The high school experience described in this cassette of forgotten dreams is long ago and far away. It reeks with hope and frivolity mostly 50s and 60s style. The Ramones slip in on a pass from 1981, already Retro in their black leather jacket attitudes. The theme from their movie Rock and Roll High School is the key to what came before.
Dealing two from ‘72, there’s a sea change from earlier de rigueur crew cuts and corsages. Alice Cooper delivers the anthem for all summers to come while Cheech and Chong bong the drum loudly. Claiming the ‘60s, we get Gary U. S. Bonds answering the tardy bell with fingers popping, while the Beach Boys lecture America’s youth on the value of football and Stingray tuneups.
The 50s rock the establishment in their own ways, politely in ties and poodle skirts. Tommy Facenda’s high school hit is big in 23 markets. No one want to rock any boat except of course for naughty-but-slick Chuck Berry, class clown Coasters, Lone Star rockabilly tutor Gene Summers, and ball of fire Jerry Lee Lewis, who has found time to marry his freshman cousin.
Last on the playlist but first in their class, the Fleetwoods leave us with a valedictory ballad that will wet every eye in the auditorium.
And so it goes.
Let’s hit the pool.
PLAYLIST and VIDEOS
Chuck on Belgian TV, The Coasters in class, Cheech and Chong on “The Mating Game with Helen Reddy,” Alice at 18, Tommy Facenda’s Detroit version, a different Gene Summersrocker, Gary U. S. Bond’s biggest hit, Jerry Lee on Steve Allen TV, The Ramones on the Sha Na Na show, Beach Boys on Bandstand, and a biggie from the Fleetwoods…
SCHOOL DAYS - Chuck Berry (1957)
CHARLIE BROWN - The Coasters (1959)
SISTER MARY ELEPHANT - Cheech & Chong (1972)
SCHOOL’S OUT - Alice Cooper (1972)
HIGH SCHOOL USA - Tommy Facenda (1959)
SCHOOL IS OUT - Gary U. S. Bonds (1961)
SCHOOL OF ROCK AND ROLL - Gene Summers & the Rebels (1958)
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL - Jerry Lee Lewis (1958)
ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL - The Ramones (1981)
BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL - The Beach Boys (1963)
GRADUATION’S HERE - The Fleetwoods (1959)
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