(The) Rock and Roll Waltz
Encyclopedia
" Rock and Roll Waltz" is a popular
song
. The music was written by Shorty Allen and the lyrics by Roy Alfred in 1955.
The song is told from the point-of-view of a teenager who comes home early from a date, and catches her parents attempting to dance to one of her rock and roll
records; only, having no frame of reference, the couple tries to waltz
to the music.
The Kay Starr
recording of the song, made in 1955, reached the #1 position on the Billboard chart in 1956, staying there for six weeks. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number
47-6359. It was Kay Starr's first recording of great significance for RCA Victor after leaving Capitol Records
. She had a number of lesser chart entries on RCA in 1955 including "Good and Lonesome" and "Turn Right". She thought it was a joke when the A&R staff at RCA Victor picked it for her; it was so different from what she was used to recording. Although it was a #1 hit and a million seller, and she has come to love the song with the passage of time, it was never a song people requested her to sing at any live performance in the days of its popularity.
Another version was later recorded by Ann-Margret
in the early 1960s.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
. The music was written by Shorty Allen and the lyrics by Roy Alfred in 1955.
The song is told from the point-of-view of a teenager who comes home early from a date, and catches her parents attempting to dance to one of her rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
records; only, having no frame of reference, the couple tries to waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
to the music.
The Kay Starr
Kay Starr
Kay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
recording of the song, made in 1955, reached the #1 position on the Billboard chart in 1956, staying there for six weeks. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
47-6359. It was Kay Starr's first recording of great significance for RCA Victor after leaving Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. She had a number of lesser chart entries on RCA in 1955 including "Good and Lonesome" and "Turn Right". She thought it was a joke when the A&R staff at RCA Victor picked it for her; it was so different from what she was used to recording. Although it was a #1 hit and a million seller, and she has come to love the song with the passage of time, it was never a song people requested her to sing at any live performance in the days of its popularity.
Another version was later recorded by Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
in the early 1960s.
See also
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1950s
- List of number-one singles from the 1950s (UK)
- List of number-one singles of 1956 (U.S.)