"Straight Skirt" (later "Straight Skirts") is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Song Productions,
BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by
Gene Summers
David Eugene Summers (January 3, 1939 – February 17, 2021) was an American rockabilly singer, songwriter and guitarist. His most famous recordings include the late 50s " School of Rock 'n Roll", " Straight Skirt", " Nervous", " Gotta Lotta T ...
and his Rebels, a
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...
band from
Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
and was first released in February 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958, ''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' picked it as their 'Sleeper of the Week'. In ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' 's 'Reviews of Pop Records' they wrote: "The artist is backed by a chorus and cheerful
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...
support on this
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
. The kids might take to this".
"Straight Skirt" was flipped with "
School Of Rock 'n Roll", an upbeat rockabilly song written by James McClung who was a high school friend of Summers. McClung was also the original guitarist for The Rebels and would continue to work with Summers well into the mid-1960s.
In the 1970s, at the beginning of the
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...
revival in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, "
School Of Rock 'n Roll" and "Straight Skirt" were re-discovered by a new legion of rockabilly fans and bands. Since that time they have become classic dance floor-fillers and renewed Gene's career to the extent of worldwide concert appearances from 1980 onwards.
Cover versions
*
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
& His Devils - 7” 45rpm single “Straight Skirt”/”Slipping Around”
Prestige Records #PSP 0066, New Zealand September 1958
*7” 45rpm EP
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“How Would Ya Be”, “Slipping Around”, “Straight Skirt”, “I’m Grateful”.
Prestige Records PEP 2017, New Zealand October 1958
*Sheet Music
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“Straight Skirt”
Southern Music Publishing Company, New Zealand 1958
*7” 45rpm EP
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“Rock To Johnny Devlin” “ Slipping
Around,” “ Straight Skirt,” “ I’m Grateful,” “ How Would ‘Ya Be”
Bell Records BE-198, Australia 1959
*LP
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“24 Golden Greats”
Music World Records MALPS-536, New Zealand 1972
*CD
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
Festival Records CD 26255, Australia 1998
*CD
Johnny Devlin
John Lockett Devlin (born 11 May 1938) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musician known for his influential role in the country's early rock and roll scene. He has often been compared to Elvis Presley.
His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawd ...
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy-Prestige Years 1958-1959”
Festival Records CD D26481, Australia 2000
*CD Various Artists “The Very Best Of Kiwi Rock & Roll”
EMI Records 5784512, New Zealand 2004
(Johnny Devlin “Straight Skirt” track #2.)
*
The Diamonds
The Diamonds are a Canadian vocal quartet that rose to prominence in the 1950s and early 1960s with 16 ''Billboard'' hit records. The original members were Dave Somerville (lead), Ted Kowalski (tenor), Phil Levitt (baritone), and Bill Reed (ba ...
- 7” 45rpm single “Straight Skirt”/ “Patsy”
Mercury Records # , United States 1958
* 7" 45rpm single The Diamonds “Straight Skirts”/”Patsy”
Mercury PYE 7MT.208,
U.K.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
1958
*7” 45rpm EP The Diamonds “Straight Skirts”/”Patsy”
plus The Platters “Winner Take All”/”My Dream” Mercury Records MG 10114, Spain 1959
*LP The Diamonds“America’s Famous Song Stylists”
Mercury Wing Records MGW 12114 (Mono), United States 1959
''(Straight Skirts- Side 2, Track 3)''
*LP The Diamonds "America’s Famous Song Stylists"
Mercury Wing Records MGW 12114, Canada 1959
''(Straight Skirts - Side 2, Track 3)''
*LP The Diamonds “The Definitive Collection Of The Diamonds”
Ebenezer Records 01, (country) (year)
''(Straight Skirts - Side 1, Track 6)''
*LP The Diamonds “Best Of The Diamonds”
Rome Records 157, Italy 1990
*CD The Diamonds “Diamonds Collection”
Stardust Records CD 1010, United States 1996
*CD The Diamonds “Little Darlin’-25 Golden Hits”
Remember Records CD RMB 75072,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
1999
*CD The Diamonds "Songbook"
Canetoad Records CTCD-1013, Australia 2007
''(Straight Skirt-Track #11)''
*
Ronnie Dawson - LP Ronnie Dawson “Rockin’ Bones”
No Hit Records LP-001,
U.K.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
1988
*CD Ronnie Dawson “Rockin’ Bones”
No Hit Records CD-001,
U.K.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
1993
*CD Ronnie Dawson “Rockin’ Bones The Legendary Masters”
Crystal Clear Sound Records CD CCR 9643-2, United States 1996
*The Sureshots - CD “Rock ‘n Roll Ball” (‘Live from
Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
’)
Empire Records EMPCD-105,
U.K.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
2005
References
External links
*
* {{YouTube, GMxa9B0YZzU, "Straight Skirt" (2) cover versions by The Diamonds and by Johnny Devlin
Sources
*Liner notes "
The Ultimate School Of Rock & Roll" 1997 United States
*Article and sessionography in issue 15 (1977) of New Kommotion Magazine UK
*Article and sessionography in issue 23 (1980) of New Kommotion Magazine UK
*Feature article and sessionography in issue 74 (1999) of Rockin' Fifties Magazine Germany
*Feature article with photo spread in issue 53 (2000) of Bill Griggs' Rockin' 50s Magazine United States
*Feature Article with photo spread in issue 54 (2000) of Bill Griggs' Rockin' 50s Magazine United States
1958 songs
Novelty songs
Gene Summers songs
American songs
1958 debut singles
Songs written by Mary Tarver