Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)
1973 single by Kevin Johnson
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"Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" is a 1973 song written and originally performed by Australian singer Kevin Johnson, most famously covered by American singer Mac Davis.
"There's Nothing I'd Rather Do" (U.S.)
| "Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_-_Kevin_Johnson.jpg) | ||||
| Single by Kevin Johnson | ||||
| from the album Rock 'N' Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life | ||||
| B-side | "Mohair Sam" (Australia) "There's Nothing I'd Rather Do" (U.S.) | |||
| Released | November 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 5:20 | |||
| Label | Nova, Good Thyme, Mainstream | |||
| Songwriter | Kevin Johnson | |||
| Producer | Kevin Johnson | |||
| Kevin Johnson singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| "Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" on YouTube | ||||
| "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_-_Mac_Davis.jpg) | ||||
| Single by Mac Davis | ||||
| from the album All the Love in the World | ||||
| B-side | "Emily Suzanne" | |||
| Released | December 1974 | |||
| Length | 3:25 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter | Kevin Johnson | |||
| Producer | Gary Klein | |||
| Mac Davis singles chronology | ||||
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| "Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Terry Jacks | ||||
| from the album Y' Don't Fight the Sea | ||||
| B-side | "The Love Game" | |||
| Released | 1975 | |||
| Length | 3:39 | |||
| Label | Bell / Goldfish | |||
| Songwriter | Kevin Johnson | |||
| Producer | Terry Jacks | |||
| Terry Jacks singles chronology | ||||
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Johnson's version reached number four in Australia. The guitar solo in Johnson's version was played by Rory O'Donoghue. In Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom, only Johnson's original version charted.
Mac Davis version
In the United States, it was Mac Davis who had the primary hit version in 1974, although three versions of the song became American chart hits. His version reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rock 'N' Roll" is the first track on his sixth studio album All the Love in the World. The song was the lead single of two issued from the LP, the other being the title track, and both of which became hit records.[citation needed]
The Cats version
Dutch band the Cats released a version in the Netherlands in 1973 on EMI Nederland. The song reached #3 on both the Single Top 100 and Dutch Top 40.
Terry Jacks version
In Canada, Terry Jacks' version made the charts in 1975. It also reached number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. His version appeared on the album Y' Don't Fight the Sea and was a bonus track appearing on Seasons in the Sun.
Other notable versions
New Zealand singer Craig Scott covered the song in 1974, reaching #13 there.[1][2]
Chart history
Weekly charts
- Kevin Johnson original
- The Cats cover
| Chart (1973–1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium Flanders Top 30 | 15 |
| Netherlands Single Top 100 | 3 |
| Netherlands Dutch Top 40[7] | 3 |
- Craig Scott cover
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand[1] | 13 |
- Terry Jacks cover
- Mac Davis cover
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