Graduation Day (The Four Freshmen song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Graduation Day
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Four Freshmen
| album = Freshman Favorites
| B-side = Lonely Night in Paris
| released = {{Start date|1956|04}}
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| length = 3:01
| label = Capitol
| composer = Joe Sherman
| lyricist = Noel Sherman
| producer =
| prev_title = Angel Eyes
| prev_year = 1956
| next_title = He Who Loves and Runs Away
| next_year = 1956
}}
"Graduation Day" is a song composed by Joe Sherman with lyrics by his brother Noel Sherman,{{Cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/149692|title=Original versions of Graduation Day written by Joe Sherman [US1], Noel Sherman|website=Secondhandsongs.com|access-date=28 April 2021}} and was a 1956 hit song by the Four Freshmen.
Background
The song is about nostalgia{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3y4d-kAcP80C&q=last+night+when+we+were+young+song+nostalgic&pg=PA102 | title=Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future| isbn=9780879725938| last1=Browne| first1=Ray Broadus| last2=Ambrosetti| first2=Ronald J.| year=1993}}a single from the Capitol album Freshman Favorites, and was an important influence in the early rock era.The Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era p218
Chart performance
In the US, the Four Freshmen recording reached number 27 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=312}} in 1956. The version by the Canadian vocal group The Rover Boys (named after the popular college-themed literary characters) reached number 16 on the U.S. charts.
Cover versions
- Bobby Pickett released his own version of the song in 1963.Bobby Pickett, 44177 Graduation Day, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxvEqZaAQNE
- The song was a concert staple of the Beach Boys, who were deeply influenced by the Four Freshmen.Beach Boys - Graduation Day, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YGXJH1KjSs A recording of it was featured on the live Capitol Records album Beach Boys Concert (1964), and a studio version was included as a bonus track on the 1990 Today! & Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) compilation CD.Graduation Day (Live / 2001 Remastered), YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPojOwEgn8{{cite web | title=The Beach Boys – Today & Summer Days And Summer Nights (1990, CD) | website=Discogs | date=2024-04-10 | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3434583-The-Beach-Boys-Today-Summer-Days-And-Summer-Nights | access-date=2024-05-21}}
- In 1967, The Arbors recorded their version and included on their The Arbors Sing Valley of the Dolls LP.{{cite web|title=The Arbors Sing Valley Of The Dolls|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Arbors-The-Arbors-Sing-Valley-Of-The-Dolls/master/663430|website=Discogs.com|year=1967 |access-date=February 3, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Four Freshmen}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Songs with lyrics by Noel Sherman
Category:Songs written by Joe Sherman (songwriter)
Category:Songs about nostalgia
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