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, Rolling Stones and psychobilly group Tiger Army.

"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 follows the twelve-bar blues format, using the device of counting upwards ("One flight, two flight, three flight, four/six flight, seven flight, eight flight, more") in the refrain in a manner similar to Rock Around the Clock. The lyrics end on a surprisingly morbid note relative to other pop music songs of the time.

The song triggered a significant moment in music history when in July 1957 in Liverpool, England a nearly 17-year-old John Lennon was impressed by the just 15-years-old Paul McCartney's ability to play the song on the guitar when they met at a church garden fete. The good impression that McCartney's performance of the song made on Lennon, led to him inviting McCartney to join The Quarrymen, the band that eventually evolved into 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.