Let me state, emphatically, that not a single friend of mine, male or female, has ever taken this advice, as written by Sicilian-American Frank Guida in 1963 and based on a 1934 calypso hit called “Ugly Woman.”

Although I do know a few who have followed the enlightened suggestion proffered in the 1991 film, “Queen’s Logic” by Joe Mantegna’s character, Al:  “If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, fall in love with your wife.”

Today’s selection was performed by gospel singer, James McCleese, who was born in North Carolina in 1942 and had become a preacher by the age of seven. After acquiring the stage name, Jimmy Soul from his congregation he began to tour and was discovered by Guida, who also happened to be Gary U.S. Bonds’ record producer.

When Bonds turned down a couple of the songs that Guida had penned for him they were given to Soul who hit the Billboard charts with the first one, “Twistin’ Matilda” in 1962 and topped them with this one, even though it was banned on many radio stations by those who were not amused.  It also reached Number 39 on the UK Charts in 1963 and Number 68 when it was re-released in 1991.

After a lack of further success Jimmy Soul (whose enthusiastic falsetto “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” can be heard at fade-out) abandoned his singing career, joined the US Army and, sadly, died of a heart attack at the age of 45.

 LISTEN TO TODAY’S SELECTION – Wednesday 9 January

If You Want To Be Happy

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

 A pretty woman makes her husband look small

And very often causes his downfall

As soon as he marries her

Then she starts to do

The things that will break his heart

But if you make an ugly woman your wife

You’ll be happy for the rest of your life

An ugly woman cooks her meals on time

She’ll always give you peace of mind

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

 Don’t let your friends say

You have no taste

Go ahead and marry anyway

Though her face is ugly

And her eyes don’t match

Take it from me she’s a better catch

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

 If you wanna be happy

For the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you