Written with DJ Murray the K (Murray Kaufman), who bet that Darin could not write a song that began with the words, "Splish splash, I was takin' a bath", it was Darin's first hit reaching No. 3 on the U.S. pop singles chart, No. 2 on the R&B Best Sellers chart, and No. 3 in Canada. It was recorded at New York's Atlantic Studios on the evening of April 10, 1958 with Jesse Powell on tenor sax, Al Caiola and Billy Mure on guitar, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Panama Francis on drums.
The lyrics mention several characters from other songs of the period, including "Lollipop", "Peggy Sue", and "Good Golly Miss Molly".
It is here choreographically enlivened with the dance movements of Stephen and Karine.