Single:
Rock and Roll entered the Australian singles chart* on 8 May 1972 and peaked at #51.
Album:
The songs is on Led Zeppelin IV which entered the Australian albums chart* on 20 December 1971 and peaked at #2.
Songwriters:
John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Producer:
Jimmy Page
Record label of Australian release:
Atlantic
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
BONUS CLIP BELOW – Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire dancing to Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll
Songfacts:
As the title suggests, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock and roll; namely, the 12-bar blues progression (in A). The phrase “Rock and Roll” was a term blues musicians used, which meant sex.
Robert Plant wrote the lyrics, which were a response to critics who claimed their previous album, Led Zeppelin III, wasn’t really rock and roll. Led Zeppelin III had more of an acoustic folk sound, and Plant wanted to prove they could still rock out.
The lyric “It’s been a long time since the book of love” is a reference to the Monotones’ 1958 hit Book Of Love.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/led-zeppelin/rock-and-roll
Lyrics:
It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled
It’s been a long time since I did the stroll
Ooh, let me get it back, let me get it back, let me get it back
Mmm, baby, where I come from
It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Yes, it has
Clicl for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlists Bang a Gong – the 70s and Bang a Gong – rockin’ the 60s & 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS CLIP
Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire dancing to Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll.
Dance footage from the 1941 film You’ll Never Get Rich.
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