Jailhouse Rock (song)

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"Jailhouse Rock"
"Jailhouse Rock" cover
Single by Elvis Presley
A-side(s) Jailhouse Rock
B-side(s) Treat Me Nice
Released September 24, 1957
Format 45 RPM Single,
Genre Rock
Writer(s) Leiber and Stoller
Producer(s) Mike Stoller
Chart positions

"Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Leiber and Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was first released as a 45rpm single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock. Composer Mike Stoller can be seen playing piano in the film presentation of the song.

The single, with its B-side "Treat Me Nice", was a US #1 hit for 7 weeks in the fall of 1957, and a UK #1 hit for three weeks early in 1958. The song, which is an example of simple verse form, eventually sold two million copies in the US, thus earning a Double Platinum certification by the RIAA.

Also in 1957, "Jailhouse Rock" was the lead song in a EP (extended play single), together with other Leiber and Stoller compositions, namely "Young and Beautiful", "I Want to be Free", "Don't Leave Me Now", and "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care". It topped the Billboard EP charts, eventually selling an additional two million copies and earning another double-platinum RIAA certification.

[edit] About the Song

Some of the characters named in the song are real people. Shifty Henry was a well known LA musician (and not a convict). The Purple Gang was a real mob, not a rhythm section. "Bugsy" was probably Bugsy Siegel, the Jewish gangster.

"Sad Sack" was a World War II US army nickname for a loser, and a popular comic strip.

The song was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

As noted by Rolling Stone magazine (which later ranked the song #67 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time), there are parts of the lyrics that may represent talk about homosexual relationships between inmates:

Number forty-seven said to number three
You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.

On the other hand, many see this as a lighthearted reference to forced environmental improvisation, as reflected in the next verse:

Sad Sack was a sittin on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin all alone.
The warden said, hey, buddy, don't you be no square.
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair.

After all:

Everybody in the whole cellblock, was dancing to the jailhouse rock.

"Jailhouse Rock" was performed regularly in a medley along with many old rock'n'roll hits by Queen and was the opening song on Queen's 1980 North American tour for The Game. It was the last song in the motion picture The Blues Brothers. This song was featured on American Idol when contestant Taylor Hicks performed it on May 9, 2006. The song was also featured in Disney's animated film Leroy & Stitch during the ending credits.

"Jailhouse Rock" has also been recorded by:

German rock group Spider Murphy Gang is named after one of the characters in the lyrics, "Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone."

  1. 1 on the US charts
  2. 2 on the Canadian charts
  3. 33 on the UK charts

"Jailhouse Rock" was the top-selling record for 25 years & also reached number one in versions by:

  • John Stump (UK)#1
  • Carl Perkins (US) #1
Preceded by:
Wake Up Little Susie		 Cash Box magazine best selling record chart
#1 record
November 9, 1957–November 23, 1957		 Succeeded by:
You Send Me
Preceded by:
"Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis		 UK number one single
January 25, 1958		 Succeeded by:
"The Story Of My Life" by Michael Holliday
Preceded by:
"Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)" by Steve Brookstein		 UK number one single (re-issue)
January 15, 2005		 Succeeded by:
"One Night (song)" by Elvis Presley
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