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"Rock 'n' Roll High School"
Single by the Ramones
from the album Rock 'n' Roll High School and End of the Century
B-side	"Do You Wanna Dance?"
Released	June 1, 1979
Recorded	November 1978
Studio	Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Punk rock, rock and roll
Length	2:20 (Rock 'n' Roll High School & single version) 2:38 (End of the Century version)
Label	Sire
Songwriter(s)	Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone
Producer(s)	Version 1 - Ed Stasium Version 2 - Ed Stasium, Phil Spector Version 3 - Phil Spector
The Ramones singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Sedated" (1978) "Rock 'n' Roll High School" (1979) "Baby, I Love You" (1980)
Music video
"Rock 'n' Roll High School" on YouTube

"Rock 'n' Roll High School" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, from the soundtrack album Rock 'n' Roll High School. The single did not chart in the U.S. but peaked at number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.

There are three versions of the song. The first was recorded in early 1979 by Ed Stasium and was intended for the Rock 'n' Roll High School soundtrack. This version opens with an extended drum beat first, with Joey eventually singing the opening line, "rock, rock, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll high school". This is also the version they usually performed live. This version was not issued until the 1988 compilation album Ramones Mania.

The second version is a slight remix of the Ed Stasium version by producer Phil Spector, who produced The Ramones' next album End of the Century. This version features Spector's Wall of Sound mixing technique and was the version featured on the Rock 'n' Roll High School soundtrack album and accompanying 7" single.

The third version is a complete re-recording by Phil Spector for the End of the Century album. This version opens with a long, sustained guitar chord and has a slightly different arrangement. This version was featured in the music video for the song.

In the music video, drummer Marky Ramone, dressed in drag, plays the role of the female teacher. Three of the band members' girlfriends/wives can also be seen; Dee Dee's first wife Vera Boldis, Johnny's then-girlfriend Roxy and Joey's then-girlfriend (who later married bandmate Johnny) Linda Ramone. The only time the Spector-produced version was played was on The Sha Na Na Show, where the band mimed the song.

The Ramones performed the song on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1980.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

1. Ramone, Marky; Herschlag, Richard (2015). Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life As a Ramone. Atria Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1451687781.
2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 449–450. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. The Old Grey Whistle Test (DVD). Warner Home Video. 2003.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 246. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "Ramones – Rock 'n' Roll High School" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
6. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
7. "Ramones – Rock 'n' Roll High School" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
9. "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
10. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
11. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 23, 2021.

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• Film theme songs
• 1979 singles
• 1979 songs
• Ramones songs
• Songs written by Johnny Ramone
• Songs written by Dee Dee Ramone
• Songs written by Joey Ramone
• Song recordings produced by Ed Stasium
• Songs about rock music
• Songs about school
• Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements
• 1970s single stubs