"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 | |||
Format | 7" | |||
Recorded | 1974 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:40 (avg) | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Norman Dolph | |||
Producer(s) | Norman Dolph | |||
Reunion singles chronology | ||||
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"Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" is a 1974 song by an ad hoc group of studio musicians called Reunion, with Joey Levine (bubblegum music pioneer with "Chewy Chewy" and "Yummy Yummy Yummy" to his credit) as the lead singer. The song was written by Paul DiFranco (music) and Norman Dolph (lyrics). The lyrics are a fast patter of 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s disc jockeys, musicians, songwriters, record labels, song titles and lyrics, broken only by the chorus.
Given the various musical icons on the laundry list, the Jack the Ripper mention may be a reference to Link Wray's 1961 instrumental called "Jack the Ripper".
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.
It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached No. 33 in the UK Singles Chart. The track was later covered by Tracey Ullman in 1983, and was featured in her 1984 album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places.