The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 461

Number 461

Gary Glitter

"Rock & Roll Pt 2"

(1972)

Genre:Glam Rock

art by YBP

Ever get feeling sometimes ya just shouldn't bother? Well I'm getting that feeling with the entry of Gary Glitter to the countdown. When I compiled the list in 2005, I knew Mr Glitter was in trouble playing with little kiddies through the news reports being beamed across the world. Back then i thought it would all be forgotten by the time i write #461. But as luck would have it ... nooooo. Even researching the song or any information about Gary Glitter is sure to grab my governments attention, about where my research ends up on the net. Next thing will be to expect the "Red Squad Police Force" to confiscate my computer for any naughty images on kiddie porn. Well good luck to them, as long as they don't "accidentally" remove my "naughty college school girls 6-best porn clip ever *" ........ brb [*grabs popcorn*] .... sorry, back - kaff, where was I? Oh yea, as long as they leave that, then all is good.

Mr Paul Francis Gadd [Gary Glitter] is a sicko [or needs help, whatever the correct PC word is] and any normal person like you and me know that, but i think the song is good enough to stand up on its own. I will let you guys decide ~ you know where the vote button is.

* they aren't real school girls - saves you emailing me 1. to complain or 2. to ask for a copy

I was only offering sweeties

Although the late '90s apparently saw the end of Gary Glitter's career, following his conviction for sexual offenses, there is no doubting that for a full 25 years before that tragic denouement, Glitter ranked among Britain's best-loved performers of all time. The hits which catapulted him to fame in the early '70s, the anthemic "Rock and Roll" of course, but also the likes of "I'm the Leader of the Gang," "Do You Wanna Touch Me," and "I Love You Love Me Love," still have the capacity to stir an audience -- as "Rock and Roll" itself proves, every time it airs at a major sporting event in the U.S. And, if it is at all oxymoronic that the King of British Glam should be responsible for one of the national anthems of American Football, then that is simply further testament of what made Gary glitter so brightly. Musically, visually, and emotionally, he transcended so many barriers that even categorizing him as a rock & roller seems somehow stingy. He was so much more than that.

Yes, you lassie!

Despite a slow start (it took six months to break into the U.K. chart) "Rock & Roll," of course, became one of the biggest hits of 1972 and one of the most unique. A number two in the U.K. and Top Ten in America, it set Glitter up for a period of almost unassailable chart domination, as a string of barely disguised sound-alikes flew from his and Leander's pens, unerringly affixing themselves on the British Top Ten: "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)," "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," and "Hello Hello, I'm Back Again" all charted during the next 12 months. Two albums, Glitter and Touch Me, were no less successful, while Glitter's first ever London concert in spring, 1973, saw him sell out the London Palladium, one of the first rock & rollers ever to play that venerable old pile.

Gary Glitter's new costume for 2008

Then in the late 90's came the news that Glitter was under investigation on child pornography charges and his world fell apart. Stores throughout the U.K withdrew his records from the shelves, concerts were canceled; overnight, one of Britain's most adored icons became public enemy number one and even his staunchest allies now doubt whether Glitter will ever be able to pull one more comeback out of the bag. What cannot be erased, however, is the contribution he has made to the history of rock & roll -- the creation of "Rock and Roll" itself. ~ [Dave Thompson, All Music Guide]

Why is this song so popular in USA?

Your scaring me

In the US, the instrumental portion (Part 2) attracted most of the attention; it hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the years since, Part 2 of the song has often been played at various sporting events in Canada and the United States, particularly when the home teams scores (or wins). It was played first in a sport setting at Colorado Rockies hockey games in the late 1970s,and the Denver Broncos are the first NFL team to play the song during games. The nickname "the Hey Song" refers to fact that the only intelligible word in Part 2 is the exclamation of "hey," punctuating the end of several instrumental phrases and repeated three times at the song's chorus. At sporting events, fans often insert their own "hey," or sometimes other chanted syllables. "Rock and Roll" was one of over 20 UK hit singles for Glitter. Part 2 of this song has been used in the soundtrack to many movies, including Reality Bites (1994), Happy Gilmore (1996), The Full Monty (1997), Small Soldiers (1998), Any Given Sunday (1999), Bedazzled (2000), The Replacements (2000), Sugar & Spice (2001), Moonlight Mile (2002), Meet the Fockers (2004), and The Longest Yard (2005). ~ [Source:Wikipedia]

First time, in a long time, I can't remember not having an artist that has no reference to any other artist in this site, must be an omen :/

What [or dare i say] does Rolling Stone think about Mr Glitter?

Add "pervert" to the words used to describe Gary Glitter, the "King of Glam" (other obvious choices include kitschy, raunchy, eccentric, and ridiculous). Surely his child pornography charges take some of the thrill out of singing along to "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" and "Rock Hard Men (Need The Power)." From the beginning, Glitter seemed determined to push the limits of what music executives considered marketable; sadly, smut turned out to be the sword by which he would live and die. If you think you've never heard his music before, think again. Chances are if you've ever been to a soccer, football or hockey game you've heard the chorus from "Rock And Roll," an almost universal crowd chant and lucrative debut for the artist. Glitter's notoriety continued into the 1980s, when both Joan Jett and the Human League covered his songs. Perhaps only Liberace's popularity has been more puzzling ~ [Chad Driscoll from Rhapsody.com - an offshoot [?] of RS]

finally! ..For Human League see Number 582 & #603

Rolling Stone magazine deemed their '461st Song of all Time' was "Kiss" by Prince. Prince has appeared in The Definitive 1000 @ Number 812

Other songs with reference to Gary Glitter #874

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number (Lock up your daughters) and the Album ranked at (and throw away the key)

This song has a Definitive 1000 rating of 76.7 out of 108

Part 2

Gary Glitter - Rock 'n Roll (part 2)
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