Wild Weekend (instrumental)

This article is about The Rockin' Rebels' song. For the Bill Anderson song, see Wild Week-End.
"Wild Weekend"
Single by The Rockin' Rebels
from the album Wild Weekend
B-side"Wild Weekend (Cha Cha)"
ReleasedNovember 1962 (1962-11)
GenreSurf rock[1]
Length2:15
LabelSwan
Songwriter(s)Phil Todaro, Tom Shannon
The Rockin' Rebels singles chronology
"Theme from The Rebel"
(1961) 		"Wild Weekend"
(1962) 		"Rockin' Crickets"
(1963)

"Wild Weekend" is an instrumental written by Phil Todaro and Tom Shannon and performed by The Rebels, later known as The Rockin' Rebels.

The tune was originally heard in a theme song for Shannon's radio show on WKBW in Buffalo, New York.[2] The words "Wild Weekend" are not found in the song's lyrics (Shannon's show aired on weekdays).[3]

The Russ Hallett Trio recorded the original theme for radio airplay by Shannon in 1958.[4][5] Buffalo band The Rebels reworked it as an instrumental that was released as "Wild Weekend" on the Marlee label in 1960 without national chart success.[6]

In November 1962 the Rebels' single was re-released on the Swan label.[7] The band name was changed to The Rockin' Rebels, apparently to avoid confusion with Duane Eddy And The Rebels.[8] It entered Billboard's national Hot 100 at the end of December with its chart run continuing into 1963 when it peaked at #8, and at #28 on the U.S. R&B chart.[9] The song ranked #22 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1963.[10][11]

"Wild Weekend" was featured on the 1963 Rockin' Rebels album Wild Weekend.[12]

  1. ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 203. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
  2. ^ "WKBW Radio, Tommy Shannon, 1961" (video). youtube.com. Posted by ForgottenBuffaloTour (theme song begins after short introduction). 15 August 2011.
  3. ^ Cichon, Steve (8 June 2007). "Tom Shannon explains "Wild Weekend"– KB 1983". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. ^ Lee, Brian. "Colorradio.com - Rebels-Et All". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  5. ^ Lee, Brian. "Russ Hallett interview (audio)". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  6. ^ The Rebels - "Wild Weekend", on Marlee label, USA, March 1960, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 8 March 2024
  7. ^ The Rockin' Rebels - "Wild Weekend", on Swan label, USA, November 1962, details at 45cat.com. Retrieved 8 March 2024
  8. ^ Some early pressings on Swan still had the band name as simply The Rebels: release details at 45cat.com, retrieved 8 March 2024.
  9. ^ "The Rockin' Rebels, "Wild Weekend" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "Top Records of 1963", Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Kowal, Barry. Billboard Magazine's (USA) Top 100 Single Recordings of 1963, Hits of All Decades. August 27, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Rockin' Rebels, Wild Weekend". Discogs. 1962. Retrieved March 14, 2019.