School Days (song)

Infobox Single
Name = School Days


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Chuck Berry
from Album =
A-side =
B-side = "Deep Feeling"
Released = 1957
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Rock and roll
Length = 2:40
Label = Chess 1653
Writer = Chuck Berry
Producer = Leonard and Phil Chess
Certification =
Chart position = * # 1 R&B
* # 3 Pop
Last single = "You Can't Catch Me" (1956)
This single = "School Days" (1957)
Next single = "Oh Baby Doll" (1957)
Misc ="School Days" (also known as "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)") is a rock and roll song written by Chuck Berry and recorded by him in 1957. It is one of his best known songs and is often considered a rock and roll anthem. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Pop chart, his third highest-ranked pop hit. It was first released as a single and later appeared as the lead track on Berry's first album, "After School Session".

The song's structure is a basic twelve bar blues with a rock and roll beat; the guitar part imitates the vocal line with a one measure delay. The lyrics describe the stress and drudgery of a high school student's daily routine, and the sense of release that comes from dancing at the local juke joint after school.

The last verse of the song contains the lyrics "Hail, hail rock and roll / Deliver me from the days of old." "Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll" became the title of a 1987 documentary and concert film about Berry. Also the musical arrangement would be oversampled by Chuck Berry in 1964 on No Particular Place To Go

The song also appears at the end of the Neil Young concert film Rust Never Sleeps during the credits.

Personnel

* Chuck Berry - vocal and lead guitar
* Johnnie Johnson - piano
* Willie Dixon - bass
* Fred Below - drums

Cover versions

Song_infobox
Name = School Days
Artist = AC/DC
Album = T.N.T.
Released = December 1975
track_no = 9
Recorded = July 1975
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 5:23
Writer = Chuck Berry
Label = Albert Productions
Producer = Harry Vanda, George Young
prev = High Voltage
prev_no = 8
next = "N/A"Song_infobox
Name = School Days


Artist = AC/DC
Album = Volts
Released = November 1997
track_no = 8
prev = She's Got Balls
prev_no = 7
next = It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
next_no = 9

AC/DC

Australian hard rock band AC/DC recorded a cover version of "School Days" for their second album, "T.N.T.". The song was originally released only in Australia. However, in 1997 it was released internationally on "Volts", a compilation of Bon Scott-sung songs, part of the "Bonfire" box set.

This is the only song that all band members share backing vocals.

Personnel

*Bon Scott - Vocals
*Angus Young- Lead Guitar/ backing vocals
*Malcolm Young- Rhythm Guitar, backing vocals
*Mark Evans- Bass, backing vocals
*Phil Rudd- Drums, backing vocals

Gary Glitter

The song was remade by the British rocker Gary Glitter, who recorded it under the title "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)" on his album "Glitter" in 1972.

The Beach Boys

"School Days" was also covered by The Beach Boys on their 1980 album "Keepin' the Summer Alive" with Al Jardine on lead vocals. Like Gary Glitter's recording, their version was released with the alternate title "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)".

Ann Rabson

"School Days" was also covered by blues pianist and vocalist Ann Rabson.

Lil Rob

On Lil Rob's album titled The Album (Lil Rob Album), he covered the song, added a skit, and remade the song. In his version, called Street Days, he replaces all the school related lyrics with lyrics that have to do with gang life, drugs, and sex.

The Simpsons

A version of "School Days" was included on "The Simpsons" album "The Simpsons Sing the Blues" with vocals from Buster Poindexter and the character Bart Simpson.

External links

* [http://www.reasontorock.com/tracks/school_day.html Analysis of the song on ReasonToRock.com]