I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent
| "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers | ||||
| from the album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon | ||||
| B-side | "Baby, Baby" | |||
| Released | November 1956 (US version) February 1957 (UK versions) | |||
| Recorded | August 1956 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Gee | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers singles chronology | ||||
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"I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" is a song written by George Goldner and performed by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. It reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957.[1] The song was featured on their 1956 album, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon.[2]
Background[edit]
The song was originally written by Jimmy Merchant with the help of his older songwriter friend Robert Spencer (later finalized by Goldner). According to Merchant, it was notably the first protest song ever released by The Teenagers. Merchant described that the "words [of this song] object to being labeled as 'bad,' but eclipse with a strong, uplifting truth in its opening line." [3]
Other versions[edit]
- The Amboy Dukes released a version of the song on their 1969 album, Migration.[4]
- Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets released a version of the song on their 1971 album, I'm No J.D.[5]
In popular culture[edit]
The Teenagers' version was featured in the 1956 film Rock, Rock, Rock and was on the film's 50th anniversary soundtrack, as well as the 1972 film Pink Flamingos, and the 1993 movie This Boy's Life. It was also featured in the episode of The Young Ones titled "Bomb." It was also used in the 2010 video game Mafia II's "Joe's Adventures" DLC as part of the fictional Empire Central Radio station's song list.
References[edit]
- ^ "Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" Chart Positions". Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ "Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon". Discogs. December 1956. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ Merchant 2023, p. 182-83.
- ^ "The Amboy Dukes, Migration". AllMusic. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ "Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, I'm No J.D.". Retrieved December 9, 2016.
Bibliography[edit]
- Merchant, Jimmy (2023). A Teenager's Dream: Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Pearly Gates Publishing. ISBN 978-1-948853-65-1.
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