Let's Have a Party explained

Party
Cover:Elvis Presley - Party single (1957) RCA Victor.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Elvis Presley
Album:Loving You Volume 1 (EP)
B-Side:Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do!
Released:September 1957 (UK)
Recorded:January 21, 1957
Hollywood, California, United States[1]
Genre:Rock and roll
Length:1:33
Label:RCA Victor
Prev Title:Paralyzed
Prev Year:1957
Next Title:Jailhouse Rock
Next Year:1957
Let's Have a Party
Type:single
Artist:Wanda Jackson
Album:Wanda Jackson
B-Side:Cool Love
Released:June 1960
Recorded:April 7, 1958
Hollywood, California, United States[2]
Genre:Rock and roll
Label:Capitol
Producer:Ken Nelson
Prev Title:Please Call Today
Prev Year:1960
Next Title:Happy, Happy Birthday Baby
Next Year: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. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom under the title "Party" and peaked at #2 in the UK Singles Chart. Wanda Jackson recorded the song for her first album, Wanda Jackson, released in 1958. The song was released as a single by Jackson in 1960 and entered the UK chart on 1 September of that year, spending eight weeks there and reaching #32; it also reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.[3] [4] [5] The Jackson version was later featured in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society.[6] Her recording of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2024.[7]

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 similar melody. A cover of "Let's Have a Party" by Sonia was included on the 2010 remastered edition of her 1989 album Everybody Knows.

The song was included under the title "Party" in the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, which opened in New York in April 2010.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

English glam rock band Mud recorded the song for their 1975 album Mud Rock Volume 2.[11]

Rock and roll band Dr. Feelgood included the song on their 1978 album Private Practice.[12]

Chart performance

Wanda Jackson version

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ELVIS PRESLEY Song Details Party. 19 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Wanda Jackson Discography, part one. Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies. 17 December 2013.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. 440. 2011. 978-0-89820-188-8.
  4. Web site: UK Singles chart positions - Wanda Jackson. Polyhex.net. 2011-05-07.
  5. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4580/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} Billboard chart positions - singles]. allmusic. 2011-05-07.
  6. Web site: Dead Poets Society (1989) : Soundtracks. IMDb.com. 2016-09-26.
  7. https://www.grammy.com/news/grammy-hall-fame-2024-recordings-inducted-lauryn-hill-guns-n-roses
  8. Web site: Zielinski. Peter James. Photo Coverage: Million Dollar Quartet Opens on Broadway. April 12, 2010. 7 May 2011.
  9. 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.
  10. Web site: Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. How the West Was Won - Led Zeppelin | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 2016-09-26.
  11. Web site: Dave Thompson . Mud Rock, Vol. 2 - Mud | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 2016-09-26.
  12. Web site: Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Private Practice - Dr. Feelgood | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 2016-09-26.
  13. Book: Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. David Kent. 978-0-646-11917-5. 1993. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W..