"Graduation Day" is a song composed by Joe Sherman with lyrics by his brother Noel Sherman, and was originally a 1956 hit song by the Four Freshmen. Four Freshman version
Background The song is about nostalgiaa single from the Capitol album Freshman Favorites, and was an important influence in the early rock era.The Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era p218
Chart performance In the US, the Four Freshmen recording reached number 27 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart.Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012, 2013 Published by Record Research Page=312 The Rover Boys version
in 1956. The version by the Canadian vocal group The Rover Boys (named after the popular college-themed literary characters) recorded a version of "Graduation Day". Chart performance The Rover Boys' version reached number 16 on the U.S. charts.MusicVF.com - Graduation Day: The Rover Boys
Other versions Bobby Pickett released his own version of the song in 1963.45Cat - Bobby Pickett - Graduation DayThe Hollywood Reporter, April 27, 2007 - ‘Monster Mash’ singer Bobby Pickett dies The A side "The Humpty Dumpty" was a Billboard Pop Spotlight for the week of 25 May. The reviewer wrote that the B side ("Graduation Day") was a serious rendition of a ballad hit of some time back.Billboard, May 25, 1963 - Page 24 SINGLES REVIEWS, POP SPOTLIGHT, BOBBY PICKETT THE HUMPTY DUMPTY (Garpax, BMI) (2:07) GRADUATION DAY (Sheldon, BMI) (2:17 -Garpax 4417 "Graduation Day" eventually made it to No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of 29 June.MusicVF.com - Graduation Day: Bobby Boris Pickett & the Crypt-KickersBillboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 chart archives - Single — Billboard Hot 100, Graduation Day Bobby Pickett The song was a concert staple of the Beach Boys, who were deeply influenced by the Four Freshmen.Beach Boys - Graduation Day, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YGXJH1KjSs A recording of it was featured on the live Capitol Records album Beach Boys Concert (1964), and a studio version was included as a bonus track on the 1990 Today! & Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) compilation CD.Graduation Day (Live / 2001 Remastered), YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPojOwEgn8 In 1967, The Arbors recorded their version and included on their The Arbors Sing Valley of the Dolls LP.
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