Covers
In 1958 the song was released as a single by Jerry Ivan Allison, a member of The Crickets, using the name Ivan. Retitled "Real Wild Child," the song became a moderate hit, peaking at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Wild One" was also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1958 but was not released until 1974 on Lee's album, Rockin' and Free. His version also appears in the 1989 motion picture and soundtrack album for Great Balls of Fire and Nowhere Boy.
It was recorded and released as "Real Wild Child" by Jet Harris, former bassist with The Shadows, in 1962 on Harris' self titled EP. A further version, "Real Wild Child (Wild One)" was recorded by British guitarist, Albert Lee, on his 1982 self-titled album.
The song was again covered in 1986 when Iggy Pop included a version on his album Blah Blah Blah. Titled "Real Wild Child (Wild One)," this became a #10 hit on the UK Singles Chart in January 1987. It also charted on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart, peaking at #27. The Iggy Pop version was featured in the films Crocodile Dundee II, Adventures in Babysitting, Problem Child and its sequel Problem Child 2.
The song was subsequently covered by Lou Reed in 1993. Other artists to record this song include Status Quo, Everlife, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Glamour Camp, Marshall Crenshaw, Brian Setzer, Teenage Head, Albert Lee and Wakefield. A cover by Christopher Otcasek appeared on the soundtrack to the film Pretty Woman. The cover by Wakefield appeared in the movie Eurotrip and its soundtrack. Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for "Chip Tracy" (a parody of the 1990 Dick Tracy film), an episode from the final season of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
A cover of the song was recorded again by Iggy Pop who teamed up with Aussie rockers Jet which was released as a single in July 2008. Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding also recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack to the 2008 film Wild Child.
The most recent cover of the song, with the title "Real Wild Child," was by Levi Kreis portraying Jerry Lee Lewis on the original Broadway cast recording of the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet. Kreis won a 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
The Chipmunks and The Chipettes covered this song for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion Picture album and the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked film. A few lyrics have changed in this version.
Read more about this topic: Wild One (Johnny O'Keefe Song)
Famous quotes containing the word covers:
“The covers of this book are too far apart.”
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914)
“And mimic desolation covers all.”
—Thomas Gray (1716–1771)
“What art can paint or gild any object in afterlife with the glow which Nature gives to the first baubles of childhood. St. Peter’s cannot have the magical power over us that the red and gold covers of our first picture-book possessed. How the imagination cleaves to the warm glories of that tinsel even now! What entertainments make every day bright and short for the fine freshman!”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)