Rockin Rebels : Wild Weekend ( 1963 )

The Rockin' Rebels career began when Buffalo, New York disc jockey Tom Shannon and his partner Phil Todaro wrote a theme song, "Wild Weekend," for Shannon's radio show. The song -- originally a vocal -- became a local favorite with his listening audience, and the light bulb went on over his head when he was deluged with requests for a copy of a record that doesn't exist. While hosting a record hop, Shannon was approached by a local high school band on the bill, the Rebels, named after Duane Eddy's backing group. The band asked Shannon if they could play an instrumental version of his theme song. Shannon hadn't thought of the tune as an instrumental, but after hearing the group's version of it, he quickly booked them into a studio. Released on Todaro and Shannon's own Marlee label in 1959, the record was a big hit regionally, kicking up enough noise to secure the band a spot on Dick Clark's Amercian Bandstand.
http://www.colorradio.com/rockinrebels.htm

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rockin
• rebels
• wild
• weekend
• manhatin
• tommy
• shannon
• wkbw
• radio
• one
• hit
• wonder
• pop

[falconoilcompany]

I remember this back in 63. At the time i thought it was marvellous. The song is build around an old 12bar blues beat but in 63 that was new. Nowadays the solo sounds a bit sluggish, lumpy and naive, however i couldnt play it at the time and spent hours trying. I finally got it, but by then something else was in the charts. Talk about missing the bus. very nostalgic stuff for me though. Happy Days.

[zappasaurus]

I miss saxophones :(

[rogueleader302]

@falconoilcompany

Um, the 12 bar blues is a chord progression, nothing rhythm based man.

[RoyFive]

This may have given John Fogerty a couple of ideas. Who knows.

[1863year]

When I dj'ed in the 60's in Orlando this was my Saturday night theme song - thanks for the memory............

[buckize68]

Love this song! It used to be on a jukebox at the local laundromat we frequented back in the 60's. The place was huge, and when this song came on, the whole place just rumbled with the sexy sax sound. thanks for the posting. Tripping down memory lane once again.........

[93KHJBOSSRADIO]

Remember they use to play this b4 the news on KRLA---in Pasadena---still ONE of the best Instrumentals around

[beentheredonethatb4]

@lyon406, I remember when Tommy Shannon was still on WKBW. They used to play "Tommy Shannon Show, right here on KB radio" Joey Reynolds must have "borrowed it". Joey had a song on WKBW called "Rats in my room".

[iPansophitus]

Lol, it's hard to believe that this was ever considered rebellious, but it's cool. I prefer the NRBQ version though.

[ZombieHunter2619]

This real time recording is better than any other version I have ever heard. I can't believe my friend said this song was "boring". I think I may be the only one in my generation that likes this.

[lynnield]

@fiofive My Husband recorded the orginal record with this band. He was the guitar player from Rochester NY

[lynnield]

@fiofive My Husband recorded the orginal record with this band.