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"Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. RCA Victor released the song as a 45 rpm single on September 24th 1957; it was the first single from the soundtrack EP from Presley's motion picture of the same name.
The Residents have recorded several different versions of the song.
History[]
"'Jailhouse Rock' really is about homosexuality."
Hardy Fox, 1992[1]
The track was first recorded by The Residents in 1982 during the Assorted Secrets sessions but was ultimately left off the album. This version of the track appeared on the 1983 album Residue of The Residents, it features high pitched vocals.
From 1985 to 1987 the track was performed as part of the 13th Anniversary Show and was re-recorded in the studio in 1986 for the Man's World Single, featuring Snakefinger on both versions. These versions, and all further versions, would feature a deep gravely vocal.
The track was revived in 2004 when The Residents recorded it a third time, this time in a techno-influenced style, for their King & Eye RMX album.
Lyrics[]
Elvis Presley version (1957)[]
The warden threw a party in the county jail The prison band was there and they began to wail The band was jumping and the joint began to swing You shoulda heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone Little Joey blowing on the slide trombone The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Number forty-seven said to number three "You the cutest jailbird I ever did see I sure would be delighted with your company Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me"
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock Rock, rock, rock
Sad Sack was sitting on a block of stone Way over in the corner weeping all alone The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square You can't find a partner, use a wooden chair"
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake No one's looking, now's our chance to make a break" Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix nix I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks"
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
List of releases[]
- Residue Of The Residents (1983)
- Ralph Before '84 (1984)
- The Eyeball Show (Live In Japan) (1986)
- 1985 Live Version
- Live In The USA! 13th Anniversary Tour - With Snakefinger (1986)
- 1986 Live Version
- This Is A Mans Mans Mans World (1986)
- 1986 Studio Version
- 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Holland - With Snakefinger (1987)
- 1986 Live Version
- The Commercial Album Expanded (1988)
- In Memoriam Torso (1994)
- Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997)
- 1986 Studio Version
- The King & Eye: RMX (2004)
- 2004 Version
- Cover Versions (2009)
- 1986 Studio Version
- 13th Anniversary Show - Ritz NY - Jan 16, 1986 (2010)
- 1986 Live Version
- 80 Aching Orphans (2017)
- 1986 Studio Version
List of versions[]
- 1982 Version (3:07)
- 13th Anniversary Versions (3 Minutes)
- 1986 Version (3:08)
- 2004 Version (3:05)
See also[]
- Elvis Presley
- The King & Eye
- "Hound Dog"
- "Don't"
External links and references[]
- ↑ Stephen Ronan and St. Jude, "Meet The Residents? Those Cryptic Guys at the Corporation", Mondo 2000 no. 5, 1992
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Residue of The Residents (1983) Side A |