The record 's arrangement is credited to Ernest Ranglin , who also plays guitar on the recording . The saxophone solo from the original version was replaced by a harmonica solo . It is unclear who played the harmonica – urban legend credited Rod Stewart for many years , but he has denied it . Instead , it was almost certainly either Pete Hogman or Jimmy Powell , both of The Five Dimensions . Pete Hogman and Five Dimensions guitarist Kenny White both maintain it was Pete Hogman , while Jimmy Powell asserts that it was he who played this solo . Millie Small in an interview with journalist Tom Graves in the August , 2016 issue of Goldmine magazine insists that it was Rod Stewart who played the harmonica solo . Mike Wells drummer with Cliff Adams & The Twilights was hired by Harry Robinson ( Lord Rockingham ) and paid £ 7 10 shillings for the session after recording Over the Weekend at IBC Portland Place British reggae DJ David Rodigan has stated that watching Millie Small perform the song at the '' Ready Steady Go ! '' TV show as a school boy initiated his lifelong passion for Jamaican music . The song featured in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London . It has also featured several times in the British TV series , '' Heartbeat ''
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
My Boy Lollipop