Comments: 26

• Kent From California from Lodi CaliforniaSeventhmist from 7th Heaven: The producers wanted a "twangy" guitar sound, you know, like Duane Eddy. Why don't we just call Duane Eddy and ask him. And the world got one of the most beautiful songs ever. Excellent lyrics. Expert Musicians. The cream of lead and background singers. I wish they had just emphasized Duane Eddy more. He had a habit of playing at "10", blowing early Fender equipment. He was Fender's QC. If it could get through a show with Duane Eddy, it was complete! This song gives me goose bumps when I hear it even today.
• Dave from North CarolinaI was at a Beach Boy concert in the late 70's, They claimed to do the background vocals and played the song in their set.
• Kent from Lodi CaDuane Eddy must be playing a 6 string bass guitar on the wandering guitar parts. Not the actual lead guitar section. I can't think of a way to get a regular 6 string electric guitar down much lower than a step or so. I read an article in Vintage Guitar magazine the had a layout of Eddy's early guitar and one was a 6 string bass. 6 string basses are also on "Galveston" and "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell who was a noted session guitarist with the Wrecking Crew.
• Dan Greenfield (oldies Dj For 40+ Years) from GeorgiaAccording to Wikipedia, the Beach Boys vocal sound that everyone (including me) is hearing is the Ron Hicklin Singers, versatile and prolific session singers who are quite capable of sounding like the Beach Boys. They are, for example, the voices of the Partridge Family behind David Cassidy (along with Shirley Jones, a pretty good singer in her own right!). I don't know Wiki's source, but this makes a lot of sense to me.
• Bob from TorontoDefinitely the Beach Boys in there! Lots of performers sat in with each other back in the day, often without credit. Why wouldn't they give B.J. a hand if they liked him?
• Cee Gee Dee from Dallas, Texas, UsaWhen this tune came out, I was on the end of enjoying B.J. Thomas(1972). Not a huge fan of his later material. Then I got a compilation put out via Rhino. And stumbled miraculously on this tune some 30 plus years later and keep stumbling and studying how it was recorded. Imo, one of the best American pop songs going back to at least Stevie Foster. I read today, 6/14/2021, that one of The Diamonds put together the backing vocals emulating The Beach Boys sound. I suppose it is a technicality. Plus I really only checked out the historical aspect of the lyrics this weekend: a young, single, teen mom raising a boy during the formative years of Almighty Rock. This is a masterpiece, folks. My mom, who grew up in the Swing Era, is going through her own realities at 95; so I cry like a baby when I hear this thing. RIP, B.J. Thomas!
• Ken Rudin from Washington, DcI've always been told that it was the Beach Boys who backed up on "Rock and Roll Lullaby" -- now I'm seeing here that it's not true? Does anyone know for certain, one way or the other?
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenNever realized that was Duane Eddy's "twangy" guitar!
• Guy Loehr from Californiathe Beach Boys did not help with this recording.. sounds like them, but it isn't... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Lullaby_(song)
• Mary Leandri from WnyI was 13 yrs old when Rock N Roll Lulaby came out. I had already been to 3 concerts In Buffalo NY -The Beach Boys. I love them been to every single concert in WNY (Never missed a single one) even Bison Stadium John Stamos was on drums! & then Seneca Alleghany Casino approx 9 1/2 years ago. I can clearly hear Brian Wilson and if not Brian then Carl Wilson and Mike Love. I am also waiting for a confirmation from someone in The Beach Boy's immediate family. I also went here to confirm and all of us that said it are not nuts! Lol
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Lullaby_(song)#Production
• Ed from Asheville, Nc@Tori: The reason I came to this website to get some background on this song is because I was listening to it this morning and thought that it certainly sounded like the Beach Boys doing the back up vocals, especially toward the end. Based on my ear, I would say it is
  the Beach Boys.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 6th 1972, "Rock & Roll Lullaby" by B.J. Thomas entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #71; and on March 26th it peaked at #15 (for 2 weeks) and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on March 19th, 1972 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart; it was the third of four #1s on the 'Adult' chart (the others were "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969), "I Just Can't Help Believing" (1970), and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another
  Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975)...
  Mr. Thomas, born Billy Joe Thomas, will celebrate his 72nd birthday this coming August 7th (2014).
• Tori from Omaha, NeAs a matter of fact, I went to a B. J. Thomas concert back in the 70's and He said that the Beach Boys did do the background vocals for this song. I figured he wouldn't lie to his fans.
• Kent from Lodi, CaAs I read the story, they wanted a "Duane Eddy" sounding guitar/guitarist for this song and after trying a couple of guitarists, someone got the bright idea of calling Duane Eddy, who then nailed this song like no one else could. The B.J. Thomas CDs with this song don't really bring out Eddy's part. If you can find it, there's a complilation of a bunch of '70s songs and the mix on that particular disc really brings Eddy's contribution to the front.
• Anna from Lafollette, TnHi, Pamela (Atascadero, CA) You are very welcome. This is a very touching and lovely song. Thank you! Regards, Anna
• Thomas from Oklahoma City, OkWhat an incredible voice this man has!
• Mixermatt from Bloomington, MnRock and Roll Lullaby -- Is a song that can pull on your heart strings as you try to sing the song.
• Pamela from Atascadero, CaIt may be hard to believe, but a 14 year old girl who had lost both of her parents is the one who wrote the song Rock n Roll Lullaby. I am so deeply moved and surprized that so many people were touched by it. I truly thank you all !!!
• J from Toronto, CanadaSurprised that nobody has mentioned that Stevie Wonder also makes an appearance on this rather historic recording.
• Bill from Downers Grove, IlI had read the Beach Boys sang background on this. Does sound like Dennis and Carl in spots. Can anyone confirm this?
• Joni from Sacramento, CaI was 16 in 1973 and had a baby girl. I was actually 15 when she was born but the song came out while she was still very little. I wasn't alone like the Mama in the song-in fact, I was married & had lots of family support. Still, I could relate to the the song & always sung it to my daughter. It was so pretty & she loved it!
  I am vey happy to have found this site. Now I can buy a C.D. & hear Rock and Roll Lullaby whenever I get nostalgic- My baby girl is 35 years old now & has 4 babies of her own!
  Joni
• Dave from Oak Park, MiIt was actually written by Barry Mann & I think, his wife Cynthia Weil; two Brill Building-era songwriters in an era which included Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond and Carol King. Barry Mann (not to be confused with Manilow) also played the electric piano.
• Helen from Debary, FlDO YOU KNOW WHO WROTE THE LYRICS TO ROCK AND ROLL LULLABY?
• Krissy from Troy, OhThis was the song my mom used to sing as my lullaby--makes sense since I was born in '73. I was trying to remember the lyrics and was so glad I found them on this website. I'd like to find a recording of it, and now I have a start on how to find one. Yea!
• Dave from Oak Park, MiWhere have you heard of Mike Love being on this? Brian Wilaon was actually going to be chosen for the "chorus" but he could not be reached; a "Beach Boys-Like" chorus was used with Session-Vocalists, Gene Morford, Ron Hicklin and Tom Bahler. But David Sommerville of The Diamonds WAS persent, as were The Blossoms.
• Max from Greensboro, Ncbackground vocals also by Mike Love of The Beach Boys and David Summerville of The Diamonds
  
  Boomer
  Oldies 93
  Greensboro

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