A-side Straight Skirt Released 1958 | B-side School Of Rock 'n Roll Format Vinyl record, 45rpm Genre Rockabilly | |
"Straight Skirt " (later "Straight Skirts") is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958 Cash Box Magazine picked it as their Sleeper Of The Week. In Billboard Magazine's Reviews Of Pop Records they wrote: "The artist is backed by a chorus and cheerful rockabilly support on this blues. The kid's might take to this". They were right...within a few weeks of its release, Summers and his rockin' band of Rebels had their first big regional hit.
Contents
"Straight Skirt" was flipped with "School Of Rock 'n Roll" an upbeat rockabilly song written by James McClung who was a high school friend of Summers. McClung was also the original guitarist for The Rebels and would continue to work with Summers well into the mid-1960s. Their recording of "School Of Rock 'n Roll" later became widely recognized as one of the 100 greatest rock 'n roll records.
In the 1970s, at the beginning of the rockabilly revival in Europe, "School Of Rock 'n Roll" and "Straight Skirt" were re-discovered by a new legion of rockabilly fans and bands. Since that time they have become classic dance floor-fillers and have renewed Gene's career to the extent of worldwide concert appearances from 1980 to the present.
Reviews
Back in Big D after our whirlwind trip to New York, we found Dan Weisfeld camping in our office bubbling with enthusiasm about his new record company. Danny once headed the Mercury Records distribution staff in Dallas. He had moved to the west coast a few months ago and started laying the groundwork for Jan Records in partnership with Dallas oilman Tom Fleeger. "I'm back in town to get in a few plugs for our first big release, he explained. "It's a tune called Straight Skirt by Gene Summers and the Rebels. "Summers and his group," he continued "are students at Arlington State College. They are four of the best rock 'n roll musicians and singers I've ever heard, and the reaction to their first effort has been phenomenal. It is getting a good sendoff around the country." -Tony Zoppi, Dallas After Dark
"STRAIGHT SKIRTS" (1:57) [Song Prod. BMI - Tarver]
Gene Summers & His Rebels (January 100)
"One of the best sleeper items to cross this turntable in a long while is this sensational rock and roller by newcomer Gene Summers. The lad gets a fabulous instrumental assist as he and the Rebels high tail it thru a torrid jumper describing a teenage damsel who wears "Straight Skirts". Summers does a tremendous job with this rock-a-billy type ditty. The kids'll flip over the cute lyrics. Bottom half, "School Of Rock 'n Roll" is still faster in tempo. Trigger fast rocker that doesn't stop driving. Keep a close watch on the upper deck. It could be a smash."
"Hottest new platters at Ramco are "Straight Skirts" by Gene Summers on Jan, "Cherry Pie" by Marvin & Johnny on Kent, "Frank N. Stein" by Al Casey on Highland and "Strollin' by The Hornets on Rev. Other strong bets are "Why Does Everything Happen To Me" by B. B. King on Kent and "Billy" by Kathy Linden on Felsted Records.
Crazy Feelin by Roy Hamilton Epic 9268
Chewing Gum b/w O Bella Mia by Tommy Prisco Epic 9267
Bluebirds Over The Mountain by Ersel Hickey Epic 9263
Miraculous Music Box by Joe Sherman Epic 9266
Straight Skirts by Gene Summers Jan 100
Bells On My Heart by Three Pennies Golden Crest 131
Apache by The Chiefs Greenwich 408
Lonesome Train by Freddie Jacobs Web 1123
Golly Gee b/w Well Honey by Gene Bua Safari 1007
I Wonder Why by Dion & The Belmonts Laurie 3013
"Pierce Allman, host of his own recorded show will feature Gene Summers and His Rebels ("Straight Skirts") on the Thursday broadcast beginning at 9:05 PM on WFAA-570." -Source: Dallas Public Library
Cover versions of "Straight Skirt"
Prestige Records #PSP 0066, New Zealand September 1958
Prestige Records PEP 2017, New Zealand October 1958
Southern Music Publishing Company, New Zealand 1958
Around,” “ Straight Skirt,” “ I’m Grateful,” “ How Would ‘Ya Be” Bell Records BE-198, Australia 1959
Music World Records MALPS-536, New Zealand 1972
Festival Records CD 26255, Australia 1998
Festival Records CD D26481, Australia 2000
EMI Records 5784512, New Zealand 2004 (Johnny Devlin “Straight Skirt” track #2.)
Mercury Records # , United States 1958
Mercury PYE 7MT.208, U.K. 1958
plus The Platters “Winner Take All”/”My Dream” Mercury Records MG 10114, Spain 1959
Mercury Wing Records MGW 12114 (Mono), United States 1959 (Straight Skirts- Side 2, Track 3)
Mercury Wing Records MGW 12114, Canada 1959 (Straight Skirts - Side 2, Track 3)
Ebenezer Records 01, (country) (year) (Straight Skirts - Side 1, Track 6)
Rome Records 157, Italy 1990
Stardust Records CD 1010, United States 1996
Remember Records CD RMB 75072, Portugal 1999
Canetoad Records CTCD-1013, Australia 2007 (Straight Skirt-Track #11)
No Hit Records LP-001, U.K. 1988
No Hit Records CD-001, U.K. 1993
Crystal Clear Sound Records CD CCR 9643-2, United States 1996
Empire Records EMPCD-105, U.K. 2005