Australian singles charts:
(Rockin’ Rollin’) Clementine entered the Kent charts on 18 July 1959 and peaked at #3. It was #19 on the Top 100 of 1959.
Songwriter:
Ken Taylor
Record label of Australian release:
Festival
Pop Archives:
Col Joye was a pioneering Aussie pop star of the rock’n’roll era who, in 1957, joined his brother Kevin’s jazz band that was to become Col Joye and the Joy Boys. He had ten Top 10 hits in the Sydney charts alone from May 1959 to May 1962, including four #1s, and was a star on television pop show Bandstand. Something of a legend in Australia, his rock’n’roll suit is on display at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.
The New Notes provided vocal support to Col Joye on his recording of (Rockin’ Rollin’) Clementine. Writer credit was given to Ken Taylor, the A&R man who signed Col Joye to Festival. The song is a hip rewrite of the old Californian Gold Rush song, with a new melody.
Read more: poparchives.com.au/col-joye-and-the-joy-boys/rockin-rollin-clementine
Lyrics:
Down among the whisperin’ pines
And the honey suckle vines
There’s a very peaceful scene
That is where it all begins
(Ah one, two, three)
Click for full lyrics
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
New to Bang a Gong? Click HERE to learn more about us.