Smokin' in the Boys Room

Last updated
"Smokin' in the Boys Room"
Smokin in the Boys Room by Brownsville Station US single side-A.png
One of side-A labels of US single
Single by Brownsville Station
from the album Yeah!
B-side "Barefootin'"
ReleasedOctober 1973
Recorded1973
Studio Mediasound, New York City
Genre
Length2:58
Label Big Tree
Songwriter(s) Cub Koda, Michael Lutz
Producer(s) Doug Morris, Brilliant Sun
Brownsville Station singles chronology
"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah"
(1973)
"Smokin' in the Boys Room"
(1973)
"Kings of the Party"
(1974)

"Smokin' in the Boys Room" is a song originally recorded by Brownsville Station in 1973 on their album Yeah! . It reached number 3 in Canada [3] and on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was later certified by the RIAA.

Contents

The song is about students hoping to avoid being caught violating their school's smoking ban by smoking cigarettes in the boys' restroom. The song begins with a spoken recitation, and the verses and a part of the chorus, are mostly spoken, rather than sung.

Chart performance

Weekly Charts

Mötley Crüe version

"Smokin' in the Boys Room"
Motley Crue SITBR.jpg
Single by Mötley Crüe
from the album Theatre of Pain
B-side "Use it or Lose it"
Released24 June 1985
Recorded1985
Genre Glam metal [2]
Length3:22
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Cub Koda, Michael Lutz
Producer(s) Tom Werman
Mötley Crüe singles chronology
"Too Young to Fall in Love"
(1984)
"Smokin' in the Boys Room"
(1985)
"Home Sweet Home"
(1985)
Music videos
"Smokin' in the Boys Room" on YouTube

The song was covered in 1985 by Mötley Crüe. Released as a single, "Smokin' in the Boys Room" reached #16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and became Mötley Crüe's first Top 40 hit. [12] Their version of the song appears in the 1986 film The Wraith directed by Chieffallo. A LeAnn Rimes version of the song appeared on the album Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe.

Music video

Crüe's version was accompanied by a conceptual music video featuring Michael Berryman as the school principal. The video focuses on a high school student named Jimmy who is mistreated and misunderstood in school. After he is paddled by the principal for (truthfully) claiming that a dog ran off with his homework, a frustrated Jimmy goes to the boys' bathroom where he sees Motley Crüe in the mirrors. The band pulls him through the mirror to join them, and Jimmy and Motley Crüe watch a dystopian vision of the school through a barred window. At the end of the music video, the principal apologizes to Jimmy and offers an A for his missing homework; instead, Jimmy doesn't accept and rips up the homework. After Jimmy walks away, Nikki Sixx reaches out of the mirror and snatches the dumbfounded principal's toupée.

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [13] 61
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [14] 19
UK Singles (OCC) [15] 71
US Billboard Hot 100 [16] 16
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [17] 7

Personnel

Other versions

In 1981, the song was translated to Hebrew and covered by T-Slam under the name "Me'ashnim Beyahad" (Smoking Together) on their debut album. The English-language version of the album, "Loud Radio" featured the original version of the song. [18]

The song is referenced in the television program King of the Hill in season 10 episode 10. Brownsville Station is the favorite band of the character Lucky. The song "inspired him to smoke" and plays over the ending credits. [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>Theatre of Pain</i> 1985 studio album by Mötley Crüe

Theatre of Pain is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on June 24, 1985. Released in the aftermath of lead vocalist Vince Neil's arrest for manslaughter on a drunk driving charge, the album marked the beginning of the band's transition away from the traditional heavy metal sound of Too Fast for Love and Shout at the Devil, towards a more glam metal style.

<i>Girls, Girls, Girls</i> (Mötley Crüe album) 1987 studio album by Mötley Crüe

Girls, Girls, Girls is the fourth studio album by American rock band Mötley Crüe, released on May 15, 1987. The album contains the hit singles "Girls, Girls, Girls", "You're All I Need", and the MTV favorite "Wild Side". It was the band's final collaboration with producer Tom Werman, who had produced the band's two previous albums, Shout at the Devil and Theatre of Pain. Like those albums, Girls, Girls, Girls would achieve quadruple platinum status, selling over 4 million copies and reaching number two on the Billboard 200. The album marked a change to a blues-rock influenced sound, which was met with positive reception.

<i>Decade of Decadence 81–91</i> 1991 greatest hits album by Mötley Crüe

Decade of Decadence 81–91 is the first compilation album by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released in September 1991. It peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was the band's sixth album overall and the first of several greatest hits compilations.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (1998 Mötley Crüe album) 1998 compilation album by Mötley Crüe

Greatest Hits is the third compilation album by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released on October 27, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (Pilot song)</span> 1974 single by Pilot

"Magic" is a 1974 song by Scottish pop rock band Pilot, and was the first hit single for the group. It was written by band members David Paton and Billy Lyall for their debut album, From the Album of the Same Name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kickstart My Heart</span> 1989 single by Mötley Crüe

"Kickstart My Heart" is a song by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, originally released on their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood. Released as the album's second single in 1989, "Kickstart My Heart" reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in early 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Night (Bay City Rollers song)</span> 1973 single by Bay City Rollers

"Saturday Night" is a song recorded by the Scottish pop rock band Bay City Rollers. It was written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. The tune is an upbeat rock number with a memorable hook, in which the word "Saturday" is spelled out in a rhythmic, enthusiastic chant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls, Girls, Girls (Mötley Crüe song)</span> 1987 single by Mötley Crüe

"Girls, Girls, Girls" is a single by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It is the first single from the album of the same name, and was released on May 11, 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show and Tell (song)</span> 1973 single by Al Wilson

"Show and Tell" is a popular song written by Jerry Fuller and first recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1972. This original version made it to #36 on the Easy Listening chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Singing</span> Early 1970s hit song

"Keep on Singing" is a 1973 song composed by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart, and was originally recorded by Austin Roberts from the album Austin Roberts. It was released as a single on Chelsea Records and reached No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 39 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada it reached # 79. "Keep on Singing" was best known as a hit single by Helen Reddy in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Got the Music in Me</span> 1974 single by The Kiki Dee Band

"I've Got the Music in Me" is a pop song by The Kiki Dee Band, released in 1974. It was written in 1973 by Bias Boshell, Kiki Dee Band's keyboardist. It is also the title of a Kiki Dee Band album released in 1974 and re-mastered and re-issued with bonus tracks in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Hitch-Hiker</span> 1971 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Sweet Hitch-Hiker" is a song by the American roots/swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival from their 1972 album Mardi Gras. It was first released as a single in 1971 and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their 9th and last top 10 hit. On the Record Retailer UK Singles Chart, it peaked at #36.

"Primal Scream" is a song by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. The single was released on the 1991 album Decade of Decadence 81-91, which was the band's first of many greatest hits compilations. The song charted at No. 63 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 21 on the Mainstream rock charts. Decade of Decadence was released on October 19, 1991, and "Primal Scream" was one of three newly recorded songs for the album, the other two being "Angela" and "Anarchy in the U.K.".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Won't Let Me Wait</span> 1975 single by Major Harris

"Love Won't Let Me Wait" is a hit 1975 single by Major Harris, a former member of R&B/soul group The Delfonics. Written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, the single is considered to be a staple of classic soul playlists, and was Harris' only entry into the top five on both the soul and pop charts. The single hit number five on the pop chart, and also hit number one on the soul chart for one week. Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1975. It was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. on 25 June 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Rate Romance</span> 1975 single by Amazing Rhythm Aces

"Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its 1975 album Stacked Deck. It was the band's debut single, reaching No.11 on the U.S. country singles chart and No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and Top Singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Heaven</span> 1973 song co-written by Alan ODay

"Rock and Roll Heaven" is a song written by Alan O'Day and Johnny Stevenson, popularized by The Righteous Brothers. It is a paean to several deceased singers such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, and has been rewritten a number of times to include other singers. The song was first recorded by the band Climax in 1973, but it failed to chart. It was then covered by The Righteous Brothers in 1974 and reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Time (Grand Funk song)</span> 1975 song by Grand Funk

"Bad Time" is a song written by Mark Farner and performed by Grand Funk. It reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1975 and appeared on the band's 1974 album, All the Girls in the World Beware!!!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clap for the Wolfman</span> 1974 single by the Guess Who

"Clap for the Wolfman" is a song written by Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Kurt Winter performed by their band, the Guess Who. The song appeared on their 1974 album, Road Food. The song was ranked #84 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder and Lightning (Chi Coltrane song)</span> 1972 single by Chi Coltrane

"Thunder and Lightning" is a 1972 song by American singer and pianist Chi Coltrane. It was the first release from her eponymous debut album, peaking at No. 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 15 on Cash Box and No. 12 on Record World. It also charted at No. 18 on the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)</span> 1975 single by Leo Sayer

"Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" is a 1974 song by Leo Sayer, co-written with David Courtney. It was released in the United Kingdom in late 1974, becoming Sayer's third hit record on both the British and Irish singles charts and reaching number four in both nations. It was included on Sayer's album Just a Boy.

References

  1. Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Planet of the Apes: Hard Rock". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 102. ISBN   031214704X.
  2. 1 2 Masley, Ed (July 8, 2014). "Best '80s pop-metal songs, from Def Leppard to Poison". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  3. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-08-28. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 48. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-08-28. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Songs from the Year 1974". Tsort.info. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  7. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 26, 1974". Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  8. "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 via Imgur.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  10. "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  11. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1974". Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  12. Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 69th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN   0-8230-7632-6
  13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 209. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  16. "Motley Crue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  17. "Motley Crue Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  18. "אלבום: Loud Radio". תיסלם (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  19. "King of the Hill/Hank Fixes Everything - The TV IV". tviv.org. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  20. "Tom Petty's King of the Hill character buys Brownsville Station tix for primo view of Mike Lutz's guitar solo". earofnewt.com. 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2022-04-24.