Straight Skirt

"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 and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958 Cash Box Magazine picked it as their Sleeper Of The Week. In Billboard Magazine's Reviews Of Pop Records they wrote: "The artist is backed by a chorus and cheerful rockabilly support on this blues. The kids might take to this". They were right...within a few weeks of its release, Summers and his rockin' band of Rebels had their first big regional hit.

This article is about the song by Gene Summers. For the article of clothing, see Pencil skirt.
"Straight Skirt"
Single by Gene Summers and His Rebels
A-side"Straight Skirt"
B-side"School Of Rock 'n Roll"
Released1958
Recorded1958 - Los Angeles
GenreRockabilly
Length1:58
LabelJan Records
Songwriter(s)Mary Tarver

"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. Their recording of "School Of Rock 'n Roll" later became widely recognized as one of the 100 greatest rock 'n roll records.

In the 1970s, at the beginning of the rockabilly revival in Europe, "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 have renewed Gene's career to the extent of worldwide concert appearances from 1980 to the present.

Reviews
  • "Straight Skirt" Getting Buildup - Dallas Morning News, February 25, 1958
    Back in Big D after our whirlwind trip to New York, we found Dan Weisfeld camping in our office bubbling with enthusiasm about his new record company. Danny once headed the Mercury Records distribution staff in Dallas. He had moved to the west coast a few months ago and started laying the groundwork for Jan Records in partnership with Dallas oilman Tom Fleeger. "I'm back in town to get in a few plugs for our first big release, he explained. "It's a tune called Straight Skirt by Gene Summers and the Rebels. "Summers and his group," he continued "are students at Arlington State College. They are four of the best rock 'n roll musicians and singers I've ever heard, and the reaction to their first effort has been phenomenal. It is getting a good sendoff around the country." -Tony Zoppi, Dallas After Dark
  • The Cash Box Sleeper of the Week - March 8, 1958
    "STRAIGHT SKIRTS" (1:57) [Song Prod. BMI - Tarver]
    Gene Summers & His Rebels (January 100)
    "One of the best sleeper items to cross this turntable in a long while is this sensational rock and roller by newcomer Gene Summers. The lad gets a fabulous instrumental assist as he and the Rebels high tail it thru a torrid jumper describing a teenage damsel who wears "Straight Skirts". Summers does a tremendous job with this rock-a-billy type ditty. The kids'll flip over the cute lyrics. Bottom half, "School Of Rock 'n Roll" is still faster in tempo. Trigger fast rocker that doesn't stop driving. Keep a close watch on the upper deck. It could be a smash."
  • Ramco Distributors, Phoenix, Arizona - 1958
    "Hottest new platters at Ramco are "Straight Skirts" by Gene Summers on Jan, "Cherry Pie" by Marvin & Johnny on Kent, "Frank N. Stein" by Al Casey on Highland and "Strollin' by The Hornets on Rev. Other strong bets are "Why Does Everything Happen To Me" by B. B. King on Kent and "Billy" by Kathy Linden on Felsted Records.
  • Top Plug Songs - Marnel of Maryland Distributors, Baltimore, Maryland - 1958
    Crazy Feelin by Roy Hamilton Epic 9268
    Chewing Gum b/w O Bella Mia by Tommy Prisco Epic 9267
    Bluebirds Over The Mountain by Ersel Hickey Epic 9263
    Miraculous Music Box by Joe Sherman Epic 9266
    Straight Skirts by Gene Summers Jan 100
    Bells On My Heart by Three Pennies Golden Crest 131
    Apache by The Chiefs Greenwich 408
    Lonesome Train by Freddie Jacobs Web 1123
    Golly Gee b/w Well Honey by Gene Bua Safari 1007
    I Wonder Why by Dion & The Belmonts Laurie 3013
  • Radio Events of the Day - Dallas Morning News, March 27, 1958 - Section: Part 2, Page: 7
    "Pierce Allman, host of his own recorded show will feature Gene Summers and His Rebels ("Straight Skirts") on the Thursday broadcast beginning at 9:05 PM on WFAA-570." -Source: Dallas Public Library

Cover versions of "Straight Skirt"
  • Johnny Devlin & His Devils - 7” 45rpm single “Straight Skirt”/”Slipping Around”

Prestige Records #PSP 0066, New Zealand September 1958

  • 7” 45rpm EP Johnny Devlin “How Would Ya Be”, “Slipping Around”, “Straight Skirt”, “I’m Grateful”.

Prestige Records PEP 2017, New Zealand October 1958

Southern Music Publishing Company, New Zealand 1958

  • 7” 45rpm EP Johnny Devlin “Rock To Johnny Devlin” “ Slipping

Around,” “ Straight Skirt,” “ I’m Grateful,” “ How Would ‘Ya Be” Bell Records BE-198, Australia 1959

Music World Records MALPS-536, New Zealand 1972

Festival Records CD 26255, Australia 1998

  • CD Johnny Devlin “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 - 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. 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 1999

  • CD The Diamonds "Songbook"

Canetoad Records CTCD-1013, Australia 2007 (Straight Skirt-Track #11)

No Hit Records LP-001, U.K. 1988

  • CD Ronnie Dawson “Rockin’ Bones”

No Hit Records CD-001, U.K. 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’)

Empire Records EMPCD-105, U.K. 2005

References

    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
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