Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee song) explained

Let the Good Times Roll
Type:	single
Artist:	Shirley and Lee
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
Chronology:	Shirley & Lee
Prev Title:	Feel So Good
Prev Year:	1955
Next Title:	I Feel Good
Next Year:	1957

"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]

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 and Manchester by the Sea.^[11]

Commercial usage

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

Notes and References

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