Rock & Roll (Lou Reed song)
Encyclopedia
"Rock & Roll" is a song
by The Velvet Underground
, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by the Velvet's then-leader Lou Reed
, who continued to incorporate the song into his own live performances years later as a solo artist.
The song recounts the advent of rock & roll, telling the story of a girl named Ginny whose "life was saved by Rock and Roll.”
The musical content of the song is a three-chord progression
, typical of Rock and Roll compositions, except that whereas the order is usually the "1-4-5" major chord
s sequence, this one is the reverse, 5-4-1, namely C
, B♭, and F
. However, since the C chord is heard as the I chord, the progression is based around this tonic, thus the numerical harmonic analysis yields a 1-b7-4 progression, the b7 major chord (Bb major) indicates the Mixolydian mode. Examples of similar chord sequences include The Rolling Stones
' "Sympathy for the Devil
" and The Beatles
"Hey Jude
".
Harmonically, Reed adds the sixths to the Bb and the F, making them Bb6 and F6. Reed would go on to make prominent use of an F6 in one of his most well-known songs, "Walk on the Wild Side".
Unusually, the verse of "Rock & Roll" is five bars long, as opposed to the conventional four. Reed both plays and sings a syncopated rhythm throughout; his phrasing on the track demonstrates his lax, somewhat scat
-like vocal approach.
The song also appears on the albums 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
; Live MCMXCIII
; Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition; American Poet
; Another View
; Rock 'n' Roll Animal
; Live in Italy
; Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
.; Rock and Roll Diary: 1967–1980.
, Rock 'n' Roll High School
and SLC Punk!
A clip of the Velvet Underground performing the song is played on completion of the Rock & Roll wonder in Civilization IV
. In addition, the quote about researching the technology "Radio
," read by Leonard Nimoy
, is "...then one fine morning she puts on a New York station.... You know, her life was saved by rock & roll." The quote is credited to Lou Reed.
Mitch Ryder
's band The Detroit Wheels
, which featured Lou Reed's future guitarist Steve Hunter, performed one of the first cover versions of the song in 1971.
Others to cover the song have been Phish
, The Runaways
and Jane's Addiction
.
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...
by The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by the Velvet's then-leader Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, who continued to incorporate the song into his own live performances years later as a solo artist.
The song recounts the advent of rock & roll, telling the story of a girl named Ginny whose "life was saved by Rock and Roll.”
The musical content of the song is a three-chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
, typical of Rock and Roll compositions, except that whereas the order is usually the "1-4-5" major chord
Major chord
In music theory, a major chord is a chord having a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad...
s sequence, this one is the reverse, 5-4-1, namely C
C major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
, B♭, and F
F major
F major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
. However, since the C chord is heard as the I chord, the progression is based around this tonic, thus the numerical harmonic analysis yields a 1-b7-4 progression, the b7 major chord (Bb major) indicates the Mixolydian mode. Examples of similar chord sequences include The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' "Sympathy for the Devil
Sympathy for the Devil
"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger credited to Jagger/Richards...
" and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
"Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
".
Harmonically, Reed adds the sixths to the Bb and the F, making them Bb6 and F6. Reed would go on to make prominent use of an F6 in one of his most well-known songs, "Walk on the Wild Side".
Unusually, the verse of "Rock & Roll" is five bars long, as opposed to the conventional four. Reed both plays and sings a syncopated rhythm throughout; his phrasing on the track demonstrates his lax, somewhat scat
Scat
-Education:* School and College Ability Test* Somerset College of Arts and Technology, a community college in Somerset, England* Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology, a community college in Shropshire, England-Games:* Thirty-one , a card game...
-like vocal approach.
The song also appears on the albums 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released as a double album in September 1974 by Mercury Records. The September 1988 CD re-release was issued as two separate single CD volumes, with one extra track per disc...
; Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was released simultaneously in single and double CD/Cassette formats on October 26, 1993 by Sire Records. The single CD is an abridged version of the double CD edition: there are no different takes of songs across the two editions...
; Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition; American Poet
American Poet (album)
American Poet is an album of an early solo concert by Lou Reed, recorded live at the Hempstead Theatre, New York on Boxing Day - 26 December 1972 during the Transformer tour. The backing band are The Tots. It features material from that album, The Velvet Underground, his 1972 solo debut Lou Reed. ...
; Another View
Another View
Another View is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in 1986 by Verve Records and is comprised of material recorded between 1967 and 1969.-Composition and collection:...
; Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock n Roll Animal is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1974. In its original form, it features five songs from different periods of his creative career, including several songs by the Velvet Underground. The songs are all re-arranged into a powerful glam rock set...
; Live in Italy
Live in Italy (Lou Reed album)
Live In Italy is an album by Lou Reed recorded live in Verona and Rome on September 7 and 10, 1983 by the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit. It was issued on vinyl only in Germany and Japan. At the time, Reed and his band were on a world tour to promote the album, Legendary Hearts...
; Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground is a compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released for the European market by Polydor on July 2, 2001 as part of their "An Introduction To" series of budget compilations....
.; Rock and Roll Diary: 1967–1980.
Notable covers and pop culture uses
"Rock & Roll" has appeared in a number of films, including A Guide to Recognizing Your SaintsA Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is a 2006 American drama film based on a 2001 memoir of the same name by author and musician Dito Montiel, which describes his youth in Astoria, New York during the 1980s....
, Rock 'n' Roll High School
Rock 'n' Roll High School
Rock 'n' Roll High School is a 1979 musical comedy film produced by Roger Corman, directed by Allan Arkush, and featuring the Ramones.The film starred P. J. Soles, Vince Van Patten, and Clint Howard...
and SLC Punk!
SLC Punk!
# "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" - The Suicide Machines # "Sex and Violence" - The Exploited# "I Love Livin' in the City" - Fear# "1969" - The Stooges# "Too Hot" - The Specials# "Cretin Hop" - Ramones...
A clip of the Velvet Underground performing the song is played on completion of the Rock & Roll wonder in Civilization IV
Civilization IV
Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a turn-based strategy, 4X computer game released in 2005 and developed by lead designer Soren Johnson under the direction of Sid Meier and Meier's studio Firaxis Games. It is the fourth installment of the Civilization series...
. In addition, the quote about researching the technology "Radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
," read by Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
, is "...then one fine morning she puts on a New York station.... You know, her life was saved by rock & roll." The quote is credited to Lou Reed.
Mitch Ryder
Mitch Ryder
William S. Levise, Jr , better known by his stage name Mitch Ryder, is an American musician who has recorded over two dozen albums in more than four decades.-Career:...
's band The Detroit Wheels
The Detroit Wheels
The Detroit Wheels were an American rock group from Detroit, Michigan. They served as Mitch Ryder's backup band from 1964–1967, and played on all his most successful records.Their original members were:* Jim McCarty...
, which featured Lou Reed's future guitarist Steve Hunter, performed one of the first cover versions of the song in 1971.
Others to cover the song have been Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
and Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
.