Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee song)
"Let the Good Times Roll" is the shared title of two different, but connected, American rhythm and blues songs.
The first "Let the Good Times Roll" was recorded in 1946 by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, and became a # 2 hit on the R&B chart. The song was written by "Lovin'" Sam Theard (1904-1982), a New Orleans born blues singer and songwriter, and was co-credited to Fleecie Moore. Moore was Louis Jordan's wife, and was sometimes given credit on songs which Jordan himself had written, to get around music publishing restrictions. This "Let the Good Times Roll" was also recorded later by Ray Charles and B. B. King.
The second "Let the Good Times Roll" was recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956. This song was written by the duo, Shirley Goodman (later Shirley Pixley) and Leonard Lee, and was a national pop hit. Although it is different from the Louis Jordan song, Shirley and Lee had clearly heard the earlier song and it contains some similar lyrics and themes. On some later versions of this song, Theard and Moore are credited as co-writers. The song has a strong steady beat. Shirley's vocal had a nasal quality to it, which others have tried to avoid. This "Let the Good Times Roll" has been recorded by many others including The Righteous Brothers, The Searchers, Joe Strummer, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Freddy Fender, Buckwheat Zydeco,The Animals, & Fishbone.
Hear a sample of Conway Twitty's rendition:
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