Reunion: Life is a Rock (Joey Levine, 1974) - Complete Lyrics In Video

[PlanTonto]

I often wonder why he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...Bummer

[PlanTonto]

I remember when I first heard this, me and my mom where smoking a joint together on the way to my cub scout meeting in the car.

[nickthename]

Even *with* the lyrics, I can't keep up with this song! Talk about talented. Even the Micro Machine Man would have a hard time with this.

Weird though, that the 45 label lists the track time as 2:54 but the vid puts the whole song at about 3:25

~NtN~

[giftbasketer2]

This vid is a favorite on Nigeria

[CreatureFeatures75]

So was this the very first Rap song?

[RobsMusicBox]

@CreatureFeatures75 Thats exactly what i wondered !!

Many thanks to the Classic for Uploading this With the lyrics !!

made my day ,my week too :)

[tonerlow2001]

wow ... never tried actually doing the actual lyrics before phew!

[darinsargent25]

Your video went viral on Slovenia

[davidhertzberg]

@darinsargent25 The Republic of Slovenia is a country in Central Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. It is not an island as you imply. But thank you for your erudite contribution.

[noremorse37]

i listen to this on a 45rpm and love it make sure my kid listen to it to they love it

[de232080]

Nice song! 

[zxcv1234vcxz]

This is a song that could and should have been re-done periodically, first in the 1990s and then today.

[KREEPNASTY1]

lkjdbcjuygcyjhvcbdwj

[FreakD20]

thanks sooooo much for posting this song !!! I use to have the 45 but I can't find it and I never knew the name of the song. I only knew 1 line in the verse so it was a real challenge to find. Man, you have made my day. Thanks again.

[classicvinylbiz]

@FreakD20 My pleasure! Thanks for writing.

[17conversejunkie]

i know this song word for word

[keithcop]

"Smokey" places and the Miracles would be a reference to Smokey Robinson, no? So the "S" should be capitalized. :)

[classicvinylbiz]

@keithcop Got it, thanks! david

[masonfssr]

He sounds a little like Weird Al, but I love it helped me come out of a spiral back in 74 and I was a little high at the time so I just started laughing and the anger when away,been looking for this a while on youtube, put all kinds of stuff in tying to connect with it,didn't really know the name,definitely wasn't rock music rock,and tonight finally, I have it,thanks for the post, love it.

[Ferpius]

Damn, I'm cursed. I have no lyrics when I play it.

[classicvinylbiz]

@Ferpius I put the lyrics in the video, please try now.

[WasntMeOfficer]

...was my only hope in ever finding this song. It was starting to become an obsession to that point. The embarrassing part is that I remembered the title as "Live Midday Rock". Gee...no wonder I could never find it...Doh! I thought that might be worth a chuckle or two. Thanks again for providing a service that will now allow me to obsess about new and exciting things...

[davidhertzberg]

@WasntMeOfficer My pleasure, thanks for writing! best, david (from my new channel)

[WasntMeOfficer]

I am soooo grateful to you that you included the lyrics in your description. I don't think I would ever have been able to have the chance to hear this song ever again otherwise. I imagine it has been since '74 when I last heard it as a 10 y.o. lad. But it's has been in the dark recesses of my mind all this time. Actually, somewhat embarrassing - but humorous - I never was really certain of the title. Made the search process difficult. Typing the lyrics that I remembered (basically the chorus)...

[dano5670]

1st rap song eva!

[RavensGoTweet]

o.o♥

[THEWARRIOR3669]

How did u get the lyrics u no I could say the first part that fast

[imboredtodeath13]

pioneer of todays rap...

[MsJune54]

thanks so much for posting the lyrics to this fantastic song!!

[MaryBerry212]

Awesome :) I think Archies and Righteous should be switched in the lyrics though... he goes so fast it's hard to tell, but I think he says Righteous first

[davidhertzberg]

@MaryBerry212 You're right thank you! I made the change. best, david (from my other channel)

[scottydfl422]

One of our shopping malls 10 years or so ago used this as a radio as using the store names. The ad would play then this song would get requested.

[davidhertzberg]

@scottydfl422 I remember, it was Tysons Corner. It was a very clever ad.

[scottydfl422]

One of the shopping malls here (Northern VA) 10 or so years ago did a radio ad using this song except using the store names. The ad would play then this song would get requested.

[CFMD28]

Good memories......But, I'll never be able to sing it!

[tujmeister]

I practiced this song until I could sing it all the way through. However, you may want to adjust your lyrics just a bit. In the third stanza. Instead of "Osmond Brothers", he is actually saying "Ides Of March" who made popular the song, "Vehicle". Just thought you'd like to know. Great song! Glad you posted it!

[classicvinylbiz]

@tujmeister Thank you! I made the change; now that I listen to the song again I cannot believe I heard "Osmond Brothers"... The Ides had that one great song, as far as I can remember.  Thanks again, david

[1skullduggery]

@tujmeister so i'm guessing you are just about to turn 48....i wore this lil' 45rpmer out as a kid. .

[tujmeister]

@1skullduggery - I'll go with that '48' :D Actually I can tell you about nearly any pop/rock song up until about the mid 80s. Aftert that, music just died.

[HAGGIS499]

@tujmeister DIDNT IT JUST

[buzzardvids]

Was Joey in the Ohio Express?

[GenerationYstar]

BEST OLD SCHOOL RAP SONG EVER!

[Ferpius]

@GenerationYstar Got that right.

[Farandahl]

I was in grammar school when this came out, and no kidding, there was one guy who was actually able to sing this at tempo. No idea how he did it and I was never able to. Thanks for telling us the secret, I don't feel quite so bad now. :D

[RJS3566]

Heard this a bunch of times and never made the connection.

[BloodBird01]

I see you found the lyrics I decoded, sorry I couldn't completely decipher that (Line not credible) part, and no I'm not lying, I submitted those lyrics but I can't seem to find the site I submitted it to, maybe it's gone. If you wouldn't mind could you please credit me in your description?

[heatherbrawn]

excellent.... listen, they are playing our song....

[Kismet12333]

Well done my friend. I figured it out a minute ago how to see the lyrics. God,,,,

I LOVE THIS SONG SOOOOO MUCH!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

[davidhertzberg]

@Kismet12333 Ok, just saw your second message. Glad you enjoy it! best, david (writing from my new channel)

[Kismet12333]

Can someone explain to me how I can see the lyrics to the classic 1974 song? Thank you. :=)))

[davidhertzberg]

@Kismet12333 Click on the little down arrows that are right beneath the number of views (4,792). Let me know if that works, david

[Rayyvyn]

i was kinda bummed you didnt finish the lyrics...you ended after the first wanna take you higher :-( whats up with that???

[classicvinylbiz]

@Rayyvyn Thanks for reminding me... I had meant to do this some weeks ago but got sidetracked. best, david

[je641687]

I'd bet 100 bucks that even the fastest rapper from today would have trouble with this song! Love it though, and one of these days I'll be able to sing it!

[classicvinylbiz]

@je641687 Hi, thanks for writing. Actually, if you listen closely you can hear that the tape has been spliced together... he sings a couple of sentences, then the tape is cut and the next sentence is added. best, david

[10SecondTom01]

@je641687 I can say it all; Im a girl & Im 13 :D

[lochraven21286]

@je641687 I was thinking that same thing. Sure brings back some memories.

[Thadesgal]

I wrote all these words down when the record came out in 74. I was like 12. I can still sing it! I guess after hearing it over and over - it stuck in my head forever. Those were the days... :o D

[titaniclady1]

Didn't Reunion also do a song like this about TV shows? I remember hearing it on Barry Scott's "The Lost 45's" show a while back, but haven't been able to find it anywhere.

[classicvinylbiz]

@titaniclady1 Hi, yes, the song has been remade a few times. See this article in Wikipedia - look under the popular culture heading:

en (dot) .wikipedia (dot) org (backslash) /wiki/Life_Is_a_Rock_%28But_th­e_Radio_Rolled_Me%29

[klandersen42]

@titaniclady1 Around 1980-81 a remake was done by a group calling themselves "the Class of '81" (or 80?) they had some comic books, TV shows and cultural references. One of the bits I recall is the lyrics "Kiss is Styx without the Makeup". At one point I had that 45 If I still have it, it isn't in a handy place to look up. I have found no references to that version on the internet yet.

[DetroitLives313]

Big memories here! Thank you !!!

[ClarkeMarek]

I believe the reason Jack the Ripper's in here is due to Screamin Lord Sutch's song, "Jack the Ripper." But I may be stating the obvious.

[classicvinylbiz]

@ClarkeMarek Yes, you're right, and I have amended the text to reflect that. Thanks for your assistance, best, david

[ClarkeMarek]

@classicvinylbiz yw!

[CompagniaDelleFuri]

Amazing!!