"You Can't Sit Down" was originally recorded in 1959 as "Can't Sit Down" by The Bim Bam Boos on Dasher Records catalogue number D-500 and credited to Dasher - Muldrow, it featured Philip Upchurch on guitar and Cornell Muldrow on organ. The later better-known recording of "You Can't Sit Down" by Phil Upchurch and his Combo (Upchurch, Muldrow, David Brooks, Mac Johnson and Joe Haddick) was re-recorded in New Orleans in 1960 and released in 1961 by Boyd Records (Boyd 3398) of Oklahoma with distribution by United Artists Records. This was followed by the vocal cover version by the Dovells that reached number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1963. It is based, at least in part, on the gospel song "Sit Down Servant".