Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee song)
{{Short description|Song recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956}}
{{About|the Shirley and Lee song||Let the Good Times Roll (disambiguation){{!}}Let the Good Times Roll}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Let the Good Times Roll
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Shirley and Lee
| album = Let the Good Times Roll
| A-side = Let the Good Times Roll
| B-side = Do You Mean to Hurt Me So
| released = 1956
| recorded = May 1956
| studio = Cosimo (New Orleans, Louisiana){{cite web|last=Broven|first=John|title=Cosimo Matassa|url=https://acerecords.co.uk/news/2014/cosimo-matassa|website=Ace Records|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=August 19, 2024}}
| venue =
| genre = Rhythm and blues, Rock and roll
| length = 2:30
| label = Aladdin 3325
| writer = Shirley Goodman, Leonard Lee
| producer =
| chronology = Shirley & Lee
| prev_title = Feel So Good
| prev_year = 1955
| next_title = I Feel Good
| next_year = 1957
}}
"Let the Good Times Roll" is a song that was recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956. This song was written by the duo, Shirley Goodman (later Shirley Pixley) and Leonard Lee.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-shirley-lee-mw0000853733|title=The Best of Shirley & Lee - Shirley & Lee - Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 April 2019}}
Chart performance
By September 8, 1956, the Shirley & Lee recording had climbed to number 20 in the US chart, and a 1960 re-recording went to number 47.{{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=761}}
Background
The song has a strong steady beat provided by prolific studio drummer Earl Palmer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shirley-amp-lee-rock-mw0000801582|title=Shirley & Lee Rock - Shirley & Lee | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|access-date=28 April 2021|website=AllMusic}}
Notable cover versions
- Roy Orbison covered the song in 1965; it was included on his album Orbisongs and released as a single in 1966, peaking at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web |title=Roy Orbison Chart History - Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/roy-orbison/chart-history/hsi/ |website=Billboard |access-date=December 5, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/145072-Roy-Orbison |title=Roy Orbison [discography] |publisher=Discogs |access-date=2016-06-17}}{{cite web |title=US Singles (Roy Orbison Chart History) |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/roy-orbison-mn0000852007/awards |website=AllMusic |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 5, 2023}} Orbison's version features Nashville session musician Charlie McCoy on harmonica.{{cite web |title=Charlie McCoy Plays Harmonica on "Let the Good Times Roll" by Roy Orbison (1965) |url=https://royorbison.com/charlie-mccoy-plays-harmonica-on-let-the-good-times-roll-by-roy-orbison-1965/ |website=RoyOrbison.com |access-date=December 5, 2023}}
- Bunny Sigler covered it as a medley along with the song "Feel So Good", peaking at number 20 on the Top Selling R&B Singles chart and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1967){{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=525}}
- Harry Nilsson covered it on his 1971 album Nilsson Schmilsson.{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nilsson-schmilsson-mw0000331436|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=December 11, 2024}}
- English rock band Slade covered it on their 1972 album Slayed? and released it as a single in the US in 1973. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.{{cite magazine |title=Bubbling Under the Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=September 1, 1973 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=slade+let+the+good+times+roll+114&pg=RA1-PA49 |via=Google Books |access-date=August 25, 2023}}
Popular culture
"Let the Good Times Roll" has appeared on numerous compilation albums, and features in the films Apocalypse Now, Stand By Me, October Sky, A Father for Brittany, Nobody, and Manchester by the Sea,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/let-the-good-times-roll-mt0006842409|title=Let the Good Times Roll - Shirley & Lee - Song Info|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 April 2019}} as well as the trailer for the film The Monkey.
Commercial usage
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|3Mv6JUTP3M8|"Let the Good Times Roll"}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Shirley and Lee songs
Category:American rhythm and blues songs
Category:Aladdin Records singles
{{1950s-R&B-song-stub}}