Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" spoke to lots of kids back in the late 1950s and later on through notable covers of the song.
It's a song of teenage angst, albeit humorous as one grows older, in dealing with the pressing issue of finding time to see a girlfriend while having to work.
And each stanza ends with:
"Sometimes I wonder what I'm a-gonna do
"But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues."
The tune, penned by Cochran and Jerry Capehart, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1958.
I've always preferred Cochran's version, as I do with most originals, but there have been several notable covers through the years that have turned the song into a timeless classic.
Here are my favorites:
Blue Cheer, a San Francisco trio, recorded a thunderous version in 1968, hitting No. 14 on the charts. A few folks consider it the birth of heavy metal.
The Who took the song to No. 27 with its rousing rendition from its classic "Live at Leeds" album.
Country legend Alan Jackson provided a catchy twangy version to the song in 1994, which topped the Billboard Country chart.
And Canadian rockers Rush included the song in its "EP Feedback" CD in 2004. Simply powerful.
A diverse group of others who've performed and/or recorded the song includes The Rolling Stones, Little River Band, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Keys, T. Rex, Joan Jeff, Guitar Wolf, Stray Cats, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Chester, Olivia Newton-John, Van Halen, Buck Owens, Dick Dale, Bobby Vee, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. And I'm sure many more through the years.
As for Cochran, he scored another Top 40 hit with "C'mon Everybody," released in Oct. 1958 and reaching 35. Sadly, Cochran died in a car accident in Chippenham, England, on April 17, 1960, at the tender age of 21.
Until the next time . . .
It's a song of teenage angst, albeit humorous as one grows older, in dealing with the pressing issue of finding time to see a girlfriend while having to work.
And each stanza ends with:
"Sometimes I wonder what I'm a-gonna do
"But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues."
The tune, penned by Cochran and Jerry Capehart, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1958.
I've always preferred Cochran's version, as I do with most originals, but there have been several notable covers through the years that have turned the song into a timeless classic.
Here are my favorites:
Blue Cheer, a San Francisco trio, recorded a thunderous version in 1968, hitting No. 14 on the charts. A few folks consider it the birth of heavy metal.
The Who took the song to No. 27 with its rousing rendition from its classic "Live at Leeds" album.
Country legend Alan Jackson provided a catchy twangy version to the song in 1994, which topped the Billboard Country chart.
And Canadian rockers Rush included the song in its "EP Feedback" CD in 2004. Simply powerful.
A diverse group of others who've performed and/or recorded the song includes The Rolling Stones, Little River Band, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Keys, T. Rex, Joan Jeff, Guitar Wolf, Stray Cats, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Chester, Olivia Newton-John, Van Halen, Buck Owens, Dick Dale, Bobby Vee, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. And I'm sure many more through the years.
As for Cochran, he scored another Top 40 hit with "C'mon Everybody," released in Oct. 1958 and reaching 35. Sadly, Cochran died in a car accident in Chippenham, England, on April 17, 1960, at the tender age of 21.
Until the next time . . .
Cochran is an under appreciated talent. One who, alas, was taken far too soon from the musical scene/life.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I read that he feared an early death, especially after Holly, Valens and Richardson died in the plane accident, and had planned to stop touring and spend more time in the studio. He had a lot to offer.
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