Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)

Last updated

"Rock and Roll"
GaryGlitter Rock and Roll.jpg
Original 7-inch single
Single by Gary Glitter
from the album Glitter
A-side "Rock and Roll Part 1"
B-side "Rock and Roll Part 2"
Released3 March 1972 (1972-03-03)
Recorded1971
Genre Glam rock [1] [2]
Length
  • 3:04 (Part 1)
  • 3:00 (Part 2)
Label Bell
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mike Leander
Gary Glitter singles chronology
"Rock and Roll"
(1972)		"I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)"
(1972)

"Rock and Roll" is the debut single by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter that was released in 1972, from his debut studio album Glitter . Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track with a "Rock and Roll, Rock" chorus and some verses reflecting on the history of the genre, while Part 2 is an instrumental piece aside from the regular exclamation of the word "Hey" in different tones as the only lyric.

Contents

Both parts of "Rock and Roll" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, staying at number two for three consecutive weeks and was kept off the number one spot by Donny Osmond's cover of "Puppy Love". [3] In concert, Glitter often merged both parts of "Rock and Roll" into one performance.

"Rock and Roll" is Glitter's only top ten single in the United States. It was also in North America that "Rock and Roll Part 2" became popularly associated with sports, as a number of professional teams began to play the song during games to invigorate the audience. Since Glitter's convictions for child sex offences, the song's continued use has been controversial.

In the UK, "Rock and Roll" was one of over 25 hit singles for Glitter. In the US, the instrumental version (Part 2) attracted the vast majority of the attention; it hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4] The running time of the US mono 45, which is mixed different from the LP, is 3:10 whilst it is 2:58 on the US LP.

In France, "Rock and Roll Part 1" was the most successful side, peaking at number one.

Sports

In North America, "Rock and Roll Part 2" became popularly associated with sports, as a number of professional teams adopted the song for use during games, primarily to signify scores and victories, or to otherwise invigorate the crowd. It is often referred to as "The Hey Song", as the only intelligible word in Part 2 is the exclamation of "Hey", punctuating the end of several instrumental phrases and repeated three times at the song's chorus. It was played first in a sport setting in 1974 at games for the Kalamazoo Wings of the high-minor International Hockey League by Kevin O'Brien, the team's public relations and marketing director. [5] When he went to work for the NHL's Colorado Rockies in 1976, he brought the song with him. After the Rockies moved to New Jersey as the New Jersey Devils in 1982, the Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos picked up the tradition and were the first NBA and NFL teams to play the song during games. [5] At sporting events, fans often insert their own "Hey," or sometimes other chanted syllables (such as "you suck!"—which controversially led to a decision by the Devils to switch to a song by New Jersey-native Bon Jovi instead). [6]

In 1999, Glitter was convicted of downloading child pornography in England, and in 2006 of child sexual abuse charges in Vietnam. After the second conviction was upheld in court, the NFL asked teams to stop playing the song. [7] The NFL allowed a cover version of the song by the Tube Tops 2000 to be played, but in 2012, the NFL instructed teams to "avoid" the song following negative reaction from British media to the New England Patriots' use of the song. In 2014, Billboard reported that the song was slowly falling out of favour due to both the controversies, and teams electing to replace it with newer songs. [8] [9] [10]

Film

In 2019, "Rock and Roll Part 2" appeared in Todd Phillips' film Joker as Arthur Fleck dances down a staircase, generating public controversy. Some sources indicated that Glitter, as co-writer of the song, would receive a lump sum and royalties for its use. [11] According to the Los Angeles Times , Glitter does not receive payment when the song is used as he has sold the rights, and the US rights to the song are now owned by Universal Music Publishing Group. [12]

Chart performance

Chart (1972)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set Top 40) [13] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [14] 4
Canadian RPM Top Singles [15] 3
France (SNEP) [16] 1 (Part 1)
9 (Part 2)
Irish Singles Chart [17] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [18] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [19] 6
New Zealand ( Listener ) [20] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [21] 4
UK (Official Charts Company) [22] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [4] 7
West Germany (Official German Charts) [23] 4

Cover versions

A cover version of Part 1, entitled 'Rock 'n' Roll', was recorded and released by British electronic music group The Human League and included on their EP Holiday '80 (1980). [24] The group also performed the track on Top of the Pops in May 1980, although the single failed to make the Top 40. [25] Another version of the Human League's recording makes a direct segue into a cover version of the Iggy Pop track "Nightclubbing". [26]

Philadelphia post-punk band Industrial Slacks released their version of part 2 (entitled "Rock 'n' Roll" or "Rock & Roll," depending on the release) as a 12" single in 1986, performed on electronic instruments, guitar and percussion. [27] [28]

Part 2 was sampled in the Timelords' hit "Doctorin' the Tardis". [29]

Part 2 is used as the tune for "Boris Johnson Is Still a Fucking Cunt" by the Kunts. [30]

Related Research Articles

Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by male musicians who wore flamboyant and feminine clothing, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter, and female musicians who wore masculine clothing. Glam artists drew on diverse sources across music and throwaway pop culture, ranging from bubblegum pop and 1950s rock and roll to cabaret, science fiction, and complex art rock. The flamboyant clothing and visual styles of performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been described as playing with other gender roles. Glitter rock was a more extreme version of glam rock.

<i>Glitter</i> (Gary Glitter album) 1972 studio album by Gary Glitter

Glitter is the debut studio album by English singer Gary Glitter, produced by Mike Leander, and released by Bell Records. Two tracks, "I Didn't Know I Loved You " and "Rock and Roll", the latter a song in two parts, achieved success as singles; each spent time amongst the top 40 singles in both the US and UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)</span> 1973 single by Gary Glitter

"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was Glitter's first number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in July 1973.

<i>Silver Star</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Gary Glitter

Silver Star is the fourth studio album by English singer Gary Glitter, released in 1977. The album saw the return of Mike Leander as producer and co-writer, after being absent from Glitter's previous studio album G. G. (1975).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Young Dudes</span> 1972 glam rock single by Mott the Hoople

"All the Young Dudes" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Bowie produced the song, which he had given to the band after they rejected his "Suffragette City". Bowie would subsequently record the song himself. Regarded as an anthem of glam rock, the song has received acclaim and was a commercial success. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "All the Young Dudes" number 166 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School's Out (song)</span> 1972 single by Alice Cooper

"School's Out" is a song first recorded as the title track of Alice Cooper's fifth album. It was released as the album's only single on April 26, 1972. "School's Out" was Alice Cooper's biggest international hit and it has been regarded as his signature song and reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, number three in the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart, number two on the Irish Singles Chart and number one on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Rock and Roll Christmas</span> 1984 single by Gary Glitter

"Another Rock and Roll Christmas" is a 1984 Christmas song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago and produced by Leander. It was one of the most played and popular Christmas hits on UK radio from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, prior to Glitter's 1997 arrest, and 1999 conviction for possession of child pornography. Released as a single in November 1984, the song was taken from Glitter's fifth studio album, Boys Will Be Boys (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctorin' the Tardis</span> Single by The Timelords

"Doctorin' the Tardis" is a novelty single by the Timelords. The song is predominantly a mash-up of the Doctor Who theme music and Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll" with sections from "Block Buster!" by The Sweet. The single was not well received by critics but was a commercial success, hitting number one on the UK and New Zealand singles charts, and reaching the top 10 in Australia, Finland, Ireland and Norway.

<i>G. G.</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Gary Glitter

G.G. is the third studio album by English singer Gary Glitter, released in 1975.

Michael George Farr, known professionally as Mike Leander, was a British arranger, songwriter and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love You Love Me Love</span> 1973 single by Gary Glitter

"I Love You Love Me Love" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter. Written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Leander, "I Love You Love Me Love" was Glitter's second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973, and establishing itself as one of the top 10 best-selling singles of 1973 in the UK. It reached No. 2 in both Ireland and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always Yours</span> 1974 single by Gary Glitter

"Always Yours" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as a standalone single in the UK in 1974, and was Glitter's third and final number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending a week at the top of the chart in June 1974. It also spent two weeks at number-one in Ireland, and peaked at No. 11 in Australia and No. 14 in Germany. The single features the non-album track, "I'm Right, You're Wrong, I Win!" as its B-side, which was exclusive to the single.

<i>Holiday 80</i> 1980 EP by The Human League

Holiday '80 is an EP released by the original line-up of the British synthpop band The Human League. The EP was issued in the UK by Virgin Records in April 1980, a month before the release of the band's second album Travelogue. The EP peaked at no. 56 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1980, but was later reissued and returned to the chart, peaking at no. 46 in February 1982.

The Glitter Band are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary Glitter from 1972 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Glitter</span> English musician and child sex offender (born 1944)

Paul Francis Gadd, better known by his stage name Gary Glitter, is an English former singer who achieved fame and success during the 1970s and 1980s. His career ended after he was convicted of downloading child pornography in 1999. He was also convicted of child sexual abuse in 2006 and a series of sexual offences in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Willy (song)</span> 1972 single by The Sweet

"Little Willy" is a song written by songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and performed by the British glam rock band The Sweet, released in 1972 as a non-album single in the UK, peaking at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the US in January 1973 and also appeared on their US debut album The Sweet and became their biggest hit in the US, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the number 18 song for 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wig-Wam Bam</span> 1972 single by The Sweet

"Wig-Wam Bam" is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, released as a single in September 1972. It was the first Sweet single on which the band members actually played their instruments, as previous singles featured producer Phil Wainman on drums, and session musicians John Roberts and Pip Williams on bass and guitars respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Glitter discography</span>

English glam rock singer Gary Glitter released seven studio albums, four live albums, 13 compilation albums, one extended play (EP) and 42 singles, including three UK number-one singles. He became known for his energetic live performances and extremely glam rock image of glitter suits, make-up, and platform boots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)</span> 1972 single by Gary Glitter

"I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as the second single from his debut studio album, Glitter (1972) and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also Glitter's second and last charted record in the US, peaking at #35. Rock Goddess and Planet Patrol both recorded cover versions in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Takes All Night Long</span> 1976 single by Gary Glitter

"It Takes All Night Long" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as the second single from his fourth studio album, Silver Star (1977), peaking at No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. ↑ Dave Thompson. "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2 review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 18 July 2013. "It was Mike Leander, Glitter's producer and co-writer, who conceived the song, basing it around an earlier, failed, recording called "Shag Rag, That's My Bag." (...) Trimmed to 15 minutes, they called it "Rock & Roll." Edited down to an even more manageable length, they renamed it "Rock & Roll (Pts. 1 and 2)," and launched Gary Glitter as one of the brightest stars on the entire glam rock firmament."
  2. ↑ Stuart Rosenberg (2009). iUniverse (ed.). Rock and Roll and the American Landscape: The Birth of an Industry and the Expansion of the Popular Culture, 1955-1969. p. 181. ISBN   978-1440164583. "Glam rock would bring considerable success to a number of British artists, such as Gary Glitter (nee Paul Gadd), who hit number 7 in 1972 with "Rock and Roll Part 2.""
  3. ↑ "1972 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 8th July 1972". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Gary Glitter awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 Lisa Twyman Bessone. "Sports fans know that the strains of 'Rock and Roll Part 2' can turn chumps to champs". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "NJ Devils fans boo new Bon Jovi goal song, yearn for Gary Glitter". Puck Daddy. Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Bradley, Lloyd, Glitter, Gary (1992) Leader: The Autobiography of Gary Glitter. Time Warner Paperbacks p. 129 ISBN   0751500097
  8. ↑ "Column: Why did NFL muzzle Gary Glitter?". Yahoo! Music. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Why Convicted Child-Sex Offender Gary Glitter's 'Hey Song' Is Still Getting Played". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "NFL bosses ban Gary Glitter's 'Rock And Roll Part 2' from the Super Bowl". NME. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Meredith, Sam (7 October 2019). "Convicted pedophile Gary Glitter set to earn big royalties from 'Joker' movie". CNBC. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  12. ↑ Appleford, Steve (11 October 2019). "Will a convicted pedophile make a fortune from a 'Joker' song?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  13. ↑ "Rock and roll in Australian Chart". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Gary Glitter – Rock And Roll Part 2!" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ "Rock and roll part 2 in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Rock and roll in French Chart" (in French). Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Gary Glitter"
  17. ↑ "Rock and roll part 2 in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 18 July 2013. Only one result when searching "Rock and roll part 2"
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Gary Glitter - Rock And Roll" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ↑ "Gary Glitter – Rock And Roll Part 2!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
  21. ↑ "Gary Glitter – Rock And Roll Part 2!". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. ↑ "1972 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 8th July 1972". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Gary Glitter – Rock And Roll Part 2!" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 February 2019. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Gary Glitter"
  24. ↑ "The Human League – Holiday 80 / Rock 'N' Roll". Discogs.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "HOLIDAY 80 (EP) by Human League". Official Charts . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  26. ↑ "The Human League – Holiday '80". Discogs.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "The Executive Slacks - Rock 'n' Roll". Discogs. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  28. ↑ "Rock n Roll". Executive Slacks - Topic. YouTube. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  29. ↑ Donnelly, Kevin J. & Hayward, Philip (2013). Music in Science Fiction Television: Tuned to the Future. Routledge. pp. 141–142. ISBN   9780415641074.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ Jones, Danny (9 December 2021). "Campaign launched to get 'Boris Johnson Is Still A F*****g C**t' to Christmas number one". JOE . Retrieved 9 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.