Johnny Rivers seems like a name I should know based on his chart performance. He had 17 Top 40 hits, with nine reaching the Top 10, between 1963 and 1977.
Some of those titles I definitely know, such as ‘Secret Agent Man,’ his theme song for the TV show Danger Man. He also had a bigger hit than the Four Tops with a cover of ‘Baby I Need You Lovin’,’ one I’m sure I’ve heard before.
However, his sole #1 hit — ‘Poor Side of Town’ — is completely new to me, as are most of his other successful songs.
Rivers was a rocker in the mid 60s who segued into more of a pop soul sound by the end of the decade. He recorded a lot of covers but was also a proficient songwriter and head of his own label, Soul City Records.
He retired two years ago at 80.
Doop-doo-doo-wah
Shoo-bee-doo-bee
Doop-doo-doo-wah
Shoo-bee-doo-bee
[Verse 1]
How can you tell me how much you miss me
When the last time I saw you, you wouldn’t even kiss me?
That rich guy you’ve been seein’ must have put you down
So, welcome back, baby, to the poor side of town
[Verse 2]
To him you were nothin’ but a little plaything (Was a plaything, doo wah)
Not much more than an overnight fling (Overnight fling, doo wah)
To me you were the greatest thing this boy had ever found
And girl, it’s hard to find nice things on the poor side of town
[Bridge]
I can’t blame you for tryin’ (Ba-ba-ba-ba)
I’m tryin’ to make it, too (Ba-ba-ba-ba)
I’ve got one little hang up, baby
I just can’t make it without you (Without you, without you)
[Verse 3]
So, tell me are you gonna stay now? (Gonna stay now, doo wah)
Will you stand by me, girl, all the way now? (All the way now, doo wah)
With you by my side they can’t keep us down
Together we can make it, baby, from the poor side of town
[Verse 4]
(Come tell me how much you love me)
(Come be near to me and say you need me, now)
Oh, with you by my side this world can’t keep us down
Together we can make it, baby, from the poor side of town
[Outro]
Doop-doo-doo-wah
Shoo-bee-doo-bee
Doop-doo-doo-wah
Shoo-bee-doo-bee
(Doop-doo-doo-wah
Shoo-bee-doo-bee)
Meet Me In Montauk 
His name is familiar to me as well, and I know “Secret Agent Man” well, but am not familiar with today’s SOTD.
years ago Dad loved a show called Secret Agent Man about a British spy I believe. Anyway I don’t think this song was the theme 🤷🏻♀️
I stand corrected. Just did some checking and it appears the show was Danger Man and we always called it Secret Agent Man because of the song.