Reunion

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2012) "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" Single by Reunion Released 1974 Format 7" Recorded 1974 Genre Pop Length 2:54 Label RCA Victor Writer(s) Norman Dolph Producer Norman Dolph Reunion singles chronology "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)", (1974) "Disco-tekin", (1975) "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" is a 1974 song by an ad hoc group of studio musicians called Reunion, with Joey Levine (bubblegum music pioneer with "Chewy Chewy" and "Yummy Yummy Yummy" to his credit) as the lead singer. The song was written by Paul DiFranco (music) and Norman Dolph (lyrics). The lyrics are a fast patter of 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s disc jockeys, musicians, songwriters, record labels, song titles and lyrics, broken only by the chorus. Given the various musical icons on the laundry list, the Jack the Ripper mention may be a reference to Link Wray. His 1961 instrumental called "Jack the Ripper" was also covered by The Raybeats, who made a music video to go with it. The harmony used during the latter part of the record is based on the tune of "Soothe Me" by Sam & Dave. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached No. 33 in the UK Singles Chart. The track was later covered by Tracey Ullman in 1984, and was featured in her album, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. Covers edit: This song was remade by Randy Crenshaw and released on 2001 Disney album Mickey's Dance Party under the name "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me...Again!)" The remake includes references not just to current and past music groups, but also to TV shows and internet slang, and some Disney characters. A "customized" version of the song, "Life is a Rock, but 'CFL Rolled Me" was the last rock and roll song played on the Larry Lujack show on WCFL in Chicago on 15 March 1976, before the station switched from Top 40 to beautiful music format. Rival AM station WLS had their own version ("Life Is a Rock, WLS Rolled Me"). This latter version is still played from time to time on WLS-FM, now airing an oldies format. In 1974, radio station KFRC in San Francisco also aired a "customized" version of the song, titled "Life Is a Rock (But KFRC Rolled Me)," with an extra verse naming all of the station's personalities at the time. The verse was sung by KFRC's afternoon personality, Chuck Buell. Name checks edit: B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers, Lonnie Mack, Twangin' Eddy, "Here's my ring, we're going steady", "Take It Easy", "I Want to Take You Higher, "Liar, Liar", "The Loco-Motion", Poco, Deep Purple, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", KISS, Sam Cooke, Lesley Gore, Ritchie Valens, Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Fujiyama", Yamaha, Kama Sutra, "Rama Lama Ding Dong", Richard Perry, Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, Righteous Brothers, The Archies, Harry Nilsson, "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop", Fats Is Back, "Finger Poppin' Time", Brenda & the Tabulations, Carly Simon, Rolling Stone Magazine, Johnny Cash, Johnny Rivers, Mungo Jerry, Peter, Paul and Mary, Mary, Mary, Dr. John, Doris Day, Jack the Ripper, Leon Russell, "Gimme Shelter", Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Slide guitar, Fender bass, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, Arthur Janov, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dale Hawkins, Ronnie Hawkins, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Norman, Oklahoma, John Denver, Donny Osmond, J. J. Cale, ZZ Top, L.L. Bean, "Dede Dinah", David Bowie, Steely Dan, "CC Rider", Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Ides of March, Johnny Thunders, Eric Clapton, Wah-wah pedal, Stephen Foster, "Camptown Races", "Good Vibrations", "Help Me Rhonda", "Surfer Girl", "Little Honda", "Tighter, Tighter", "Honey, Honey", "Sugar, Sugar", "Yummy Yummy Yummy", CBS, Warner Bros. Records, RCA, "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, Alan Freed, Murray the K, The Fish, The Swim, "The Boston Monkey", The 45-rpm single version fades out here. The extended album version continues, with the following references: Freddie King, Albert King, B. B. King, Felix Pappalardi, Laurel and Hardy, Randy Newman, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Freda Payne, Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Boffalongo, Cuba, War, California, Beatlemania, New York City, Transylvania, S&G, Bobby Vee, S.R.O., Conway Twitty, "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", Performed as medley or spoken over the fade-out: "Baby I Need Your Loving" by The Four Tops, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" by Stevie Wonder, "Celebrate" by Three Dog Night, "I Want to Take You Higher" by Sly & the Family Stone, External Links edit: Video: "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion at YouTube

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