Rock Your Baby
1974 song by George McCrae
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"Rock Your Baby" is the debut single by American singer George McCrae.[6] Written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch[7] of KC and the Sunshine Band, "Rock Your Baby" became an early landmark recording of disco.[8] It was the only international hit for McCrae. The song spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1974,[9] and three weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart that same month.[10][11] The song also topped the Billboard R&B chart.[12] The single has sold over 11 million copies, making it one of fewer than forty singles to have sold 10 million[13] physical copies worldwide.[14][15]
| "Rock Your Baby" | ||||
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Side A of the Australian single | ||||
| Single by George McCrae | ||||
| from the album Rock Your Baby | ||||
| B-side | "Rock Your Baby (Part 2)" | |||
| Released | May 1974[1][2] | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
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| George McCrae singles chronology | ||||
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| "Rock Your Baby" (TopPop) on YouTube | ||||
Composition
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.[16] The song became one of the first pop hits to use a drum machine.[17][18] 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."[19]
Legacy
"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."[20][21] Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have also cited the song as an inspiration for ABBA's 1976 song "Dancing Queen".[22] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked "Rock Your Baby" number 158 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[23]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (BVMI)[47] | Gold | 500,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions and remixes
Answer song
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 US Billboard R&B chart and number nine on the Hot 100 in mid-1975.
The House of Love version
"Rock Your Baby" was covered by English indie rock band the House of Love for the 1992 compilation album Ruby Trax.[49] British dance group KWS's cover of "Rock Your Baby" reached number eight in the UK the same year.[citation needed]
Frankfurt Mix
| "Rock Your Baby (Frankfurt Mix)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by George McCrae | ||||
| from the album I Feel Love for You | ||||
| Released | January 1, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
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| Length | 5:25 | |||
| Label | Ariola Records | |||
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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
- 12" Maxi
- Rock Your Baby [Frankfurt Mix] - 5:25
- Ooh Baby - 3:57
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 92 |
| West Germany (GfK)[50] | 42 |
KWS version
| "Rock Your Baby" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by KWS | ||||
| from the album KWS | ||||
| Released | August 10, 1992 | |||
| Length | 5:14 | |||
| Label | Network | |||
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In August 1992, British dance music act KWS released their take on the song as a single by Network Records. It appeared on their only album, KWS (1992). 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
- "Rock Your Baby" (Boogaloo Investigator mix) – 3:29
- "Rock Your Baby" (Thumb A Ride mix) – 5:19
- "A Different Man" (Bubblegum Breakthrough mix) – 3:42
- "Game Boy" (Rhythmatic remix) – 5:37
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[51] | 38 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[52] | 22 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[53] | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[54] | 32 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[55] | 8 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[56] | 8 |
| UK Dance (Music Week)[57] | 11 |
| UK Club Chart (Music Week)[58] | 88 |
| UK Indie (Music Week)[59] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[60] | 100 |