Rock Me Gently

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Rock Me Gently”
Single by Andy Kim
B-side Rock Me Gently (instrumental)
Released 1974
Format Single 45 RPM
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 3:24
Label Capitol Records
Writer(s) Kim

Rock Me Gently was a song that was a Billboard #1 hit for Andy Kim in 1974. It has been called the "ultimate bubblegum teen-pop radio entry" of its time.[1]

The Canadian singer, who had achieved several hits from 1968 to 1971, had not had a Top 100 single since September 1971, and had been without a record label since early 1973. Nevertheless, he said in a 1974 interview, "I never mentally admitted defeat in spite of three years off the charts". He formed his own label, Ice Records, and personally financed the recording session that produced "Rock Me Gently". He could only afford to record two sides, and deciding the second side was good enough to be the A-Side of another single, he put an instrumental of Rock Me Gently on its B-Side.[2]

The single impressed Capitol Records executives, who signed Kim to a deal. The "Rock Me Gently" single debuted on the Hot 100 on June 22, 1974, and took 14 weeks to reach #1 on September 28. It also rose to #2 on the UK Singles Chart. Even the instrumental B-Side received substantial airplay on R&B stations. It would be Kim's last top 10 hit in either country.[2]

In 1989, Canadian country singer, Michelle Wright released at version as a single on her debut album, Do Right By Me, and reached #7 on the Canadian RPM country singles chart.

The song resurfaced in 2007 in a television commercial for Jeep Liberty.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Lippert, Barbara. "Critique: Jeep Rocks The '70s", Adweek, 2007-10-22. 
  2. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (1988). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard. 
Preceded by
"Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" by Barry White
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
September 28, 1974
Succeeded by
"I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John