Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee song)

This article is about the Shirley and Lee song. For other uses, see Let the Good Times Roll.

"Let the Good Times Roll" is a song that was recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956. This song was written by the duo, Shirley Goodman (later Shirley Pixley) and Leonard Lee.^[2]

"Let the Good Times Roll"
Single by Shirley and Lee
from the album Let the Good Times Roll
A-side	"Let the Good Times Roll"
B-side	"Do You Mean to Hurt Me So"
Released	1956
Recorded	May 1956
Studio	Cosimo (New Orleans, Louisiana)[1]
Genre	Rhythm and blues, Rock and roll
Length	2:30
Label	Aladdin 3325
Songwriter(s)	Shirley Goodman, Leonard Lee
Shirley & Lee singles chronology
"Feel So Good" (1955) "Let the Good Times Roll" (1956) "I Feel Good" (1957)

Chart performance

By September 8, 1956, the Shirley & Lee recording had climbed to number 20 in the US chart, and a 1960 re-recording went to number 47.^[3]

Background

The song has a strong steady beat provided by prolific studio drummer Earl Palmer.^[4]

Notable cover versions

• Roy Orbison covered the song in 1965; it was included on his album Orbisongs and released as a single in 1966, peaking at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[5][6][7] Orbison's version features Nashville session musician Charlie McCoy on harmonica.^[8]
• Bunny Sigler covered it as a medley along with the song "Feel So Good", peaking at number 20 on the Top Selling R&B Singles chart and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1967)^[9]
• Harry Nilsson covered it on his 1971 album Nilsson Schmilsson.
• English rock band Slade covered it on their 1972 album Slayed? and released it as a single in the US in 1973. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100.^[10]

Popular culture

"Let the Good Times Roll" has appeared on numerous compilation albums, and features in the films Apocalypse Now, Stand By Me, October Sky, Nobody, and Manchester by the Sea,^[11] as well as the trailer for the film The Monkey.

Commercial usage

The song appears in a 2018 TV commercial for Walmart.^[12]

References

1. Broven, John (September 12, 2014). "Cosimo Matassa". Ace Records. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
2. "The Best of Shirley & Lee - Shirley & Lee - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 761.
4. "Shirley & Lee Rock - Shirley & Lee | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
5. "Roy Orbison Chart History - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
6. "Roy Orbison [discography]". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
7. "US Singles (Roy Orbison Chart History)". AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
8. "Charlie McCoy Plays Harmonica on "Let the Good Times Roll" by Roy Orbison (1965)". RoyOrbison.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 525.
10. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. September 1, 1973. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Google Books.
11. "Let the Good Times Roll - Shirley & Lee - Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
12. "Walmart TV Commercial, 'Let the Good Times Roll' Song by Shirley and Lee". Ispot.tv. Retrieved December 2, 2018.

External links

• "Let the Good Times Roll" on YouTube