I
have always loved covers of songs when they are done with thought and
care, however, the
original version is the one I always love the best. I guess it's a case
of "First Love". But in this situation I actually love Damian's better! That's saying a whole lot! His bass guitar
reverberating in the opening drives me wild then there's the subtle Reggae beat that emerges at times. WOW!
Rock On
is a tribute to the early days of rock 'n' roll, with mentions of the
1956
Carl Perkins classic
Blue Suede Shoes (which I love much better than Presley's) and the 1958
Eddie Cochran
hit
Summertime Blues. Twenty years later Cochran would be mentioned again in the
New Wave song,
Thank You by
Chrisma.
Rock On was originally meant to be the
"B" side but in an interview to Circus he stated:
"I
said 'No!' I've had three years of people telling me what I should do.'
But when 'Rock On' came out I was actually surprised it did so well. It
was very sweet success because it was exactly what I wanted - the song,
the production, the attitude - it's one of my favorite records, no
matter whether I recorded it."
I have loved
covers of songs when they are done with care, however, the original
version is the one I always love the best; a "First Love" syndrome. In this case, I love the
cover better! That's saying a lot about this song!
There have been many other covers of the Essex song,
The Dave Howard Singers did a pretty outrageous, almost punk cover and
Blondie
came in with a really nice, laid back version of the song in 2012.
Def Leppard did a bitchin' version of the song in 2005; it's the only cover they've done in concert. Then
in 2017,
Rickie Lee Jones and
Madeleine Peyroux recorded a fantastic and
politically charged video of the song in support of
women's rights (
links below).
Damian has released five albums with eight
top 40 hits, including his number-one cover of the
David Essex song
Rock On (from the
Dream a Little Dream
soundtrack), which was certified gold in 1989. He also won a
BMI
Song-writing Award for his hit single
Was It Nothing at All.
Rock On lyrics
[Intro]
Ooh
Shoow
[Verse 1]
Hey kid, rock and roll
Rock on, ooh, my soul
Hey kid, you boogie too, did ya?
Hey shout, summertime blues
Jump up and down in them blue suede shoes
Hey did you rock and roll?
Rock on
[Bridge]
And where do we go from here?
Which is the way that's clear?
[Verse 2]
Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen
Jimmy Dean
James Dean
[Bridge]
And where do we go from here?
Which is the way that's clear?
[Verse 3]
Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen
Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Dean
[Break]
Rock on
Rock on
Rock on
[Verse 4]
Hey kids
Rock and roll
Rock on
[Hook]
Rock on
Hey, hey
Rock and roll
Rock on
[Hook]
Rock on
Hey, hey
Rock and roll
Rock on
[Hook]
Rock on
Hey, hey
Rock and roll
Rock on
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A - Michael Damian – Rock On (Extended Version)
Producer – Michael Damian Weir*
Written By – David Essex
Producer – Michael Damian Weir*
Written By – David Essex - 6:28
Side 2:
B1 - Michael Damian – Rock On (Radio Version)
Producer – Mich. Damian Weir*
Written By – David Essex
Producer – Mich. Damian Weir*
Written By – David Essex - 3:20
B2 - Blue Future – Where Is She
Written By – L. Weir* - 3:57
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Vestron Pictures, Inc.
Copyright © – Cypress Records Ltd.
Licensed Through – Sonet Records
Licensed To – Intercord Ton GmbH
Marketed By – Intercord Ton GmbH
Manufactured By – Intercord Ton GmbH
Published By – Rock On Music (2)
Published By – Copyright Control
Pressed By – Sonopress – C-7895
Mastered At – Sonopress
Credits:
Producer – Larry Weir, Tom Weir
Notes:
Parts
of the release have a yellow sticker on front cover "No.1 USA",
apparently put on the sleeve, after the record reached No.1 in the
US-charts.
"Top 10 USA" printed on front cover.
B1 printed as "Rock on (7'' Version)
Side B total time: 7:20
Top opening spineless sleeve.
Mastering date from runouts: April 1989
Printing date from sleeve: May 1989
℗ 1989 Vestron Pictures, Inc.
© 1989 Cypress Records Ltd.
Licensed through Sonet Records
Marketed by Intercord Ton GmbH, Licensee.
Publishers
A, B1: Rock On Music
B2: Copright Control
Manufactured by Intercord Ton GmbH, Stuttgart, Licensee
Printed in W. Germany
From the original motion picture soundtrack "Dream a little dream" INT 148.316, MC 448.316, CD 848.316
7''-Single INT 113.326/Maxi-Single-CD INT 828.315
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Rights Society (Boxed): GEMA
Label Code: LC 7310
Matrix / Runout (Label side A): C-7895 A
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): C-7895 B
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side A): DMC-7895 A-1/4-89 II
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side B): DMC-7895 B-1/4-89
Other (Print date on back cover): 5/89
Pressing Plant ID (Embossed, below label side B): [Bass clef symbol]
Michael Damian – Rock On
Label: Cypress Records – INT 128.315
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released: 1989
Genre: Rock, Stage & Screen
Style: Pop Rock
Viewfinder links:
Songfacts ~ Rock On
YouTube links:
David Essex ~
Rock On (Dream a Little Dream video) Rock On (Midnight Special) (live) 1974 Madeleine Peyroux, Rickie Lee Jones ~ Rock On
Styrous® ~ Monday, April 26, 2021
~ 
