School Days (song)
| "School Days" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Chuck Berry | ||||
| from the album After School Session | ||||
| B-side | "Deep Feeling" | |||
| Released | March 1957[1] | |||
| Format | 7" 45 RPM, 10" 78 RPM | |||
| Recorded | January 21, 1957, Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois[2] | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Chess 1653[1][2] | |||
| Writer(s) | Chuck Berry | |||
| Producer(s) | Leonard, Phil Chess[2] | |||
| Chuck Berry singles chronology | ||||
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"School Days" (also known as "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)") is a song written and recorded by rock and roll musician Chuck Berry, released by the Chess record label as a single in March 1957, and released on the LP After School Session two months later (see 1957 in music).[1] It is one of his best known songs and is often considered a rock and roll anthem. It was first released as a single and later appeared as the lead track on Berry's first album, After School Session.
The last verse of the song contains the lyrics "Hail, hail rock and roll / Deliver me from the days of old." Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll became the title of a 1987 documentary and concert film about Berry. Much of the song's musical arrangement would later be reused by Berry in 1964 on "No Particular Place to Go". The same arrangement was also used on the very rare "Big Ben Blues".
Recording
The song was recorded on January 21, 1957 at Universal Recording Studios in Chicago, Illinois. The session(s) were produced by the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil – and backing Berry on the recording were guitarist Hubert Sumlin (who is known for his work with Howlin' Wolf), bassist Willie Dixon, and drummer Fred Below.[2]
Charts
It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, his third highest-ranked pop hit and hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart.[3][4] The song was also Chuck Berry's first appearance on the UK Singles Chart reaching #24.[5]
Cover versions
Eddie Cochran
A 1959 live version of Eddie Cochran was released in 1999 on the album The Town Hall Party Shows.
Don Lang & his Frantic Five
Don Lang's contemporary 1957 British cover version made number 26 in the UK.
AC/DC
Australian hard rock band AC/DC recorded a version of "School Days" for their second album, T.N.T.. The song was originally released only in Australia.[6] However, in 1997 it was released internationally on Volts, a compilation of Bon Scott-sung songs, part of the Bonfire box set.
Gary Glitter
The song was remade by the British rocker Gary Glitter, who recorded it under the title "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)" on his album Glitter in 1972.
Iron City Houserockers
The song was covered by the Iron City Houserockers for their first album, Love's So Tough under the title "School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)" but was cut from the final release. The track was made available on their compilation album Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City Houserockers.
Jan & Dean
The song was covered by Jan & Dean on their 1964 album Dead Man's Curve - The New Girl In School under the title "School Days". The song was later released on a single in 1966 by Liberty Records.
Ol' 55
Australian rock n roll revival band Ol' 55 recorded a version of "School Days" as an 'outro' track on their album Take it Greasy released in 1976.
The Beach Boys
"School Days" was also covered by The Beach Boys on their 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive with Al Jardine on lead vocals. Like Gary Glitter's recording, their version was released with the alternate title "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)".
Ann Rabson
"School Days" was also covered by blues pianist and vocalist Ann Rabson.
Lil Rob
On Lil Rob's album, The Album, he covered the song, added a skit, and remade the song. In his version, called "Street Dayz", he replaces all the school related lyrics with lyrics that have to do with gang life, drugs, and sex.
The Simpsons
A version of "School Days" was included on The Simpsons album The Simpsons Sing the Blues with vocals from Buster Poindexter and the character, Bart Simpson. The cover also featured a lead guitar solo from Joe Walsh.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley's orchestra would often play a version of "School Days" in concert in the last years of his life.
Led Zeppelin
An unofficial version of "School Days" was played at the soundcheck for the concert at the Chicago Stadium. On 6 July 1973.
New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage performed "School Days" live at the Academy of Music in New York City on November 24, 1973.
References
- 1 2 3 Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Chess Era (1955-1966)". Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 Gold (CD liner). Chuck Berry. United States: Geffen Records/Chess Records. 2005. pp. 21, 27. 0602498805589.
- ↑ "Billboard Magazine, May 27, 1957".
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 55.
- ↑ "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)". Chartstats. Archived from the original (PHP) on July 23, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ↑ Wall, Mick (2012). AC/DC: Hell Aint a Bad Place to Be. London: Orion Publishing group. ISBN 9781409115359.
External links
| Preceded by "I'm Walkin'" by Fats Domino |
Billboard R&B Best Sellers in Stores number-one single April 29, 1957 |
Succeeded by "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley |
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