Cool Jerk" in the shower. A version of the song with different lyrics ("Do the Cool Whip") is used in Cool Whip commercials. A recording of "Cool Jerk" by Ricardo Ray is featured in the feature film Donnie Brasco (1997). The song features in the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, performed by the Funk Brothers with lead vocals by Bootsy Collins.