"Wildwood Days" is a song released by Bobby Rydell in 1963.Bobby Rydell - Wildwood Days, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 25, 2016.
Rydell's version spent 9 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17,"Bobby Rydell - Chart History - The Hot 100", Billboard.com. Accessed July 25, 2016. while reaching No. 14 in Australia,"Billboard Hits of the World", Billboard, July 27, 1963. p. 42. Accessed July 25, 2016. and No. 21 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.. Chart No. 325. CHUM. Accessed July 25, 2016.
Background The subject of the song is Wildwood, New Jersey, a city famous for its nightlife, which was a popular location for rock and roll performances at the time the song was recorded.Strauss, Robert. "The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll Is in Wildwood", The New York Times, September 4, 2005. Accessed July 25, 2016. It eventually became the official anthem of the city, and is played on the boardwalk's stereo system routinely. The song was also featured in commercials for Wildwood. A mural on the Wildwood boardwalk (painted in 2014) honors Rydell whose song put the community into the national spotlight.Bobby Rydell Wall Mural - Wildwood Boardwalk
Chart performance Chart (1963) Peak positionUS Billboard Hot 100 17Australia - Music Maker 14Canada - CHUM Hit Parade 21
Cover versions In 1966, Bobby Curtola released a version of the song, which reached No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100"."RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 6, No. 4, September 19, 1966. Accessed July 25, 2016.
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