Summertime Blues
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| “Summertime Blues” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Eddie Cochran | ||
| Released | June 11, 1958[1] | |
| Genre | Rock and roll, blues | |
| Length | 1:53[1] | |
| Label | Liberty Records 55144[1] | |
| Writer(s) | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart[1] | |
"Summertime Blues" (1958) is a 12-bar blues standard song by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart about the trials and tribulations of teenage life in America.
It was written in the late 1950s by Eddie Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it peaked at #8 Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1958. The handclapping is performed by Sharon Sheeley, and the deep vocals at the end of each verse are done by Cochran.
The song was used in the 1980 movie Caddyshack. In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at #77 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Beach Boys' version
The Beach Boys's version appears in Surfin' Safari Album
[edit] Blue Cheer's version
Blue Cheer recorded it or their 1968 album Vincebus Eruptum. Their version, which omits all of the response lyrics heard in Cochran's version in favor of instrumental responses by each member of the band, was featured as the first heavy metal recording in the 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey.
During the '80s MTV played a black & white video for the song, taken from a TV program, in their Closet Classics segment. The song was also featured in the 1986 movie Troll and the 1991 movie Night on Earth and the 1996 movie I Shot Andy Warhol.
[edit] The Who
| “Summertime Blues” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Who from the album Live at Leeds |
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| B-side | "Heaven and Hell" | ||||
| Released | June, 1970 | ||||
| Format | 7" 45 RPM | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 3:22 | ||||
| Label | Track (UK)
Decca (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capeheart | ||||
| Producer | Kit Lambert, Chris Stamp | ||||
| The Who singles chronology | |||||
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The Who's version appears on the 1970 album Live at Leeds. Their version is done in a more aggressive (and louder) style than the original, and is so well-known that many people mistakenly think of "Summertime Blues" as an original by The Who. It is played in the key of A major and on the 3rd verse modulates up to B major.
This version features John Entwistle singing the vocal parts of the boss, the father, and the congressman in his trademark baritone growl, in addition to playing the bass guitar. The track features the original four-man Who lineup of Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, and Pete Townshend.
Another live version from The Who is featured in the concert and documentary film "Woodstock".
"Summertime Blues" was a staple of Who concerts between 1967 and 1976 with intermittent appearances thereafter.
Other Who versions can be found on Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, Odds & Sods, 30 Years of Maximum R&B, and the CD release of Live at the Royal Albert Hall.
[edit] Olivia Newton-John
On her Clearly Love album, 1975.
[edit] Buddy Holly And the Cricket's Version
Played by him on the La Bamba Movie Soundtrack
[edit] Cheech Marin's version
- Played in the 1987 movie Born in East L.A.
[edit] Nathan Cavaleri's version
- Played in the 1994 movie Camp Nowhere.
[edit] Alan Jackson's version
- Recorded on his 1994 album Who I Am reached Number One on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 (equivalent to #104 on the Billboard Hot 100).
| Preceded by "Foolish Pride" by Travis Tritt |
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks number one single by Alan Jackson July 23-August 6, 1994 |
Succeeded by "Be My Baby Tonight" by John Michael Montgomery |
[edit] Gary Allan's version
- Played in the 1999 TV miniseries Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story.
[edit] Rush's version
| “Summertime Blues” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Rush from the album Feedback |
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| Released | June 2004 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 3:52 | ||||
| Label | Anthem (CAN)
Atlantic Records (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capeheart | ||||
| Producer | Rush & David Leonard | ||||
| Rush singles chronology | |||||
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- Like the Blue Cheer version, the line "I'd like to help you son..." is not spoken.
- Played as the theme song for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)'s SummerSlam pay per view in 2004.
- In A major like the Who's version (3rd verse likewise modulates up to B major), but guitar intro is that of the Blue Cheer version, transposed to fit new key
[edit] The Black Keys' version
- B-side on the 10 A.M. Automatic single
- bonus track on the Japanese release of their 2004 album Rubber Factory
[edit] Other covers
The song has also been covered by Blue Cheer, Bobby Fuller, Bon Jovi, Bow Wow, Brian Setzer (sometimes incorrectly attributed to George Thorogood), Bruce Springsteen, Buck Owens, CAPRiS, Cheech Marin, Chris Spedding, The Clash, De La Soul, Deborah Harry, Dionysos, Dry Rot (band), The Flaming Lips - Hear It Is, The Flying Lizards, Frank Sidebottom (renamed 'Timperley Blues'), Gary Allan, The Guess Who ("This Time Long Ago" compilation), Guitar Wolf, Hanson, James Taylor, Joan Jett, Jussi & The Boys (In Finnish), La Muerte, Last Ones to Leave, Levon Helm, Little River Band, Lolita No.18, Mick Farren, moe., Motörhead - All the Aces: The Best of Motörhead Nathan Cavaleri, Papa Doo Run Run, Pfuri, Gorps und Kniri, Ritchie Valens (Live at Pacoima High School 1959) Ritchie Venus and the Blue Beatles - Rocking to the Grave, Rockapella - Smilin' (August 2002), Robert Gordon and Link Wray, Rolling Stones, Rush – Feedback, Sandy Nelson, Stray Cats, The Surfaris, The Old Spice Boys, The Treads, T. Rex, Takako Minekawa, Terry Reid, The Beach Boys, The Black Keys, The Flying Lizards, The Gants, The Ordinary Boys, The Ventures, Twenty-Nineteen, Über Kings, Van Halen, Warren Zevon, Heartsdales and Eddie Meduza.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d http://www.eddiecochran.info/Discography/USA/III.htm Cochran discography
