It is very cold in Toronto today and I was thinking about a song, any song, that might warm me up. “Summertime Blues” came to mind. If it was summertime right now, I would not have the blues.
The song was co-written and recorded by Eddie Cochran, and was his breakout hit. The other writing credit goes to his manager Jerry Capehart. It was released in August 1958 (as the B-side to “Love Again” on Liberty Records) and got up to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1958. It has been covered by The Who, Blue Cheer, Joan Jett, Van Halen, Alan Jackson, The Stray Cats, even Olivia Newton John.
Cochran was 19 when he recorded this. It was a big hit with his teenage fans, who could relate to the lyrics about being held back by society (and parents). Cochran got an image as a rebel with a guitar, and his legend was secured when he died 2 years later while riding in the back of a taxi. He was often compared to James Dean, who was 24 when he died in a car accident.
Rolling Stone magazine puts “Summertime Blues” at No. 73 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. And it does have that great guitar lick. Not bad for a guy who died at 21.