The Stroll (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = The Stroll
| type = single
| artist = The Diamonds
| album =
| B-side = Land of Beauty
| released = {{Start date|1957|12|2}}
| recorded =
| genre = Rock and roll
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=30}}
| label = Mercury
| writer = Nancy Lee, Clyde Otis
| producer =
| prev_title = Silhouettes
| prev_year = 1957
| next_title = High Sign
| next_year = 1958
}}
"The Stroll" is a song written by Nancy Lee and Clyde Otis and performed by The Diamonds. It reached No. 1 on the Cashbox chart,{{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/19580215.html|title=The CASH BOX Best Selling Singles|date=1958-02-15|website=www.cashboxmagazine.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807104950/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/19580215.html|archive-date=2012-08-07|access-date=2016-05-30}} #4 on the U.S. pop chart, and #5 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1958.{{cite web|title=The Diamonds, "The Stroll" Chart Positions|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=The+Stroll+by+The+Diamonds&id=42412|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
The song was ranked #48 on Billboard magazine's Top 50 singles of 1958."Chart Toppers of 1958" Billboard December 15, 1958: 44
The Diamonds were the first to record "The Stroll".{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-diamonds-mn0000122999/biography|title=The Diamonds, The Diamonds Biography by Bill Dahl|website=AllMusic |access-date=June 13, 2023}} Although he was known as "King of the Stroll" for other songs suitable for dancing the stroll to, the song "The Stroll" was, contrary to rumor, never recorded by Chuck Willis.
Other versions
- Frankie Avalon released a version of the song on his 1958 album Frankie Avalon.{{cite web|title=Frankie Avalon, Frankie Avalon|website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Frankie-Avalon-Frankie-Avalon/release/2946554|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Leroy Kirkland's Rock-Chas released a version of the song on his 1958 EP Strollin' the Cha Cha Cha.{{cite web|title=Leroy Kirkland's Rock-Chas, Strollin' the Cha Cha Cha|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/epa4272|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Ken Mackintosh and His Orchestra released a version of the song as a single in 1958, but it did not chart.{{cite web|title=Ken Mackintosh and His Orchestra, "The Stroll" Single Release|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/pop441|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Jack Pleis and Owen Bradley released a version of the song on their 1958 album Bandstand Hop.{{cite web|title=Jack Pleis and Owen Bradley, Bandstand Hop|website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Jack-Pleis-And-Owen-Bradley-Bandstand-Hop/release/5016201|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Chubby Checker released a version of the song on his 1961 album It's Pony Time.{{cite web|title=Chubby Checker, It's Pony Time|website=Discogs |year=1961 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Chubby-Checker-Its-Pony-Time/release/3401756|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Brenda Lee released a version of the song on her 1985 compilation album The Golden Decade.{{cite web|title=Brenda Lee, The Golden Decade|website=Discogs |date=January 1985 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Brenda-Lee-The-Golden-Decade/release/3485723|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Adriano Celentano released a version of the song on his 1998 album Selection of Adriano Celentano.{{cite web|title=Adriano Celentano, Selection of Adriano Celentano|website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/selection-of-adriano-celentano-mw0001061753|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- Jimmy Nalls released a version of the song on his 1999 album Ain't No Stranger.{{cite web|title=Jimmy Nalls, Ain't No Stranger|website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-stroll-mt0033433977|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
- The Countdown Singers released a version of the song on their 2003 album Doo Wop.{{cite web|title=The Countdown Singers, Doo Wop|website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/doo-wop-mw0000318423|accessdate=August 24, 2018}}
In popular culture
- The song is referenced in the lyrics of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" ("It's been a long time since I did the stroll").
- The Diamonds' version that was featured on the soundtrack to the 1973 film American Graffiti.
- The Smithereens released a version that was featured on the 1994 soundtrack to the television series Rebel Highway.
- The Diamonds' version was featured in the 1996 film Beautiful Girls.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Frankie Avalon}}
{{Brenda Lee}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stroll, The (song)}}
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Clyde Otis
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:His Master's Voice singles
{{1950s-single-stub}}