"Wild Weekend" is an instrumental written by Phil Todaro and Tom Shannon and performed by The Rebels, later known as The Rockin' Rebels.

The tune was originally heard in a theme song for Shannon's radio show on WKBW in Buffalo, New York.^[1] The words "Wild Weekend" are not found in the song's lyrics (Shannon's show aired on weekdays).^[2]

The Russ Hallett Trio recorded the original theme for radio airplay by Shannon in 1958.^[3][4] Buffalo band The Rebels reworked it as an instrumental that was released as "Wild Weekend" on the Marlee label in 1960 without national chart success.^[5]

In November 1962 the Rebels' single was re-released on the Swan label.^[6] The band name was changed to The Rockin' Rebels, apparently to avoid confusion with Duane Eddy And The Rebels.^[7] It entered Billboard's national Hot 100 at the end of December with its chart run continuing into 1963 when it peaked at #8, and at #28 on the U.S. R&B chart.^[8] The song ranked #22 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1963.^[9][10]

"Wild Weekend" was featured on the 1963 Rockin' Rebels album Wild Weekend.^[11]

Other versions

• Bill Justis released a version of the song on his 1963 album Bill Justis Plays 12 Instrumental Smash Hits.^[12]
• Disc jockey Joey Reynolds (who had worked with Shannon at WWKB) added lyrics to make this the theme song for his nightly show on WPOP, Hartford, 1963. ^[13]
• The Surfaris released a version of the song on their 1963 album Wipe Out.^[14]
• The Thunderbirds from Melbourne, Australia charted locally with their version in 1961 and upon re-release in 1963.^[15]
• Kim Fowley released a version of the song on his 1968 album Born to Be Wild.^[16]
• Andy Mackay released a version of the song as a single in 1974 in the UK, but it did not chart.^[17] It was featured on his album In Search of Eddie Riff.
• Jon and the Nightriders released a version of the song on their 1987 album Stampede!^[18]
• NRBQ released a version of the song as a single in 1989 with lyrics entitled "It's a Wild Weekend", but it did not chart.^[19]
• Euphoria's Id released a live version of the song on their 2003 compilation album Mastering the Art of French Kissing.^[20]
• The Ventures released a version of the song on their 2009 compilation album with The Fabulous Wailers entitled Two Car Garage (50 Years of Rock 'N Roll).^[21]
• The Offbeats on the compilation LP, Do You Wanna Dance - The Best of Frank's Bandstand: Arc Records A669 - a band from Halifax featuring future world class producer, Brian Ahern,
• Beaver Brown released a live version of the song on their 2017 album Live at the Bottom Line 1980.^[22]