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Rock Your Baby

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"Rock Your Baby"
side-A label
Side A of the Australian single
Single by George McCrae
from the album Rock Your Baby
B-side"Rock Your Baby (Part 2)"
ReleasedMay 1974[1][2]
Recorded1973
Genre
Length
  • 3:14 (7" version)
  • 6:24 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Harry Wayne Casey
  • Richard Finch
George McCrae singles chronology
"Rock Your Baby"
(1974) 		"I Can't Leave You Alone"
(1974)
Music video
"Rock Your Baby" (TopPop) on YouTube

"Rock Your Baby" is the debut single by American singer George McCrae. Written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band, "Rock Your Baby" became an early landmark recording of disco. It was the only international hit for McCrae. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1974, and three weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart that same month.[5][6] The song also topped the Billboard R&B chart.[7] The single has sold over 11 million copies, making it one of fewer than forty singles to have sold 10 million physical copies worldwide.[8][9]

The backing track was recorded in 45 minutes as a demo, with Casey on keyboards, Finch on bass guitar and drums, and their fellow Sunshine Band member Jerome Smith on electric guitar.[10] The song became one of the first pop hits to use a drum machine.[11][12] The track was not originally intended for McCrae, but he happened to be in the studio at the time and added his distinct falsetto vocals. Music critic Robert Christgau has described the result as "irresistibly Memphis-cum-disco-with-a-hook."[13]

"Rock Your Baby" influenced John Lennon's "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", released a few months later; in a 1975 interview, Lennon said of "Rock Your Baby" that "I'd give my eyetooth to have written that."[14][15] Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have also cited the song as an inspiration for ABBA's 1976 song "Dancing Queen".

"Rock Your Baby" was covered by English indie rock band the House of Love for the 1992 compilation album Ruby Trax.[16] British dance group KWS's cover of "Rock Your Baby" reached number eight in the UK the same year.[citation needed]

The 2024 PBS series Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution explores the influence of "Rock Your Baby" within the genre.[17]

Chart performance

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Rock Your Baby"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[42] Gold 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Answer song

[edit]

Gwen McCrae, George McCrae's wife, recorded an answer song to "Rock Your Baby" with George on backing vocals, released less than a year later. "Rockin' Chair" reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number nine on the Hot 100 in mid-1975.

Rock Your Baby (Frankfurt Mix)

[edit]
"Rock Your Baby (Frankfurt Mix)"
Single by George McCrae
from the album I Feel Love for You
ReleasedJanuary 1, 1987
Recorded1986
GenreDisco, dance, synth-pop
Length5:25
LabelAriola Records
Songwriter(s)Harry Wayne Casey, Richard Finch
Producer(s)Siegfried Ipach, Mane Bock
George McCrae singles chronology
"Let's Dance / Never Forgot Your Eyes"
(1985) 		"Rock Your Baby (Frankfurt Mix)"
(1987) 		"That's Love"
(1987)

In 1987, a remix version was released, with mixing by Paul Hardcastle. It was adapted to suit the decade.[citation needed] This version is also included in the compilation Super Power Hit Sensation.

Track listing

[edit]

12" Maxi

  1. Rock Your Baby [Frankfurt Mix] - 5:25
  2. Ooh Baby - 3:57

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 92
German Singles Chart[44] 42

KWS version

[edit]
"Rock Your Baby"
Single by KWS
from the album KWS
ReleasedAugust 10, 1992 (1992-08-10)[45]
Length5:14
LabelNetwork
Songwriter(s)Harry Wayne Casey, Richard Finch
Producer(s)Chris King, Winnie Williams, Mark Gamble
KWS singles chronology
"Please Don't Go"
(1992) 		"Rock Your Baby"
(1992) 		"Hold Back the Night"
(1992)

In August 1992, British dance music act KWS released their take on the song. It appeared on the album KWS. Their version charted within the top 10 in Ireland and the United Kingdom, peaking at number six and eight, respectively. In Australia and New Zealand, the single entered the top 40.

Track listing

[edit]

CD maxi

  1. "Rock Your Baby" (Boogaloo Investigator mix) – 3:29
  2. "Rock Your Baby" (Thumb A Ride mix) – 5:19
  3. "A Different Man" (Bubblegum Breakthrough mix) – 3:42
  4. "Game Boy" (Rhythmatic remix) – 5:37

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[46] 38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[47] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[48] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[49] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[50] 8

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (1992) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[51] 100

References

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  1. ^ Morsch, Mike (April 16, 2024). The Vinyl Dialogues: Stories Behind Memorable Albums of the 1970s as Told by the Artists. The Educational Publisher / Biblio. ISBN 978-1-62249-207-7.
  2. ^ Bronson, Fred (April 16, 2024). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  3. ^ Breihan, Tom (November 15, 2022). "George McCrae - "Rock Your Baby". The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. New York: Hachette Book Group. pp. 103–104.
  4. ^ "Rock Your Baby". 45cat.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 303. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ a b "George McCrae - UK Chart". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 389.
  8. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2, illustrated ed.). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0-214-20480-4. Biggest selling singles discs.
  9. ^ Moore-Gilbert, Bart (March 11, 2002). The Arts in the 1970s: Cultural Closure. Routledge. ISBN 9780415099066. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  10. ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 10, 1974. p. 20 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Martin Russ (2012), Sound Synthesis and Sampling, page 83, CRC Press
  12. ^ Mike Collins (2014), In the Box Music Production: Advanced Tools and Techniques for Pro Tools, page 320, CRC Press
  13. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 7, 2019 – via Robertchristgau.com.
  14. ^ Blaney, John (June 2005). John Lennon: Listen to This Book - John Blaney - Google Books. John Blaney. p. 138. ISBN 9780954452810. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  15. ^ Schoenberger, Francis (October 9, 2019). "He Said, She Said: An Interview With John Lennon". Spin.
  16. ^ Carlson, Dean. "Ruby Trax: The NME's Roaring 40". AllMusic. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  17. ^ "Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution | Rock the Boat | Episode 1 | PBS". PBS.
  18. ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  19. ^ "George McCrae - Austrian chart". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  20. ^ "George McCrae - Belgian Chart". Ultratop.be. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  21. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 17, 1974. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  22. ^ "George McCrae - Dutch chart". Dutchcharts.nl. February 8, 2015.
  23. ^ "George McCrae - German Chart". Officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rock Your Baby". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  25. ^ "George McCrae - New Zealand Chart". charts.nz. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  26. ^ "George McCrae - Norwegian chart". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  27. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  28. ^ "George McCrae - Swedish chart". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  29. ^ "George McCrae - Swiss chart". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  30. ^ "George McCrae - US Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  31. ^ "George McCrae | Awards". AllMusic. October 19, 1944. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  32. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 158.
  33. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/20/74". Tropicalglen.com.
  34. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Músicas Mais Tocadas em 1974" [Top 100 Most Played Songs of 1974]. March 14, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  36. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 13, 2017.
  37. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1974" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  38. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1974". Swisscharts.com.
  39. ^ "Top Selling Singles for 1974". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 20. January 4, 1975.
  40. ^ "Top Pop Singles" Billboard December 28, 1974: Talent in Action-8
  41. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1974". Tropicalglen.com.
  42. ^ Ehnert, Günter (2000). Hit Bilanz: Deutsche Chart Singles 1956 – 1980 (in German) (1 ed.). Norderstedt: Verlag Populärer Musik-Literatur. p. 445. ISBN 3-922542-24-7.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – George McCrae – Rock Your Baby". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  44. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Caught In The Act - Babe". Hitparade.ch.
  45. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 8, 1992. p. 19.
  46. ^ "K.W.S. – Rock Your Baby". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  47. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 37. September 12, 1992. p. 15.
  48. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rock Your Baby". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  49. ^ "K.W.S. – Rock Your Baby". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  50. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  51. ^ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 8.
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