The Stylistics – Rockin’ Roll Baby

The title song from their 1973 album. I just heard it on a replay of AT40 with Casey Kasem. I barley remembered the song. The song reached #14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on December 22, 1973.

From udiscovermusic.com

Philadelphia soul men the Stylistics were anything but an overnight success story. Formed from members of mid-1960s groups the Percussions and the Monarchs, they first recorded locally on the independent Sebring label in 1969, but didn’t see soul chart action until 1971. What followed was five absolutely golden years on the Avco label, and then many more of continuing popularity, which sees the latter-day line-up touring to this day.

“Rockin’ Roll Baby,” an endearing tale of a toddler born in a theater and thrust into showbusiness almost before he could walk, had been a No.3 hit on Billboard’s R&B chart and reached No.14 pop. Entering the UK survey at No.29, the single landed at its No.6 peak three weeks later. It was the Stylistics’ biggest UK hit to date, but not for long: by August, they were climbing to No.2 with another of their signature ballads, “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” as their tally of Top 10 hits grew ever longer.

Rockin’ Roll Baby

Tootsie roll soul and doodle-white shoes
Papa’s sure proud of his little bitty rockin’ roll baby
Singin’ at the age of two
He can hardly talk but he sure knows how to sing the blues

Little Joe never sings out of tune
Always in key, he’s a soulful little rockin’ roll baby
Papa loves the way you do
Never heard a boy sing the way my little Joey do

He was born in a theater in Bluefield, West Virginia
His ma and I were travelin’ on the road
I worked hard all that summer as a fill-in for the drummer
One-night stands weren’t easy for little Joe

Bought a new house in Beverly hills
Papa made it big and he did it for his rockin’ roll baby
A little bit of rhythm and blues
Got a funky walk in his little orthopedic shoes

He was born in a theater in Bluefield, West Virginia
His ma and I were travelin’ on the road
I worked hard all that summer as a fill-in for the drummer
One-night stands weren’t easy for little Joe

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Linda Creed / Tom Bell