Rock Your Baby

"Rock Your Baby" is the debut single by George McCrae. Written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band, "Rock Your Baby" was one of the landmark recordings of early disco music. A massive international hit, the song reached number one on the Hot 100 in the United States, spending two weeks there in July 1974; number one on the R&B chart;[2] and number one on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top in July 1974.[3][4] Having sold 11 million copies, it is one of fewer than 40 all-time singles to have sold 10 million physical copies worldwide.[5][6]

"Rock Your Baby"
Single by George McCrae
from the album Rock Your Baby
B-side"Rock Your Baby (Part 2)"
ReleasedJune 1974
Recorded1973
GenreDisco, Memphis soul
Length
  • ubl
  • 3:14 (7" version)
  • 6:24 (album version)
LabelTK Records, Jay Boy (UK)[1]
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
"George McCrae - Rock Your Baby • TopPop" on YouTube

The backing track was recorded in 45 minutes as a demo and featured guitarist Jerome Smith of KC and the Sunshine Band, with Casey on keyboards and Finch on bass and drums.[7] It was also one of the first records to use a drum machine,[8] an early Roland rhythm machine.[9] The track was not originally intended for McCrae but he happened to be in the studio and added a vocal; the resulting combination of infectious rhythm and falsetto vocals made it a hit. Music critic Robert Christgau has described the song as "irresistibly Memphis-cum-disco-with-a-hook."[10]

The chord progression of John Lennon's number-one single "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", released a few months later, bears a great resemblance to the one found in "Rock Your Baby". Lennon later admitted to using the song as an inspiration, and said of it in a 1975 interview: "I’d give my eyetooth to have written that."[11][12] ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have also cited the song as an inspiration for the backing track of their 1976 smash hit "Dancing Queen". It was covered by indie rock band The House of Love for the 1992 compilation album Ruby Trax.[13] In the same year, the British dance group KWS's cover of "Rock Your Baby" reached number eight in the UK.

Chart performance

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Rock Your Baby"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[38] Gold 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Answer song

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

Rock Your Baby (Frankfurt Mix)
"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. This version is also included in the compilation Super Power Hit Sensation.

Track listing

12" Maxi

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

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 92
German Singles Chart[40] 42

KWS version
"Rock Your Baby"
Single by KWS
from the album KWS
ReleasedAugust 10, 1992 (1992-08-10)[41]
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

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

Weekly charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[42] 38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[43] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[44] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[46] 8

Year-end charts
Chart (1992) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 100

See also

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