The Class of '57

"The Class of '57" is a song written by Don Reid and Harold Reid, and recorded by American country music group The Statler Brothers. It was released in August 1972 as the first single from the album Country Music Then and Now. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] The song was also critically acclaimed with the Statler Brothers winning the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

"The Class of '57"
Single by The Statler Brothers
from the album Country Music Then and Now
B-side"Every Time I Trust a Gal"
ReleasedAugust 19, 1972
GenreCountry
Length2:38
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Don Reid, Harold Reid
Producer(s)Jerry Kennedy
The Statler Brothers singles chronology
"Do You Remember These"
(1972)		 "The Class of '57"
(1972)		 "Monday Morning Secretary"
(1973)

Content

The song is a sometimes nostalgic, sometimes bittersweet look back at what became of a fictional high school graduating class from 15 years earlier. In turn, each one of the four singers — Don Reid, Phil Balsley, Lew DeWitt and Harold Reid — takes a solo turn at reflecting on several of the classmates. Some of the tales are of professional success; they became teachers, factory workers, grocery store owners, and at least one became extremely rich (the owner of a huge cattle ranch). Others are tragic, such as a classmate who ends up in a mental institution and another who, after having his wife leave him for a richer man, ends up taking his life. Reflecting real life, the lyrics also remember classmates they've lost track of ("where Mavis finally wound up is anybody's bet").

The chorus has the underlying theme of reflecting on the high hopes and dreams they had in high school, but how life became more complicated as the years passed and did not turn out the way they hoped.

Chart performance
Chart (1972) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 6
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 3
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References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 330.
  2. "The Statler Brothers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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