The Stroke

For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation).
"The Stroke"
Single by Billy Squier
from the album Don't Say No
Released May 1981
Recorded 1981
Genre Hard rock[1]
Length 3:38
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Billy Squier
Producer(s) Reinhold Mack, Billy Squier
Billy Squier singles chronology
"The Stroke"
(1981)
"In the Dark"
(1981)

"The Stroke" is a song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in May of 1981 as the debut single from his Triple Platinum album Don't Say No.

This was Squier's first single to chart, reaching No. 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2] It was a bigger hit on rock radio, reaching No. 3 on the Top Tracks chart. It also reached the UK Singles Chart, rising to No. 52. It was named the 59th best hard rock song of all time' by VH1.[3]

Chart positions

Chart (1981) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 3
Canada (CHUM)[5] 6
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 32
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 52
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 17
US Billboard Top Tracks[2] 3
US Cash Box[9] 17
US Record World[10] 6

In popular culture

References

  1. Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries – Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-8460-9091-2. Later joining Billy Squier's hard rock group in the late Seventies, [Bobby] Chouinard appeared on the hard-rock anthems 'Everybody Wants You', 'In The Dark', and 'The Stroke'.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Billy Squier – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  3. Winistorfer, Andrew (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list only slightly less annoying than their hip-hop list". VH1. Prefix Magazine. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  4. "Austriancharts.at – Billy Squier – The Stroke" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  5. CHART NUMBER 1285 – Saturday, August 29, 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived July 29, 2007). CHUM. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0363." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  7. "Charts.org.nz – Billy Squier – The Stroke". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  8. "Billy Squier: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  9. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 22, 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 18, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. RECORD WORLD 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived July 15, 2004). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  11. Russell, Alex (August 27, 2013). "Listen: Eminem "Berzerk" (Prod. By Rick Rubin)". Complex. Retrieved August 13, 2014.

External links