Short Shorts
| "Short Shorts" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Royal Teens | ||||
| B-side | "Planet Rock" | |||
| Released | January 1958 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 2:12 | |||
| Label | ABC-Paramount | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tom Austin, Bill Crandell, Bill Dalton, Bob Gaudio | |||
| The Royal Teens singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Short Shorts" is a song written and performed by Tom Austin, Bill Crandell, Bill Dalton, Russ Viers, and Bob Gaudio, members of The Royal Teens. It reached #2 on the U.S. R&B chart and #3 on the U.S. pop chart in 1958.[1] The group originally released the track on the small New York label Power Records in 1957.
In an interview with
Bergenfield ... It was a warm day and we saw this girl in shorts walking down the street. That gave us the idea for the lyrics."[2]
The record ranked #35 on Billboard's Year-End top 50 singles of 1958.[3]
Other charting versions
- The Salsoul Orchestra released it as a single which reached #106 on the U.S. pop chart in 1977.[4]
Other versions
- Tiny Bradshaw and His Orchestra, as a single in 1958, which did not chart.[5]
- Tommy Sands, as part of a medley with "(I'm) All Shook Up", "Splish Splash", and "Hound Dog" on his 1960 live album, Sands at the Sands.[6]
- Freddie and the Dreamers, on their 1965 album, Frantic Freddie.[7]
- From the 1970s to the 90s, the song[8] was adapted into the campaign slogan "We wear short shorts, Nair for short shorts" in commercials for Nair hair removal products.
- El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)" (1997), "She of Little Faith" (2001), and "Sweets and Sour Marge" (2002).
- The Jersey Boys 2005 Broadway cast, on their 2005 album, Jersey Boys (Original Broadway Cast Recording).[9]
- In the 2006 Family Guy episode "Stu & Stewie's Excellent Adventure",[10] a sixty-something Joe Swanson living in the year 2035 sang, "Who wears short shorts? I wear short shorts!!" while flaunting the legs transplanted from his now-deceased wife Bonnie.
References
- ^ "The Royal Teens, "Short Shorts" Chart Positions". Musicvf.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "To the Tune of Millions," Newsweek, March 31, 1958
- ^ "Chart Toppers of 1958" Billboard December 15, 1958: p. 44
- ^ "The Salsoul Orchestra, "Short Shorts" Chart Position". Musicvf.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "Tiny Bradshaw and His Orchestra, "Short Shorts" Single Release". 45cat.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "Tommy Sands, Sands at the Sands". Discogs.com. 1960. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "Freddie and the Dreamers, Frantic Freddie". Discogs.com. 1965. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ Venezio-Preston, Allison L. (July 23, 2020). "Who Wears #ThrowbackThursday Shorts?". Allisonveneziowrites.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jersey Boys 2005 Broadway Cast, Jersey Boys (Original Broadway Cast Recording)". Discogs.com. November 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "Who wears short shorts,Joe wears short shorts!". YouTube. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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