Twenty Flight Rock

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"Twenty Flight Rock"
Single by Eddie Cochran
Released	1957
Genre	Rockabilly
Label	Liberty
Writer(s)	Eddie Cochran and Ned Fairchild

"Twenty Flight Rock" is the name of a song originally performed and released in 1957 by Eddie Cochran, who co-wrote it with Ned Fairchild. Cochran's version was rockabilly-flavored, but artists of all genres would cover the song, including Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones.

"Twenty Flight Rock" was recorded by Cochran in July 1956 at Goldstar Studio, with Connie Smith on the bull fiddle and Jerry Capehart thumping a soup carton. Released in the United States (Liberty 55112) with "Somethin' Else" as a flipside, it was a moderate seller, but was more popular in Europe and had steady sales for a long period.

The song (or more specifically, its riff) became a part of music history when in June 1957 in Liverpool, England a young John Lennon was impressed by an even younger Paul McCartney's ability to play it on the guitar. This first impression lead to an invitation for McCartney to join The Quarrymen, one of the precursor bands to The Beatles.

Cochran performing "Twenty Flight Rock" appeared in the film The Girl Can't Help It, as a tongue-in-cheek example of the supposed lack of talent required to perform rock and roll.