Rock with You
Encyclopedia
"Rock With You" was written by Rod Temperton and recorded by Michael Jackson. It was released on November 3, 1979
, as the second single from Michael Jackson
's fifth album, Off the Wall
. Written by Heatwave
group member and songwriter Rod Temperton
, who also wrote Jackson's 1984 song "Thriller
". The song helped Jackson score one of the first Billboard
number-one singles in the 1980s. It reached number one on both the pop
and R&B
singles chart and became one of Jackson's most-loved songs. A video for the song shows a smiling Jackson dancing in a sequined suit against a background laser. According to Billboard, the song was the fourth biggest single of 1980. It is also considered one of the last big hits of the disco
era.
It was re-released as a single on February 27, 2006, as part of the Visionary: The Video Singles
box set.
The music video was included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
, Number Ones and Michael Jackson's Vision
.
on the second leg, as well as the Triumph Tour
and the Victory Tour. He performed the song on his solo tours such as Bad World Tour
and HIStory World Tour
but only a part of the Off the Wall
medley on certain concerts. "Rock with You" was rehearsed for the Dangerous World Tour
, but wasn't performed. Jackson also would have performed it for the This Is It
concert series, but the shows were canceled, due to his sudden death.
Netherlands 12" single (EPC 12.8206)
U.S. 7" single (9-50797)
"Visionary" DualDisc single (82876725132)
CD side
DVD side
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
, as the second single from Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's fifth album, Off the Wall
Off the Wall (album)
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
. Written by Heatwave
Heatwave (band)
Heatwave was an international funk/disco musical band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton , Swiss Mario Mantese , Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger , Jamaican Eric Johns and Briton Roy Carter .They were known for their successful...
group member and songwriter Rod Temperton
Rod Temperton
Rodney Lynn "Rod" Temperton is an English songwriter, record producer and musician most famous for writing a number of songs performed by Michael Jackson, including the title track of Jackson's Thriller, the biggest-selling album of all time.-Biography:As Temperton remembers music was in his bones...
, who also wrote Jackson's 1984 song "Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
". The song helped Jackson score one of the first Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
number-one singles in the 1980s. It reached number one on both the pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singles chart and became one of Jackson's most-loved songs. A video for the song shows a smiling Jackson dancing in a sequined suit against a background laser. According to Billboard, the song was the fourth biggest single of 1980. It is also considered one of the last big hits of the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era.
It was re-released as a single on February 27, 2006, as part of the Visionary: The Video Singles
Visionary: The Video Singles
-Remix EP:Released February 21, 2006, Visionary Remixes - EP is only available in the UK iTunes store.-CD Promo:# Thriller - 4:09# Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - 3:59...
box set.
Cover versions and samples
- The song was later coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by singer BrandyBrandy (entertainer)Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
in 19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
for Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
' album, Q's Jook Joint. - Contemporary jazz guitarist Chuck LoebChuck LoebChuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz....
offered his version on his album "Listen." - It was also covered by AshantiAshanti (singer)Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release...
in 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
as a remix to her single "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"Rock wit U " is a single released by American R&B singer Ashanti in 2003 from her second studio album, Chapter II. The single went straight to the number two position on the U.S...
" and performed at the BET AwardsBET AwardsThe BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
. - The song was covered by the company Wavegroup for the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American IdolKaraoke RevolutionKaraoke Revolution and its many sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix Music Systems and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Concept for Karaoke Revolution was...
. - Brazilian singer Fernanda AbreuFernanda Abreu-Biography:Fernanda was born and raised in a middle-class family of the South Zone, a neighborhood of Rio. Her first notable public appearance was the backing vocal of the band Blitz until 1986...
performed a version on the record Um Barzinho Um Violao 4, issued in 2005. - House music Japanese band Cargo made a cover of the song in their 2007 album "Jewel".
- Emi HinouchiEmi Hinouchiis a Japanese urban music singer-songwriter. She was formerly signed under King Records' sub-label Venus-B and Taku Takahashi's Tachytelic Records. She is best known for writing songs for Heartsdales and for her collaborations with M-Flo....
, a famous japanese artist, made a version of the song. - Chris Brown performed it on the Essence Music FestivalEssence Music FestivalEssence Music Festival is an annual music festival celebrating contemporary African American music and culture. It is the largest event celebrating African American culture and music in the United States. It has been held in New Orleans, Louisiana every year since 1995 except for 2006, where it...
in New Orleans in 2007. - Kelly ClarksonKelly ClarksonKelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
performed the song with Eric HutchinsonEric HutchinsonEric Hutchinson is an American singer-songwriter. He signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, but the label shut down before his album was released. Hutchinson recorded and released the album Sounds Like This on his own...
on her All I Ever Wanted tour in 2009. - After Jackson's death in June 2009Death of Michael JacksonOn June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
, R&B singer Frankie JFrankie JFrancisco Javier Bautista, Jr. , better known by his stage name Frankie J, is a Mexican singer and former member of the musical group Kumbia Kings....
recorded a cover version, which was released on his MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. - Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
also performed this song along with Trey LorenzTrey LorenzTrey Lorenz is an African American singer and songwriter. He was born in Florence, South Carolina and is a graduate of Wilson High School.-Biography:...
in her concert "Live At The Pearl" in Vegas in September and October 2009. - Aphex TwinAphex TwinRichard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
also did a remix of the song live at his headlining set at the 2009 Osaka Summer SonicSummer Sonic FestivalThe Summer Sonic Festival is an annual two or three-days rock festival held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba. The majority of the bands playing in Osaka the first day go to Chiba the following day and vice versa....
music festival, this remix was also segued with a live remix of a song by the rave musician EonEon-Science:* Aeon, a very long time* Eon , a collective problem solving project* Eon Mountain, in Canada* A measure of time in the geologic time scale- Fiction :* Eon , by Greg Bear...
, who died almost a week before Jackson did.
- Japanese R&B singer and performer Yuya MatsushitaYuya Matsushitais a Japanese R&B and Hip Hop singer and performer. He is signed under Epic Records.His debut single "foolish foolish" was released on November 26, 2008.- Biography :...
did a cover of the song in 2011.
Music video
A music video was released for the song. It features Michael in a sparkly silver suit singing the song with a bright light behind him. The video was directed by Bruce Gowers.The music video was included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
Video Greatest Hits – HIStory is a collection of Michael Jackson's music videos, excluding "Man in the Mirror" and "She's Out of My Life", relative at the first disc of the double album HIStory released initially on VHS, Video CD and Laserdisc in 1995 by Sony Music Video Enterprises, and then on...
, Number Ones and Michael Jackson's Vision
Michael Jackson's Vision
Michael Jackson's Vision is a deluxe DVD box set released on November 22, 2010. It includes three DVDs, featuring 4.5 hours of content of 42 music videos by Michael Jackson, with newly restored color and remastered audio. Michael referred to each of these productions as a "short film" and not a...
.
Live performance
Michael Jackson performed the song on the Jacksons' Destiny TourDestiny Tour
The Destiny Tour was a concert tour by The Jacksons that began a world tour to promote the Destiny album on January 22, 1979 with their opening concert in Bremen. Countries that were visited included Britain, Holland, France, and Kenya. During the spring of 1979 The Jacksons performed some concerts...
on the second leg, as well as the Triumph Tour
Triumph Tour
The Triumph Tour was a concert tour by The Jacksons, covering the United States from July 9 to September 26, 1981. The tour grossed a total of $5.5 million, setting a record breaking 4 sold out concerts in Los Angeles, California.-History:...
and the Victory Tour. He performed the song on his solo tours such as Bad World Tour
Bad World Tour
The Bad World Tour was the first solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson that visited Japan, Australia, the United States and Europe. Sponsored by Pepsi and spanning 16 months, the tour included 123 concerts to 4.4 million fans across 15 countries...
and HIStory World Tour
HIStory World Tour
The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts and was attended by approximately 4.5 million fans, beating his previous Bad Tour...
but only a part of the Off the Wall
Off the Wall (album)
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
medley on certain concerts. "Rock with You" was rehearsed for the Dangerous World Tour
Dangerous World Tour
The Dangerous World Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson. The tour, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, included 69 performances to an audience of 3.5 million. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation". The...
, but wasn't performed. Jackson also would have performed it for the This Is It
This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
This Is It was a planned series of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 Arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through to March 2010. However, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died less than three weeks before the first concert date...
concert series, but the shows were canceled, due to his sudden death.
Michael Jackson: The Experience
The song is also featured in the game Michael Jackson: The Experience.Mixes
- Original LP Version – 3:39
- This "classic" version was only released on initial runs of the LP record and cassette, replaced by the full version of the 7" Remix on later LP pressings and all CD editions. The original version was later remastered and released on the "French Fans' Selection - Deluxe Box Set Edition" of King of PopKing of Pop (album)-Austria:On July 20, the Austrian version of the double disc compilation was announced; it was released on Jackson's birthday. The pool list fans got to choose from contained 100 tracks...
.
- This "classic" version was only released on initial runs of the LP record and cassette, replaced by the full version of the 7" Remix on later LP pressings and all CD editions. The original version was later remastered and released on the "French Fans' Selection - Deluxe Box Set Edition" of King of Pop
- 7" Remix Video Edit – 3:23
- The "Remix" was used for the single & to underscore the video. The remix re-pans the guitar, adds more strings, horns, hand claps in the chorus, and an edit was made to the middle musical bridge by shortening it from two parts to just one.
- 7" Version – 3:39
- This is the same as the 7" Remix, but with the musical bridge left intact.
- Extended Version - 4:57
- Available only on the Japanese 12" Promo, "Rock With You / Robin Hood". The latter song was recorded by Fox and the Promes.
- Masters at Work Remix – 5:29
- Frankie's Favorite Club Mix – 7:49
- Frankie's Knuckles Radio Mix – 3:50
- The Masters at Work Remix and Frankie Knuckles remixes both contain previously unheard vocals and ad-libs not heard on the original album version. This is because the remixers were given access to the master tapes of the song to produce their remix. The master tapes contained additional vocals and cuts that didn't make it onto the original album version.
- FreemasonsFreemasons (band)Freemasons are an English dance band from Brighton, East Sussex, England. The act consists of producers Russell Small and James Wiltshire .-2005-2007: Early Career:Their name is taken from the Brighton pub, Freemasons Tavern, Hove, which they frequently...
Bootleg Remix – 5:44
- Live (3:55)
- The live version, taken from the 1981 album The Jacksons Live!The Jacksons Live!The Jacksons Live! is a live album by The Jacksons, recorded during their North American tour in fall 1981, known as the Triumph Tour, and released in November 1981. The live double album was culled from recordings made in August 1981 on the tour's stops in Buffalo, NY; Providence, RI; Atlanta, GA;...
, was included on the UK 12" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" single in 1983.
- The live version, taken from the 1981 album The Jacksons Live!
Track listing
European 7" single (EPC 8206)- A. "Rock with You" - 3:38
- B. "Get on the Floor" - 4:44
Netherlands 12" single (EPC 12.8206)
- A. "Rock with You" - 3:20
- B1. "You Can't Win" - 7:17
- B2. "Get on the Floor" - 4:44
U.S. 7" single (9-50797)
- A. "Rock with You" - 3:20
- B. "Workin' Day and Night" - 4:55
"Visionary" DualDisc single (82876725132)
CD side
- "Rock with You" - 3:23
- "Rock with You" (Masters at Work Remix) - 5:33
DVD side
- "Rock with You" (Video)
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
4 |
| German Singles Chart | 58 |
| French Singles Chart | 59 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
11 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
7 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| US Hot R&B Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
36 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
54 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs Hot Digital Songs The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of... |
17 |
Personnel
- Written and composed by Rod Temperton
- Produced by Quincy Jones
- Michael Jackson: Lead and background vocals
- Bobby Watson: Bass
- John Robinson: Drums
- David Williams, Marlo Henderson: Guitars
- Greg Phillinganes, Michael Boddicker: Synthesizers
- David "Hawk" Wolinski: Electric piano
- Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns
- Jerry Hey: Trumpet and flugelhorn
- Larry Williams: Tenor, alto saxophones and flute
- Kim Hutchcroft: Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute
- William Reichenbach: Trombone
- Gary Grant: Trumpet
- Rhythm and vocal arrangements by Rod Temperton
- String arrangement by Ben Wright
- Concert master: Gerald Vinci