Let's Have a Party

This article is about the 1957 song. For the 1953 rag, see Let's Have a Party (rag).
"Let's Have a Party"
Single by Wanda Jackson
from the album Wanda Jackson
B-side "Cool Love"
Released June 1960
Format 7" single
Recorded April 7, 1958
Hollywood, California, U.S.[1]
Genre Rock and roll
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Jessie Mae Robinson
Producer(s) Ken Nelson
Wanda Jackson singles chronology
"Please Call Today"
(1960)		 "Let's Have a Party"
(1960)		 "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
(1960)

"Let's Have a Party" is a 1957 song written by Jessie Mae Robinson and recorded by Elvis Presley for the movie Loving You. A version of this song was recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1960. It entered the UK chart on 1 September 1960, spending eight weeks there and reaching #32; it also reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in that year.[2][3][4] The Jackson version was later featured in the 1989 critically acclaimed film Dead Poets Society.[5] Paul McCartney also recorded and released the song (under the title "Party") on his 1999 Run Devil Run album. His original song "Run Devil Run", on the album of the same name, also has a very similar melody. A cover of "Let's Have a Party" by Sonia was released in 2010.

The song was included under the title "Party" in the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, which opened in New York in April 2010.[6] It was sung by Robert Britton Lyons, portraying Carl Perkins, as well as by the company of the show, and was covered by Robert Britton Lyons and the company on the Million Dollar Quartet original Broadway cast recording.[7]

In T. Rex's 1972 concert film Born to Boogie, Marc Bolan and Ringo Starr attempt to recite one of the lyrics from the song ("some people like to rock, some people like to roll, but movin' and a-groovin's gonna satisfy my soul"). However, they break into laughter each time.

Led Zeppelin also played this song live during their live sets of "Whole Lotta Love"; an example of this practice can be found on their live album How The West Was Won.

English glam rock band Mud covered the song for their 1975 album Mud Rock Volume 2.

Rock and roll band Dr. Feelgood covered the song on their 1978 album Private Practice.

Chart performance

Chart (1960) Peak
position
Dutch Singles Chart 17
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 37
U.K. Singles Chart 32

References

  1. ↑ "Wanda Jackson Discography, part one". Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 440. ISBN 0-89820-188-8.
  3. ↑ "UK Singles chart positions - Wanda Jackson". Polyhex.net. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  4. ↑ "Billboard chart positions - singles". allmusic. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  5. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/soundtrack
  6. ↑ Zielinski, Peter James (April 12, 2010). "Photo Coverage: Million Dollar Quartet Opens on Broadway". Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  7. ↑ MDQ Merchandising LLC (2010). “Song List” and “Performing Credits”. In Million Dollar Quartet (p. 5) [CD booklet]. New York City: Avatar Studios; and Chicago: Chicago Recording Company.