Rock and Roll Heaven

"Rock and Roll Heaven" is a song written by Alan O'Day and Johnny Stevenson, popularized by The Righteous Brothers. It is a paean to several deceased singers such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, and has been rewritten a number of times to include other singers. The song was first recorded by the band Climax in 1973,[1] but it failed to chart. It was then covered by The Righteous Brothers in 1974 and reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2][3]

"Rock and Roll Heaven"
side-A label
Side A of the Canadian single
Single by Climax
Released1973
GenreRock and roll
LabelRocky Road
Songwriter(s)Alan O'Day, Johnny Stevenson
Producer(s)Larry Cox

The Righteous Brothers version
"Rock and Roll Heaven"
side-A label
Side A of the Dutch single
Single by The Righteous Brothers
from the album Give It to the People
B-side"I Just Wanna Be Me"
ReleasedMay 1974 (May 1974)
GenreRock and roll, Blue-eyed soul
LabelHaven/Capitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter
The Righteous Brothers singles chronology
"Only You (And You Alone)"
(1969)		 "Rock and Roll Heaven"
(1974)		 "Give It to the People"
(1974)

The Righteous Brothers recorded "Rock and Roll Heaven" a few weeks after they decided to reform the duo in 1974. They signed with Haven Records run by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and were given the song to record. Lambert and Potter rewrote a verse, updating the song to include Jim Croce and Bobby Darin who had died within three months of each other in late 1973.[4] According to Bill Medley, they were dubious about the song because they didn't think the song had the "old Righteous Brothers feel".[5] Nevertheless, it became a hit for them and quickly reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada it spent three weeks at number four.[6]

Musicians and songs mentioned in Righteous Brothers version

The lyrics involving Jim Croce and Bobby Darin replaced Climax's lyrics for Buddy Holly ("Peggy Sue") and Ritchie Valens ("Donna"), both of whom died in a plane crash that had already been commemorated by another hit song, Don McLean's "American Pie."

Also, in 1981, when the Righteous Brothers appeared for a one-song reunion on American Bandstand, they performed "Rock and Roll Heaven", and made it longer including new lyrics as tributes to Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Keith Moon.

It was rewritten with new lyrics in 1991 to mourn the passing of Elvis Presley ("Love Me Tender"), John Lennon ("Give Peace a Chance"), Roy Orbison ("Oh, Pretty Woman"), Jackie Wilson ("Higher and Higher"), Ricky Nelson ("Lonesome Town"), Dennis Wilson ("Good Vibrations"), Marvin Gaye ("What's Going On"), Sam Cooke ("Wonderful World"), Cass Elliot ("Monday, Monday") who died a few months after the original version of the song was released, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The rewritten song is included in compilation albums such as Reunion.[7]

A line from the lyrics of the song is used as the title for Stephen King's short story "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band", set in a town called Rock and Roll Heaven.[8]

Chart performance

References
  1. "One hell of a hit now knocking at the gate". Billboard Magazine. July 14, 1973.
  2. Sisario, Ben (7 November 2003). "Bobby Hatfield Dies at 63; Righteous Brothers Tenor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  3. "The Righteous Brothers - Rock And Roll Heaven (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  4. Prato, Greg (15 June 2014). "Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers". Songfacts.com.
  5. Bill Medley (April 24, 2014). The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir. Da Capo Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0306823169.
  6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  7. "Righteous Brothers Reunion". Amazon. 1991.
  8. Stephen J. Spignesi (August 1, 2003). The Essential Stephen King. Career Press. pp. 271–273. ISBN 978-1564147103.
  9. Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5072a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. "The Righteous Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 201.
  13. "Cash Box Top 100 8/03/74".
  14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3893a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  15. "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  16. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1974".
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