THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

362-Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano-High School Confidential.

1958-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 1.07. It’s ironic, because at the time Jerry Lee Lewis recorded this song he had just married his 13 year old cousin, once removed, who wasn’t even old enough to go to high school.

‘High School Confidential’ was co-written by Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-2022) (see also best songs 678 and 99) and Ron Hargrave (1929-2023) for the opening scene of the 1958 ‘MGM’ anti drugs movie which was also called ‘High School Confidential.’ In the film the director Jack Arnold (1916-1992) had Lewis, his bass player Jay W. Brown, (1930-2021) and drummer Russ Brown lip-synch the song while performing on the top of a flatbed truck. The version performed in the movie is different to this studio version, and none of the several takes recorded were released until the early 1980’s. The original picture sleeve for the 7 inch single released on ‘Sun Records’ featured cast members from the film, behind a superimposed image of Lewis.

‘High School Confidential’ was one of the 12 tracks (track 9) to appear on Jerry Lee Lewis’ self titled debut studio Album released on Sun Records in 1958, which was produced by Sun Records supremo Sam Phillips (1923-2003) and Jack Clement (1931-2013.) The music critic Michael ‘Cub’ Koda (1948-2000) in a retrospective review of the Album wrote the selections on the Album were ‘a curious mixture,’ with ‘a great deal of his best material being inexplicably left off,’ but the Album was still a ‘terrific debut.’ The songs he was referring to that were omitted include ‘Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On,’ and ‘Great Balls of Fire.’ ‘High School Confidential’ is also one of the tracks (track 2) which appears on the 1964 Album ‘Live at the Star Club, Hamburg.’ Jerry Lee Lewis was accompanied by the English Rock band the ‘Nashville Teens’ who recorded the Album live in front of an audience on April 5th, 1964, the Album is critically regarded as one of the greatest live Albums of all time, not just in ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ but in all music genres. In 1958 at the height of Lewis’ fame, his career his career was badly affected when it came to light that he had married his 13 year old cousin once removed. This caused public uproar with tours cancelled, and radio refusing to play his records, which was the reason why ‘High School Confidential’ stalled at Number 12 in the UK, and Number 21 on Billboard.

‘High School Confidential’ was co-written by Ron Hargrave, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Ron Hargrave was born Ronald Jay Hargrave, on November 8th, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died on May 16th, 2023, at the age of 93. His acting and musical career began at the same time as he entered into military life. It was during his military service time, that he met up with the daughter of the American comedian, actor and producer Lou Costello, (1906-1959) and it was Lou Costello who started Hargrave off in the film industry, and got him a record deal with ‘MGM.’ Ron Hargrave appeared in the 1956 American comedy film ‘Dance With Me Henry,’ starring ‘Abbott and Costello,’ his contribution earmarked him as one of the first on screen ‘Rock and Roll’ actors, in an era that had not yet adjusted to the young attitude of Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) or Jerry Lee Lewis. Hargrave was also an accomplished Ukulele player.

‘High School Confidential’ was produced by Sam Phillips (see also best songs 99) who was born Samuel Cornelius Phillips, on January 5th, 1923, in Florence, Alabama, United States, he died on July 30th, 2003, of respiratory failure, at the age of 80. Sam Phillips was a disc jockey, songwriter, and record producer, but is best remembered as the founder of ‘Sun Records,’ and the ‘Sun Studio’ in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) Roy Orbison, (1936-1988) (see also best songs 657) Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-2022) (see also best songs 678 and 99) Carl Perkins, (1932-1998) (see also best songs 664) Johnny Cash, (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857-428 and 199) Howlin’ Wolf, (1910-1976) and others. It is safe to say that Sam Phillips played a major role in the development of ‘Rock and Roll’ during the 1950’s, In 1969 he sold ‘Sun Records’ to the American record producer and record label owner Shelby Singleton (1931-2009) (see also best songs 708.) In 1986 Phillips was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,’ he was the first non-performer to be inducted. Sam Phillips was an advocate for racial equality, helping to break down racial barriers in the music industry.

‘Open up a honey it’s your lover boy me that’s a knockin.’ Why don’t you listen to me sugar? All the cats are at the high school rockin.’ Honey get your boppin’ shoes ‘fore the juke box blows a fuse, everybody’s hoppin, everybody’s boppin,’ boppin’ at the high school hop.’