» 1970s, Rock » Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl – Paul Collins The Beat
Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl – Paul Collins The Beat
Editor’s note: This song is not a one-hit wonder. Sometimes some songs just deserve a little love and attention.
I’ve said it many times before: I’m a sucker for a good hook and a concise song. Power pop music does it better than anything I can think of. Take today’s song, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” by The Beat (or Paul Collins The Beat due to a naming conflict with England’s “The Beat” who then changed their names to The English Beat. But let’s not argue semantics).
This is a great, hooky little song that has all the power pop hallmarks: two- and three-part harmonies and simple melodies all driven by guitars and drums. The Beat is a great unknown band that should have been famous, but isn’t and never wrote songs longer than about three-and-a-half minutes.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” is from The Beat’s first album, creatively titled The Beatfrom 1979. The whole record is full of three-minute rock songs that are no deeper lyrically than “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl.” Try this chorus for simplicity:
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I’m sure Collins worked on that stanza for weeks. But it doesn’t matter. This is immediate, simple rock music that gets in your head and stays for two minutes, an hour, a day. It’s so simple you’re certain you’ve heard it before (you haven’t). But you probably want to hear it again (you will).
I’ve included a few other songs from The Beat to give this unknown band some well-deserved love.
Listen to The Beat – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl”
Rock 'n' Roll Girl - Paul Collins The BeatListen to The Beat – “You Won’t Be Happy”
The Beat - You Won't Be HappyListen to The Beat – “U.S.A.”
The Beat - U.S.A.Buy Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl by Paul Collins The Beat
Give “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” a listen from The Beat’s 1979 performance on American Bandstand
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” lyrics
I went down to check out the local disco show.
I saw the people dancing on the floor.
I wish there was an easier way
To meet the girls of today.
And if I had a chance, this is what I’d say:
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I pick up the phone and get a dial tone.
I call up the number, but nobody is home.
But I saw it on my TV.
They said they have someone for me.
I wish she would answer and give me her name.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I see them walking one by one.
I hear them talking, then they are done.
I wish there was an easier way, hey hey!
To meet the girls of today.
I really want to talk, but what can I say?
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
I want to be with a rock and roll girl.
Written by Michael Waterman
I'm an obsessive music collector, cataloger, commenter and trivia nut. Sometimes I'm even a listener. One-hit wonders have always been a guilty pleasure.
Filed under: 1970s, Rock · Tags: 1979, Paul Collins, Power Pop, Rock, Rock 'n' Roll Girl, The Beat, The Plimsouls
[...] The Nerves who broke up long before they ever became famous. Collins then went on to form The Beat (listen to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” by The Beat) while Case formed The Plimsouls. Both bands met some success. The Plimsouls became the much more [...]
Loved this album when it first came out and stupidly got rid of it when I moved about 6 yrs ago. I was so surprised that this group did not have a bigger following. I was listening to some old tapes I had made today and heard “Rock n Roll Girl” and instantly googled the lyrics and found your web site. I want the album but can’t locate on Itunes or Amazon. Do you know where I could locate one?
Thanks for spotlighting a group that had a great sound!
Tina,
I agree. Great song and great album. You can buy in from Amazon.com. Just click the link in the Amazon box on the page. Or you can paste this link into your browser and find the album at Amazon. It truly is a terrific late 1970s power pop album.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002B6BJN8?tag=relentearwor-20&camp=15309&creative=331473&linkCode=st1&creativeASIN=B002B6BJN8&adid=1APF0Y0TX5A8KD5A48CH
That wil
[...] on my power pop kick that has featured The Plimsouls, The Vapors, The Beat and now The Knack. Obviously two words names were all the rage in the late 1970s/early 1980s for [...]
[...] The Nerves who broke up long before they ever became famous. Collins then went on to form The Beat (listen to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl” by The Beat) while Case formed The Plimsouls. Both bands met some success. The Plimsouls became the much more [...]
Paul Collins’ Beat made some of the most influential music in power pop and punk rock. Collins had toured with The Ramones in his early band The Nerves, with Peter Case. The Nerves produced and fundd their own albums and tours, then disbanded and became The Breakaways. That early lineup became the core of The Beat and Peter Case left shortly thereafter to form The Plimsouls. The Beat aka Paul Collins Beat had several popular music videos on MTV in America, but they moved to Europe during the mid 1980s.
During the 90s and 2000s, Collins pursued a solo career, recording albums for Sony and Caroline Records as The Paul Collins Band in the country/Americana/country rock/folk genres. Rock critics have compared Collins’ solo albums to the work of Steve Earle, The Jayhawks, Wilco and Lucinda Williams.
In 2006, Collins re-formed The Beat as The Paul Collins Beat and they continue to tour and record new material. Having attended several of their shows over the past few years, I noticed that The Paul Collins Beat perform songs spanning Collins’ entire career, including new material from their four recent power pop/rock/punk/alternative albums on Alive Naturalsound & Get Hip Recordings, tunes by The Nerves (Hanging On The Telephone, Working Too Hard) and the bulk of the first Beat LP which contained Rock N Roll Girl.
Paul Collins is considered a literal rockstar in Europe, especially in places such as Spain and France, but in America, he is known as a songwriter and the co-writer of the song Walking Out On Love, which is currently being popularized by bestselling punk rock group Green Day.
Thanks for the career overview William. I’m a huge Steve Earle and Wilco fan, as well as a fan of the The Nerves, The Plimsouls and, of course, Paul Collins. He’s one of those artists who is criminally unknown and underrated. Good to see he still has fans. At some point I’m sure I’ll see one of his shows with his current band.
Michael
[...] The Beat – Rock’N'Roll Girl (1979) by RONNIEROCKET.COM 1970s, Bubblegum • Tags: 1979, New Music United, Paul Collins, The Beat This is a great, hooky little song that has all the power pop hallmarks: two- and three-part harmonies and simple melodies all driven by guitars and drums. The Beat is a great unknown band that should have been famous, but isn’t and never wrote songs longer than about three-and-a-half minutes. [Source] [...]