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I wanted to post this song, in part because i think it is a great pop song and the version that i have used, is a more gutsy and soulful version than the million seller that most people recall.

Eric Carmen is one of the most successful singer/songwriters to have emerged from that period. Going solo in the mid 70's, he struck gold with his "All by myself", a worldwide hit, including Australia where it reached the Top 10. His composition, "Never gonna fall in love again" was the debut hit for our own Mark Holden (a heart throb of the highest order). Shaun Cassidy, the half brother of pop idol David Cassidy, benefited from the pen of Eric Carmen not once but twice, with "That's rock and roll" and again with "Hey Deanie".

Eric's version of "That's rock and roll" was released in 1976, and here in Oz, it spent just one solitary week in the Top 100, at #100!!!!! That was in August, but when Shaun Cassidy released his version in late December, the song would go on to spend nearly 30 weeks in the Top 100, 24 of those in the Top 40, and 14 in the Top 10, reaching #2. I guess Eric had the last laugh with the royalties!

To illustrate this catchy and upbeat piece of pop culture, i have featured my rock n roll role models in the mid seventies - the artists that seemed like the real deal (of course i was 12), Suzi Quatro was to be a lifelong favourite and inspiration, while more manufactured acts such as The Sweet and Hush would fade pretty quickly from my line of vision, but made a big impression at the time. Bands like AC/DC and Queen have proven their mettle over decades, while Alice Cooper and David Bowie defined their own versions of rock. Elton John's stage act and image in general during the 1970's was very rock n roll - loud, flambuoyant and excessive. Status Quo were meat and potatoes rock and roll with their thumping, and raucous anthemic hit singles, and they were very popular downunder from 1975 until the early 80's. America had Elvis, we had The Wild One aka Johnny O'keefe, and although his glory days were long behind him, i grew up knowing his larger than life presence in the entertainment landscape, and his death in 1978, just a year after the King died, was mourned by this nation - another legend gone way too soon. Music allows us to never forget the idols and role models that we were raised on. It allows a version of immortality, even for lesser beings!

I hope you enjoy hearing Eric Carmen's version of his own ode to rock music.