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The All American Boy
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Wikipedia article
"'The All American Boy'" is a 1958 talking blues song written and sung by Bobby Bare, but credited by Fraternity Records to Bill Parsons, with songwriting credit to Bill Parsons and Orville Lunsford. While Bare was in the army, Parsons lip synced the record on television.
The song was co-written by Ralph Edward Hogsten, who also performed bass on the recording. However, he was uncredited.
Chart performance
The song reached number 2 on the Billboard chart, kept from the number one spot by "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by the Platters. Overseas, "The All American Boy" went to number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. It made the top 10 in Australia.
Cover versions
*A cover version was recorded by Bob Dylan and The Band in 1967, officially released November 4, 2014 on 'The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete'.
Popular culture
The song was inspired by the success and then conscription of Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Thus, the 'Pop Chronicles' music documentary used it as the theme song for its episodes focused on Presley. The song ends with the narrator getting drafted into the US Army. This song makes reference to the Chuck Berry song, "Johnny B. Goode", as well as the television show, 'American Bandstand'.
References
Category:Works published under a pseudonym
Category:Songs about Elvis Presley
Category:1958 singles
Category:Fraternity Records singles
Category:1958 songs
Category:Bobby Bare songs
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