Greased Lightnin' (song)

"Greased Lightnin'"
US single picture sleeve
Single by John Travolta
from the album Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
B-side	"Razzamatazz" "Sandy"
Released	September 1978
Recorded	1977
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	3:13
Label	RSO
Songwriters	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Producers	Louis St. Louis John Farrar Barry Gibb Albhy Galuten
John Travolta singles chronology
"Sandy" (1978) "Greased Lightnin'" (1978) "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (1980)

"Greased Lightnin'" is a song from the 1971 musical Grease which was also adapted into the 1978 film of the same name. A soundtrack recording from the film version, with John Travolta on lead vocals, peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

Though sung by Kenickie onstage, John Travolta used his influence to have himself as Danny perform it in the film. Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie in the film and Danny on Broadway, was reportedly upset with the decision.

Synopsis

Kenickie, a member of the greaser gang at the center of the musical, has purchased a used car with the savings from his summer job, giving it the nickname "Greased Lightnin'". While the other greasers are skeptical of the car because it is in such poor shape, he is able to win them over with a rousing rock and roll number describing the modifications needed to transform it into a hot rod capable of arousing the ladies.

Record World said that "the beat is 50s perfect." ^[1]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [2] 40 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [3] 5 Ireland (IRMA) [4] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [5] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [6] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [7] 40 UK Singles (OCC) [8] 11 US Billboard Hot 100 [9] 47 US Cash Box Top 100 45

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) [10] 75 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [11] 65 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [12] 55

Critical reception

STL Today described the song as "a number saluting a hot rod and all the joy it promises". ^[13]

References

1. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World . September 23, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 313. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
3. "John Travolta – Greased Lightnin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Greased Lightnin'". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
5. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
6. "John Travolta – Greased Lightnin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
7. "John Travolta – Greased Lightnin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
8. "Search results for "John Travolta" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
9. "John Travolta Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved October 30, 2021.
10. "Jaaroverzichten 1978". Ultratop. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
11. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
12. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1978". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
13. Newmark, Judith (August 1, 2014). "'Grease' gets the splashy Muny treatment | Theater reviews". Stltoday.com. Retrieved October 13, 2016.