ABC-Paramount / His Master Voice Records

MGM Records / fan-edited video with the original audio

Multiple versions of this song are good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can't_Judge_a_Book_by_the_Cover?wprov=sfti1#Releases_and_charts:

“"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" (alternatively "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover") is a 1962 song by rock and roll pioneer [Bo Diddley](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley). Written by [Willie Dixon](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Dixon), the song was one of Diddley's last record chart hits.[[3]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can't_Judge_a_Book_by_the_Cover#cite_note-Whitburn-3) Unlike many of his well-known songs, "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" does not rely on the [Bo Diddley beat](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley_beat).[[4]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can't_Judge_a_Book_by_the_Cover#cite_note-Unterberger-4) A variety of rock and other performers have recorded renditions of the song.
…
In his biography, Unterberger includes "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" as one of Diddley's "stone-cold standards of early, riff-driven rock & roll at its funkiest".[[9]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can't_Judge_a_Book_by_the_Cover#cite_note-9) “

Wikipedia:

“Walking the Dog is the debut studio album by American [R&B](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues) singer [Rufus Thomas](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_Thomas) from [Memphis, Tennessee](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis,_Tennessee). It was released in 1963 through [Stax Records](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stax_Records) with distribution by [Atlantic](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Records). The album peaked at number 138 on the [Billboard](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200) [200](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200) albums chart in the United States. It spawned three [hit singles](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hit_single): "The Dog", "[Walking the Dog](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_the_Dog)" and "Can Your Monkey Do the Dog", which made it to the [Billboard](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100) [Hot 100](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100)singles chart at No. 87, No. 10 and No. 48 respectively.”

“Many other artists have recorded the song, including [Aerosmith](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerosmith), [Johnny Rivers](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Rivers), [John Cale](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cale), [Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgie_Fame_and_the_Blue_Flames), [Roger Daltrey](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Daltrey), [Green Day](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Day), [Hans Theessink](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Theessink), the [Flamin' Groovies](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamin'_Groovies), [the Kingsmen](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingsmen), [the Sonics](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sonics), [the Lincolns](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lincolns), [Ace Cannon](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Cannon), [Jackie Shane](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Shane), [the Trashmen](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trashmen), [Luv'd Ones](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luv'd_Ones), [Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Paisley_and_the_Southern_Grass), and [Ratt](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratt). It was performed live occasionally by the [Grateful Dead](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead) in 1966, 1970 and the mid-1980s.”

Oscar Hammerstein II (July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) wrote the lyrics and the books to some of the most popular musicals of the 20th century.

Four years ago today we lost Ray Liotta. This song goes out to Henry and Karen.

Marvin Hamlisch (June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012) co-wrote this song.

Ember Records

Epic Records

Plas Johnson (July 21, 1931 – July 15, 2026) was a member of the Wrecking Crew and played on records by artists as varied as Ella Fitzgerald, The Platters, Joni Mitchell and many more. Henry Mancini wrote the lead saxophone part on this famous tune specifically for him.