THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF EDDIE COCHRAN'S GREAT ROCKABILLY CLASSIC FROM THE FILM "THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT"  ON A UK LONDON 78

"20 FLIGHT ROCK"    backed with  "DARK LONELY STREET"  

Eddie Cochran

One of Rock and roll's first "legends" due to an early accidental death, Eddie Cochran was an early performer of rockabilly music and one of its most exciting and dynamic guitar players.

Born October 3, 1938 in Albert Lee, Minnesota, Eddie was the youngest of Alice and Frank Cochran's five children. At age eleven his family moved to Bell Gardens, California to join his brother Bill who had moved there when he got married after leaving the Military Service.

At the age of 12 Cochran wanted to join the school orchestra as a drummer, opted for the trombone when he discovered that he would have to take piano lessons in order to play drums. 

When the director of the school band informed the family that Eddie didn't have the "lip" for trombone he suggested clarinet instead. Cochran refused to even consider it and stated that he would quit the band if he couldn't play what he wanted. He then asked his brother Bob to show him some chords on Bill's old Kay guitar. Then he got a chord book and seemed to just naturally take it from there".

In September 1951 he met Conrad Smith while attending junior high. Smith who shared the same interest in music as Eddie played upright bass in the school band and would later became his bass guitar player.  In late 1953 they formed a trio together with another student on lead guitar, Connie on steel guitar and Eddie playing rhythm. They began playing country music as backup guitarists for singer Hank Cochran.  Cochran began recording in 1955 with Hank Cochran (no relation) and they toured as the Cochran Brothers until 1956. After seeing Elvis Presley in Dallas in late 1955, Cochran switched to rock and roll. Cochran demonstrated his skill as a rockabilly guitarists at number of sessions in Los Angeles.

In the fall of 1956, while buying guitar strings in the Bell Gardens Music Center Eddie was introduced to Jerry Capehart, would later become his mentor, manager and co-writer. Capehart who couldn't sing was looking to for someone to demo his songs. Eddie said that he and Hank would for a small fee. Shortly thereafter, they recorded three or four songs, but nothing came of these dubs. Capehart knowing he never make it as singer attempted to form a relationship with the Cochrans by using them as a backing band and offering to promote their careers. Eddie and Hank split up in 1956.

While recording background music for a low budget film Boris Petroff, the producer, asked him to appear and sing his song "Twenty Flight Rock" in The Girl Can't Help,one of the first color rock and roll movies.  September 8th 1956 he was signed a one year contract with Liberty Records. Cochran appeared in two other films: Untamed Youth in 1957 singing "Cotton Picker" and Go, Johnny, Go in 1959, singing Teenage Heaven."

His first hit was a cover of "Sittin in the Balcony" by Johnny Dee, which had strong regional sales. Cochran's more polished version won out charting at #18. Coming at the same time as The Girl Can't Help It established Cochran on the rock and roll scene.

Eddie Cochran and Sharon Sheeley

"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by in the 1956 film comedy , and released as a single in . Cochran's biographer notes Cochran was granted a co-writer credit, but no royalties, a standard ego-salving arrangement between publishers and performers who popularize other writers' songs. The writer and sole royalty recipient, , is Nelda Fairchild, a pioneering female songwriter for whom "Twenty Flight Rock" is just one of a hundred songwriter credits, BMI records show. Fairchild continues to perform and write in her 70s. She is the subject of a documentary due for 2008 release. Cochran's version was -flavored, but artists of all would cover the song, including , , , , groups and and Brazilians Coke Luxe version, "Vigesimo Andar"

"Twenty Flight Rock" was recorded by Cochran in July 1956 at Goldstar Studio, with on the bull fiddle and Jerry Capehart thumping a soup carton. Released in the United States ( 55112) with "" as a , it was a moderate seller, but was more popular in Europe and had steady sales for a long period.

The song follows the format, using the device of counting upwards ("One flight, two flight, three flight, four/six flight, seven flight, eight flight, more") in the in a manner similar to "". The lyrics end on a surprisingly morbid note relative to other songs of the time.

The song triggered a significant moment in music history when the barely 15-year-old used "Twenty Flight Rock" as his first song when he auditioned for on July 6, in , . The 16-year-old Lennon was impressed by the young McCartney's ability to play the song on the guitar during their first official introductions at St. Peter's Church Hall prior to a church garden fete. The good first impression of McCartney's performance led to an invitation to join - John Lennon's band that would eventually evolved into . On , McCartney noted that: "I think what impressed him most was that I knew all the words."

Cochran performing "Twenty Flight Rock" appeared in the film , as a tongue-in-cheek example of the supposed lack of talent required to perform rock and roll.

Ooh, well I got a gal with a record machine when it comes to rockin' she' s a queen
We love to dance on Saturday night, all alone I can hold her tight
But she' s lives on the 20thfloor uptown, the elevator' s broken down.

So I walk 1, 2 flight, 3 flight, 4. 5, 6, 7 flight, 8 flight more
Up on the 12thfloor startin' to drag, 15thfloor I' m a-ready to sag
Get to the top, I' m too tired to rock

Well she calls me up on the telephone says, "Come on over, honey. I' m all alone"
I said "Baby, you' re mighty sweet. But I' m in bed with achin' feet"
This went on for a couple o' days, but I couldn' t stay away.

So I walk 1, 2 flight, 3 flight, 4. 5, 6, 7 flight, 8 flight more
Up on the 12thfloor startin' to drag, 15thfloor I' m a-ready to sag
Get to the top, I' m too tired to rock

Well, they sent it to Chicago for repairs
Til it gets fixed I' m usin' the stairs
I hope they hurry before it' s too late. I want my baby too much to wait.
All this a-climbin' is getting' me down. They' ll find my corpse draped over a rail.

So I walk 1, 2 flight, 3 flight, 4. 5, 6, 7 flight, 8 flight more
Up on the 12thfloor startin' to drag, 15thfloor I' m a-ready to sag
Get to the top, I' m too tired to rock

TOP ROCKABILLY!!

Disc Details:-   UK  LONDON HLU 8386  10" 78rpm SHELLAC   A SIDE:- 20 FLIGHT ROCK    B SIDE:- DARK LONELY NIGHT   CONDITION =  EX   the record is really ex/ex+ but there is two small pieces of clear tape on the A side label which can't be seen clearly in the picture    

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