Wildwood Days Explained

"Wildwood Days" is a song released by Bobby Rydell in 1963.^[1]

Rydell's version spent 9 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 17,^[2] while reaching No. 14 in Australia,^[3] and No. 21 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.^[4]

Background

The subject of the song is Wildwood, New Jersey, a city famous for its nightlife, which was a popular location for rock and roll performances at the time the song was recorded.^[5] It eventually became the official anthem of the city, and is played on the boardwalk's stereo system routinely. The song was also featured in commercials for Wildwood.A mural on the Wildwood boardwalk (painted in 2014) honors Rydell whose song put the community into the national spotlight.^[6]

Chart performance

Chart (1963)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	17
Australia - Music Maker	14
Canada - CHUM Hit Parade	21

Cover versions

• In 1966, Bobby Curtola released a version of the song, which reached No. 36 on Canada's "RPM 100".^[7]

Notes and References

1. http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobby+Rydell&titel=Wildwood+Days&cat=s Bobby Rydell - Wildwood Days
2. "Bobby Rydell - Chart History - The Hot 100", Billboard.com. Accessed July 25, 2016.
3. "Billboard Hits of the World", Billboard, July 27, 1963. p. 42. Accessed July 25, 2016.
4. . Chart No. 325. CHUM. Accessed July 25, 2016.
5. Strauss, Robert. "The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll Is in Wildwood", The New York Times, September 4, 2005. Accessed July 25, 2016.
6. http://www.pennsylvaniaandbeyondtravelblog.com/2017/05/bobby-rydell-wall-mural-wildwood.html Bobby Rydell Wall Mural - Wildwood Boardwalk
7. "RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 6, No. 4, September 19, 1966. Accessed July 25, 2016.