| "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Reunion | ||||
| B-side | "Are You Ready to Believe" | |||
| Released | September 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Genre | Bubblegum pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:30 / 2:54 (single) | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Norman Dolph, Paul DiFranco, Joey Levine | |||
| Producer(s) | Joey Levine, Marc Bellack, Paul DiFranco | |||
| Reunion singles chronology | ||||
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"Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" is a 1974 patter song written by Norman Dolph (lyrics) and Paul DiFranco (music).[2] It was recorded by an ad hoc group of studio musicians called Reunion, with Joey Levine as lead singer. The lyrics are a fast patter recitation of the names of 1950s,1960s, and 1970s disc jockeys, musicians, songwriters, record labels, song titles and lyrics, broken only by the chorus, similar to the way the song "I've Been Everywhere" listed place names. Levine had previously been lead singer and co-writer of bubblegum music hits "Yummy Yummy Yummy" and "Chewy Chewy" by the Ohio Express. "Life Is a Rock" peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart.[3]
The song's outro quotes "Baby I Need Your Loving" by the Four Tops, "Celebrate" by Three Dog Night, "I Want to Take You Higher" by Sly and the Family Stone, and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" by Stevie Wonder.
The track was later covered by Tracey Ullman in 1983, and was featured in her 1984 album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places.
- ^ https://www.songfacts.com/facts/reunion/life-is-a-rock-but-the-radio-rolled-me [bare URL]
- ^ "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)", ASCAP. Retrieved September 9, 2024
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 459. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.